FFPSA: Kinship navigator
Overview
Many relatives and kin care for children in Minnesota through informal family arrangements or through formal roles such as foster parents, legal custodians or adoptive parents. Children and their kinship caregivers need an array of services that are accessible and provided by public, private, and Tribal service agencies. In 2018, the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) passed, allowing states to claim federal Title IV-E reimbursement for a kinship navigator program.
Kinship navigator programs help relatives and kin with learning about and accessing services and supports to meet their needs including legal, financial, and peer support programs. The federal Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Program Instructions ACYF-CB-PI-18-11 provides detailed requirements for kinship navigator programs.
The Minnesota Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) has partnered with the following agencies to provide navigation services for relative caregivers:
- Urban League
2100 Plymouth Ave N; Minneapolis, MN 55411
Urban League Twin Cities – Empowering communities. Changing lives. - Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
2485 Como Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108
Kinship Family Support Services | Lutheran Social Service of MN - Nexus Kindred Family Healing
412 Great Oak Dr.
Waite Park, MN 56387
Nexus-Kindred Family Healing - Family Service Rochester
4600 18th Ave NW Rochester MN 55901
Family Service Rochester
The four grantees above will be implementing the evidenced based Foster Kinship Navigator model
In addition, the state continues to explore additional gaps in services to support relative caregivers and the Kinship Navigator models approved to fulfill the overall vision for kinship supports in Minnesota.
Kinship Navigator FAQ (updated May 2025)
Kinship Navigator FAQ (PDF)
Kinship Navigator program update (October 2023)
Federal Title IV-E Clearinghouse
Federal financial support through Title IV-E depends on a kinship navigator program it is at least “promising” when it comes to evidence displaying improvements on a range of outcomes. These outcomes include child safety, permanency, child well-being, adult well-being, and access to, referral to and/or satisfaction with services.
The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse determines what qualifies as an evidence-based FFPSA kinship navigator program. The Title IV-E Clearinghouse was established to conduct an objective and transparent review of research on programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements.
States may elect to implement multiple kinship navigator models approved through the Clearinghouse. The department has selected the Clearinghouse approved Foster Kinship model for implementation and will begin claiming federal reimbursement for these services which allow for future further investment in kinship supports.
Ongoing analysis of relative caregiver needs and review of newly approved models to meet these needs will continue through established county and tribal engagement and decision-making processes.
Resources and additional information
https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/pi1811.pdf
Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System | LawHelp Minnesota Minnesota Fact Sheet 2024 Update.pdf
Questions
Contact dhs.csp.safety@state.mn.us for questions related to Kinship Navigator services.
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