- Kinship-ND application SFN 408 is currently unavailable online. Please email Kinship@nd.gov or complete the contact forma and we can email or mail the application to you.
Kinship-ND Caregiver Handbook: Resources covering various topics to help with your journey
Child Development by age
- Ages & Stages: Healthy Childhood development and Positive Parenting Strategies based on Age Group by American SPCC
- Understanding the Stages of Child Development based on age by Healthline
- Childproofing Checklist based on Age by Childproofing experts
- Empowering Early Childhood Development by Zero to Three
"Parenting" skills
- Positive Parenting Tips by CDC
- Parent Education groups and classes resources by NDSU
- ParentsLEAD: Provides support, resources, tools, and tips to parents and caregivers, in all shapes and forms by ParentsLead program.
- Empowered to Connect YouTube channel: Several videos on various topics to support, resource, and educate caregivers with helping children
- Engaging Food Battles by Empowered to Connect (YouTube video)
- The IDEAL Response for Parents: A video showing technique for responding to children with behaviors by Empowered to Connect (YouTube video)
- Children, families, And Finances by NDSU Extension
- Raising the Children of the Opioid Epidemic: Solutions and Support for Grandfamilies by GenerationsUnited
- Unique caregiving tools and community support made easily accessible by Hand in Hand
Social Media: with changes in technology, it is important to communicate with youth to keep them and their information safe.
- How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers by Child Mind Institute
- Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media by Nemours KidsHealth
- Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between by Common Sense Media
Discipline: Discipline is about guiding youth toward appropriate behavior. It is not about punishment. It begins with open communication and trusting relationships. With positive discipline children can learn what to expect and how to control their own behaviors and to be accountable for their actions.
Trauma can be caused by a variety of experiences and how a child works through their trauma can vary. There may be behaviors which are not what you are used to. Some behaviors may be subtle while others are extreme. Below is some information which may help you with understanding trauma and working with the child and understanding their behaviors.
- Help with Behaviors and Trauma by Jessica Sinarski
- Behavioral Health Resources with Health and Human Services North Dakota
- Supporting Children Exposed to Violence & Trauma by Futures Without Violence
- A Child's Perspective of Traumatic Experience by Sesame Workshop
- Trauma informed Parenting by Trauma Informed Parent
- Parenting After Trauma by Healthychildren.org
- Child Trauma Academy by ChildTrauma.org
- The North Dakota Family Voice for Children's Mental Health by North Dakota Federation of Families
- About Child Trauma and Other Resources by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Services below are state and federal programs offering assistance
- Caregiver Services Chart listing state and federal assistance caregivers may be eligible for created by Kinship-ND
- Application for Assistance (TANF, SNAP, CCAP, Medicare, CHIPs & LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Helps supplement grocery budget with financial assistance for food
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Monthly financial support
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): Helps pay for child care
- ND Medicaid: Helps pay for medical services
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Helps pay for medical services
- Family Caregiver Support Program: Help with paying for respite assistance
- Headstart: School readiness for infants, toddlers and preschoolers from low-income families
- FamilyFIrst Services: Services provide practical parenting support and can help address behavioral health needs. Helps pay for approved evidence-based prevention services proven to strengthen and stabilize children and families so children can stay in their family home safely
- Human Service zone office locations by county
If you need some sort of legal documentation for the child in your care you have some options. Below are some basic options and possible attorney assistance
- Legal Comparison Chart: Compares the legal options of power of attorney, guardianship, and adoption
- Power of Attorney Forms by ND courts
- Guardianship of Minor - different types and forms by ND courts
- Legal Services of North Dakota
- Volunteer Lawyer program
- Grandfamilies.org: A national legal resource in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system
Below are some various options of support groups or forums which may be useful for support, encouragement, and information from fellow caregivers
- ND Post Adopt Network provides support for adoptive and guardianship families
- ND Parent-to-parent/Family Voices: Network of parents supporting families of children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special health needs
- Daily Strength support forum (Various topics)
- Daily Strength Grandparents Raising Children support forum
Books for caregiver
- Raising Our Children's Children by Deborah Doucette-Dusman
- Raising Your Children's Children: Help For Grandparents Raising Grandkids by Martha Evans Sparks
- Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family by Sylvie De Toledo & Deborah Elder Brown
- Advocating for Children in Foster and Kinship Care by Mitchell Rosenwald and Beth Riley
- The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
- Connected Child by Karyn B. Purvis
- The Kinship Parenting Toolbox by Kim Phagan-Hanselx
- The 5 love languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman and D. Ross Campbell
- Behavior with a Purpose by Richard Delaney PhD and Charley Joyce LICSW