Featured News:
New Publication for NYS Kinship Families!
NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has just published a handbook for relatives raising children, entitled “Having a Voice & a Choice”.  This handbook is an excellent summary of laws and resources for kinship families. 
Go to OCFS’s website to download a free copy.

OCFS - Having a voice & choice
NYS Kinship Navigator Website Provides:
  • Fact sheets on laws and resources
  • Answers to frequently asked questions on kinship care
  • County guides on kinship caregiving
  • Forums for caretakers and service providers
  • Access to a kinship specialist via a toll free phone number
Call Our Specialists to Learn More About:
  • Legal rights regarding custody and visitation
  • Decision-making authority
  • Access to official records
  • Other resources
  • Eligibility for public assistance, foster care, tax credits, childcare, and respite

County Resources:

Essex Clinton Franklin St. Lawrence Hamilton Warren Washington Saratoga Rensselaer Columbia Dutchess Putnam New York City Westchester Fulton Montgomery Schoharie Schenectady Albany Greene Ulster Orange Rockland Suffolk Nassau Bronx Queens Kings Richmond Sullivan Delaware Otsego Herkimer Lewis Jefferson Oneida Madison Chenango Broome Cortland Onondaga Oswego Cayuga Seneca Wayne Tompkins Tioga Chemung Schuyler Yates Ontario Monroe Livingston Steuben Allegany Cattaraugus Chautauqua Wyoming Genesee Orleans Niagara Erie
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PLEASE NOTE

Any opinions, legal opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website or by any person or entity to whom you may be referred are those of the Kinship Navigator, Catholic Family Center and/or the person or entity you are referred to and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, legal opinions or policy of the State of New York and/or the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Catholic Family Center verifies that none of the funds from the contractor are being used to bring litigation against the state of NY, OCFS or any county or other government or local social services district.

The Kinship Navigator is operated by Catholic Family Center in Rochester, and is funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.