Kinship Care Toolkit
A toolkit to support children impacted by parental addiction, overdose or loss.
Overview
Being on a recovery journey sometimes means spending time away from home. Kinship care is when family members or close friends step in to care for a child dealing with addiction in the home. A parent's sudden absence can be due to residential care, hospitalization, incarceration, overdose/death. Kinship care keeps children safe and connected to family and community through difficult life situations.
We designed this toolkit to support children and their caregivers, but the tools can be used by anyone looking to initiate difficult conversations surrounding loss, separation or abandonment.
The Kinship Care toolkit includes:
- Information about grief
- Spotting "red-flag" behavior in youth and young adults
- Having age-appropriate discussions
- Interactive exercises for children to express their feelings, promote positive thinking and self-image.
Information for Kinship Caregivers
Helpful tips and guides to support kinship caregivers
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Discussing Parental Overdose
How to talk about parental drug use, parental overdose or overdose death.
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Self-Care for Kinship Caregivers
Ten ways to incorporate self care; Caring for yourself properly helps you care for others.
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Stages of Grief
How to support children through the various stages of grief after losing a loved one.
Download
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Is my teen using drugs or drinking?
Underage drinking and drug use pose substantial risks for teens’ health and safety.
Download
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How to Talk About Substance Use at Every Age
It's important to talk at every age about the risks of underage drug and alcohol use. Children who come from homes in which parents were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to start using drugs earlier in their lives and become addicted more quickly than peers from homes without substance abuse.
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Connecting Everyday
Children and teens who feel connected to their family experience better mental health and are less likely to have experiences with risky or violent behaviors as they get older
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Positive Thinking
Affirmations for kids/teens that encourage positive self-talk and positive thinking,
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Exercises for Children in Kinship Care
Positive thinking and gratitude exercises for kids and teens in kinship care.