Extended relatives, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and even close friends (referred to as “fictive kin”) have always been a stabilizing force in the family system. These relationships have historically been, and are still today, a vital source of safety and permanency for children.In this episode, Dr. Valerie Jackson shares how Monarch Family Services got started as a child placing agency providing specialized support for biological families and kinship (relative) caregivers. We discuss how the needs of kinship families (relative caregivers) differ from typical foster families and why additional support is needed to keep these families intact.Want to learn more about kinship care and how you can support families in your community? Visit our Kinship Support page, read through the Kinship Family Resource Guide, or connect using the links below!Guest:Dr. Valerie Jacksonhttps://monarchfamilyservices.com/Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.project/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx/Many thanks to Nathan Cadis Media for audio and video production of this podcast!https://www.nathancadismedia.com/