Who We Are
What is the King County Kinship Collaboration (KCKC)?
Vision
To Recognize & Strengthen Communities Where Families Care for Families
Mission
The King County Kinship Collaboration will create and maintain a regional collaboration that provides comprehensive and coordinated services, advocacy and community education to support kinship families.
History
The King County Kinship Collaboration came out of interest at the 2004 Kinship Gathering to create some kind of collaborative partnership that could respond in a more comprehensive way to the specific needs of kinship families and caregivers. Since August 2005, kinship caregivers and representatives from about 30 different organizations throughout King County have been laying the groundwork for such a partnership. Some of these organizations include:
A truly collaborative initiative, the KCKC was spearheaded by Casey Family Programs and is now supported through four organizations:
- Casey Family Programs
- DSHS/Children’s Administration
- Senior Services
- Aging and Disability Services
In addition, a charter agreement was developed and signed by twelve lead organizations (each indicated by an asterisk * in the list above). Each of these organizations has expressed its commitment to contributing to and supporting the KCKC.
(Note: The KCKC is not a program of King County government.)
How is the Collaboration structured?
About 25 individuals - a mix of caregivers and staff from a diverse group of agencies - comprise the KCKC’s Full Group, which meets monthly to network and to help build on the Collaboration’s work. In addition, an Advisory Council of caregivers advises the direction of the group. Executives from each lead organization join with kinship caregivers to make up a Steering Committee of the Collaboration, whose job is to provide resources and administrative guidance to the work of the group.
What has been done so far?
Since its inception in fall 2005, the KCKC has:
- Reviewed known strengths and challenges of current services in King County;
- Defined its mission, vision and values, and identified ideal qualities for supporting kinship families;
- Explored successful collaborative models serving kinship care providers in Tucson, San Francisco and Los Angeles to see what can be learned from them;
- Developed a charter agreement between 12 lead agencies to support the planning and work of the Collaboration;
- Determined a model for delivering services to kinship families throughout King County.
- Hired a full-time project coordinator
- Developed and delivered a panel presentation to local conferences about the unique needs of kinship caregivers, and the resources available through the Collaboration.
KCKC Member Organizations
- ARC of King County
- Atlantic Street Center
- Benefits Checkup, NCOA
- NBCDI (National Black Child Development Institute)
- Casey Family Programs
- Catalyst for Kids
- Catholic Family & Child Services
- Child Care Resources
- Childhaven
- DSHS/Adult & Aging Services (AAA)
- DSHS/Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS)
- DSHS/Children’s Administration (CA)
- DSHS/Division of Child Support (DCS)
- DSHS/Economic Services Administration (ESA) - Child Support Enforcement
- DSHS/ESA - Community Services Division (TANF)
- Elder & Adult Day Services
- Emerald City Outreach Ministries
- Encompass
- Kent School District
- Kent Youth & Family Services
- Kindering Center
- King County
- King County Bar Association
- King County Juvenile Court
- Kitsap Area Administration
- Mockingbird Society
- Muckleshoot Tribe
- Northshore School District
- Northwest Women’s Law Center
- Odessa Brown Children’s Clinics
- Office of Representative Eric Pettigrew
- Puget Sound Educational Service District
- Rainier Beach Family Center
- Renton Area Youth Services
- Seattle University School of Law/Access to Justice Institute
- Secure a Kid
- Senior Rights Assistance
- Senior Services/Kinship Navigator Program
- Southeast Youth & Family Services
- UJIMA Community Services
- United Indians of All Tribes
- United Way of King County
- Valley Cities Mental Health
- WCPCAN-Children’s Trust Fund of WA
How do I get involved?
Participation is open; kinship caregivers and organizations working with kinship caregivers are invited to join this Collaboration.
If you would like to join this effort or have questions or comments about the King County Kinship Collaboration, please contact the KCKC Project Coordinator, Barb Wiley, at (206) 268-6785, or through e-mail at barbaraw@seniorservices.org.
