As a new grandparent, I looked forward to spending quality time with my grandkids. But when my daughter’s lifelong struggle with mental health came to a breaking point at the age of 52, I became a full-time parent for the second time. I left my bookkeeping business, and caring for my grandson became my new full-time job. I did it with one goal in mind: to keep my family together.

I am one of roughly 36,500 grandparents in Colorado caring for their grandchildren, commonly referred to as kinship caregivers. For every child being raised by a relative in the foster care system, 18 children are being cared for by family members outside of the system. Placing children with family or preferred kin has been proven to provide better outcomes for children’s well-being; however, kinship care was not prioritized until recently.

In 2023, the Biden Administration, in conjunction with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), proposed a federal rule change to enhance support for kinship caregivers within child welfare agencies. The rule change simplifies licensing standards, ensuring that kinship caregivers can access the same level of assistance as foster parents.

As a grandparent who sought assistance from Colorado’s HHS seventeen years ago, I understand firsthand the profound impact this rule change and the accompanying policies can have on families’ lives.

Just as I was preparing for retirement, our family faced significant instability when my grandson was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, and cognitive function disorders. Unsure of where to turn, I reached out to local child welfare authorities in the hope of finding support to help our family navigate this challenging situation so we can prevent the need for child welfare intervention or the initiation of a dependency and neglect case involving my daughter. Unfortunately, at that time, we were informed that without initiating a formal case, financial assistance and resources would not be accessible to us. Moreover, there was no guarantee that my grandson would be placed under our care. This left us feeling unsupported and uncertain about the future.

As we looked for help, our situation got worse. I struggled through the complex welfare system but found no immediate help. Along the way, I met other Colorado families facing the same issues. We joined forces to support each other.

Through these conversations, I founded the Grand Family Coalition (GFC) to support kin caregivers and their families. Since 2014, GFC has been helping families in Colorado, connecting them to support groups, workshops, and social events with the goal of ensuring that no family feels alone.

Time sure has flown, and since the beginning of my journey, Colorado has made significant strides to bolster kinship care. Gov. Jared Polis signed HB23-1024 into law, and additional legislation (SB24-008, SB24-059) has been introduced to promote standardized quality in kinship care. Despite these advancements, the accessibility of licensing supports remains inconsistent, varying significantly from county to county.

My daughter is now successfully raising her secondborn while actively participating in my grandson’s life. Choosing to keep our family out of the child welfare system meant we were lucky enough to prevent further hardships and punitive damages for my daughter and her two children.

This new HHS rule change represents a fundamental shift in the child welfare system, prioritizing prevention over punishment and striving to maintain family unity. However, as my family experienced, not all families will be informed of their rights and will only receive aid once a case is opened. The success of this rule change in Colorado hinges on ensuring that counties inform relatives of their legal options to become licensed as Kinship Caregivers, enabling them to receive financial support when child welfare intervention is necessary.

Last year, Colorado achieved a significant milestone: 50% of children in need were placed in Kinship Care when removal was necessary. Colorado’s objective is to elevate this figure to 60%. To get that number to 60, our focus should be on ensuring that kinship caregivers become licensed, guaranteeing equitable compensation and quality of care seen for foster care placements. For those who opt not to engage with the child welfare system, robust support services must be readily available to preempt the necessity for licensing.

Our efforts shouldn’t be confined to merely funding child welfare agencies. We must also focus on integrating and strengthening care systems to prevent the need for child welfare intervention altogether. By investing in community-based programs and organizations, our leaders can ensure Colorado parents and caregivers have the support they need to raise thriving children and families.

In 2024, I’m hopeful that we’ll persist in advancing prevention, embracing proven solutions, and fostering community-driven change to enhance the well-being of children and families in Colorado and beyond.

Gail Engel is a Colorado native and founder of Grand Family Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit connecting kinship families with one another to find support, understanding, and fulfillment of connection. Grand Family Coalition offers programs, social activities, and a collaboration of community resources, encouraging a community of grandfamilies that promotes positive thinking and emotional well-being. 

Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more.

To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.