Organization focuses on removing barriers for relatives and trusted adults to provide kinship care.
Donna Henderson, Executive Director of Programs Permanency Support & Education
Greensboro, NC, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When children cannot safely remain with their parents, North Carolina’s foster care system is increasingly looking to family first. This National Kinship Care Month, Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (CHS) is sharing how the organization helps relatives and trusted adults who step forward successfully navigate the transition into caring for a child.
“Keeping children connected to the people they already know, and trust can provide much-needed stability at a very uncertain time,” said Donna Henderson, Executive Director of Programs Permanency Support & Education at CHS. “But pursuing kin-first placement is more than identifying a relative who can care for that child. Families need a system that is ready to support them from the moment they say yes.”
Research shows that children placed with kin often have more stable placements, stronger sibling connections, and fewer behavioral and mental health challenges. Yet many kinship caregivers step into this new role with little time to prepare. Some may face financial strain and experience legal uncertainty, changing family dynamics, and the challenge of navigating an unfamiliar child welfare system.
CHS works directly with kinship caregivers to navigate those challenges. Through collaboration across CHS teams, including Licensing, Foster Care, Child Focused Recruitment, Training, and Adoption Support Alliance, families receive specialized training, case-management support, and other resources. When children cannot safely return home, CHS helps families understand permanency options like guardianship and adoption.
National Kinship Care Month is recognized each September and celebrates relatives and fictive kin, trusted adults outside the family who share an established relationship with a child, who provide care when parents cannot. “Kin-first placement is most successful when families are supported after taking the step to care for their own,” said Henderson. “As kin-first placements increase, CHS is already helping families across the state navigate what comes next. Our programs reduce barriers and make resources easier to navigate, offering families the support they need from the moment they step forward and throughout their journey.”
Nearly 11,000 children are currently in foster care across North Carolina, with just 5,600 licensed foster homes statewide to place them, an ongoing shortage. Kinship expands the circle of safe caregivers available to children while allowing them to maintain their connections to siblings and extended family, culture, school, and community.
To learn more about kinship care and how CHS supports caregivers through programming and resources, visit CHSNC.org.
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About Children’s Home Society of North Carolina
Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (CHS) works to promote the right of every child to a safe, permanent, and loving family by strengthening families and communities across North Carolina. CHS provides adoption, foster care, family preservation, parenting support, and youth services. A trusted partner for more than 120 years, CHS advances child and family well-being statewide. Learn more at CHSNC.org.
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- Donna Henderson, Executive Director of Programs Permanency Support & Education
CONTACT: Molly Hayden Gold, Communications & PR Strategist Children's Home Society of North Carolina 1.800.632.1400 [email protected]
