Focus group forming-kinship volunteers needed

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Kinship caregivers are family members or close family friends who care for children full time when parents cannot, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings, cousins, or members of tribes or clans.

If so, we want to hear your story! Chapin Hall, in partnership with MDHHS and the MDHHS’ Kinship Advisory Council (KAC), is hosting a one-time, 60-minute virtual focus group sessions.

Your input will help shape future programs and policies for kinship families across Michigan.

Selected participate who attend these focus group sessions will receive a $75 gift card by email as a thank-you. Space is limited, and not all applications will be accepted.

Sign up here: Michigan Kinship Caregiver Study: Screening & Interest Form – Fill out form

• Who qualifies?  informal, formal, and diverted caregivers, adults raised in kinship care, and biological parents
• One-time, virtual, 60 minutes focus group
• Selected participants who attend these focus group sessions will receive a $75 digital gift by email
• Confidential and for research purposes only

Overview & Purpose

Chapin Hall, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Gaps and Barriers Subcommittee and MDHHS’ Kinship Advisory Council (KAC), is conducting a research study to better understand the experiences of kinship caregivers across Michigan.

Who is a kinship caregiver? Kinship caregivers are relatives or close family friends who care for children full time when their parents cannot (e.g., grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings, cousins, members of tribes or clans, or close family friends). Some families enter kinship care through the foster care or child welfare system, while others do so on their own, with or without legal paperwork.

For this study, we are interested in all of these experiences. Whether you have a court order, guardianship papers, a safety plan, or an informal agreement in your family — your perspective matters here. Your feedback will help MDHHS, strengthen programs and policies that serve kinship families.

Please note: Not all applications will be accepted, as we are seeking to ensure diverse representation across different types of kinship caregiving experiences.