Guardianship

The Children's Bureau provides funding to states and tribes that have been approved to operate a title IV-E Guardianship Assistance program in order to help them support relatives who become legal guardians of children from foster care for whom they previously cared for as foster parents.

The following are additional resources on guardianship and kinship care:

• Child Welfare Policy Manual - This manual includes questions and answers regarding the title IV-E Guardianship Assistance program.
• Federal Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program State Policies and Laws - The Children’s Bureau and the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections have compiled information from states that have been approved to operate the title IV-E Guardianship Assistance program. This list is based on the information provided in states’ title IV-E plans and provides links to states’ guardianship laws, policies, and forms, such as the Guardianship Agreement. State contact information also is provided, when available.
• The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections - This website has information on kinship care, guardianship, family search and engagement, and other promising practices from states and tribes.