You don't have to figure it out alone
Raising a child you didn't expect to parent can bring questions about legal custody, school, health insurance, financial assistance, child welfare, and everyday needs.
Our team of Family Advocates are here to help kinship caregivers understand their options, connect with resources, and navigate systems that can feel overwhelming.
Meet Chelsea Nielsen
Advocacy Coordinator
Chelsea oversees our team of Family Advocates as they help kinship caregivers navigate complicated systems and connect with the resources they need. With more than eight years of experience at Children’s Service Society, Chelsea has worked across multiple counties, giving her a strong understanding of the unique systems, resources, and challenges families may encounter in different communities.
Her experience includes collaborating with community partners, navigating court processes, and advocating alongside caregivers as they work through complex situations. Chelsea brings a practical, relationship-focused approach to helping families understand their options and feel more confident navigating the systems around them.
Need help finding an advocate in your area?
GRANDfamilies Locations
Helpful Information for Kinship Caregivers
Kinship Resource Locator Tool
Resources at your fingertips! The interactive online Kinship Resource Locator Tool, provided free of charge, will help you identify targeted resources for kinship caregivers in Utah based on age, caregiving status, the age and needs of the children, and location. Available in English and Spanish.
Guardianship
Legal Issues such as Guardianship and Custody can be very problematic for individuals or families that are caring for a relative’s child. Unless you have a legal document from the court stating that you have a legal right to have the child in your home, the child’s parents can remove the child at any time. If you feel that guardianship is the right option, the district court has self-service paperwork on their website.
At GRANDfamilies, we understand that navigating court documents can feel overwhelming. Our family advocates are trained in filling out the court paperwork for guardianship and are available to assist.
If you’re unsure of what decision to make, our advocates are also happy to meet and discuss alternate options to guardianship.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available to all kinship caregivers by going to the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS). The financial aid is referred to as the “Specified Relative Grant.” This financial assistance is not based on the caregiver’s financial status or need but on the child’s assets or income.
This grant also gives the child a Medicaid card for medical, mental health, and dental care. You DO NOT need to have guardianship or custody of the child to apply for this grant or Medicaid. You will need to bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate and your birth certificate to show that you are biologically related to the child. You will also be required to give information to the Office of Recovery Service regarding the location of the biological parents of the child. This will enable the state of Utah to recoup this expense from the child’s parents.
For more information, please visit the Workforce Services website at www.jobs.utah.gov
Our GRANDfamilies staff are available to assist families with the application for the Specified Relative Grant and/or Medicaid. Please reach out to one of our offices for an appointment.
School Enrollment
School Enrollment can be frustrating to a new kinship caregiver. If a child is dropped off by a parent, and the caregiver lives outside the boundaries of the child’s school the new school may refuse to enroll the child in class unless the caregiver has legal custody or guardianship of the child. If you declare that the child is “homeless” the school has to enroll the child under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of No Child Left Behind. Thus, caregivers do not need to have legal guardianship or custody to enroll the child in school due to No Child Left Behind.
Under the McKinney-Vento Act these children may also qualify for the following special considerations.
- The right to remain enrolled in the school of origin (the school in which a homeless child was last enrolled) “to the extent feasible” or in the new school where grandparents or other kinship caregivers may be located.
- Transportation to the school of origin “to the extent feasible.”
- Free school lunch (not reduced, but free!) granted immediately with a child being automatically eligible (no application is required).
- Immediate enrollment with the right to attend and participate fully in school classes and extra-curricular activities without the need for former school records, proof of guardianship, birth certificates, immunization records, medical records, or proof of residency (because requiring these may delay a homeless child’s immediate school enrollment).
- The right to enrollment in special education by an adult relative with whom the child is living.
- Waiver of school fees and provision of supplies related to school classes and extra-curricular programs.
- Title IA services in both Title I-A and non-title IA schools.
- Preschoolers have the same considerations in Head Start programs where available.
Each school district has a person designated as the liaison for homeless children with the charge to ensure that homeless children and youth are identified, enroll in, and have a full opportunity to succeed in schools and receive educational services for which they are eligible. Contact your school districts’ person over The No Child Left Behind Act or contact the State Office of Education 801-538-7975 to obtain the number of the person in your area. You may also contact GRANDfamilies for assistance at 801-326-4409
Crime Victim Reparations
If you or the child you are caring for is the victim of a crime such as; domestic violence, sexual assault/abuse, physical abuse or neglect, you may be eligible for assistance for medical bills you have incurred due to the crime. You may also receive assistance in paying for mental health treatment. GRANDfamilies can assist you in completing and submitting your application to Crime Victims Reparations.
Mental Health
Children in kinship care often have backgrounds where they may have been exposed to neglect or abuse, whether physical, emotional, or sexual. Children who have faced abuse or neglect may experience emotional and behavioral difficulties, learning challenges, or delays in development. However, with the right care and support, many of these challenges can be addressed, and children can heal and thrive.
Children who have experienced trauma may show behaviors such as:
- Difficulty expressing or managing emotions, which may look like frustration, irritability, isolation, or mood swings.
- Struggling to trust adults or form healthy social connections with peers.
- Avoiding reminders of past traumatic experiences, such as certain places, people, or activities.
- Experiencing sleep difficulties, such as trouble falling asleep, nightmares, or sleeping too much.
- Struggling with impulse control, which can lead to risky or harmful behaviors.
Through our GRANDfamilies program, we offer free in-person and telehealth therapy services specifically designed for kinship families. Our compassionate therapists understand the unique needs of children in kinship care and can support your family in addressing the effects of trauma, helping the children and your family heal and grow.
For more information, please reach out to our staff at 801-326-4409 or
Grandparent Visitation & Rights
When you want to stay connected to your grandchild
Being separated from a grandchild can be incredibly painful. We hear from grandparents who love their grandchildren deeply and are struggling because they are no longer able to see or maintain a relationship with them.
If you are in this situation, you are not alone. GRANDfamilies can help you understand the resources available to you and help you identify where to turn for legal information and support.
Understanding your rights in utah
Utah law recognizes that parents have a fundamental right and responsibility to make decisions about the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of their children. As a result, when there is no court order granting a grandparent visitation, a parent generally has the authority to decide whether their child has contact with a grandparent.
This can be especially difficult when a grandparent believes that maintaining the relationship is important to the child's emotional well-being.
Utah law does provide a process for grandparents to petition a court for visitation. Under Utah Code § 81-9-403, Visitation rights of grandparents, a grandparent may petition the court for visitation. However, the law presumes that a parent's decision regarding grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the child. A grandparent must present clear and convincing evidence to overcome that presumption.
The law identifies circumstances in which a court may find that presumption has been overcome, including situations in which:
The grandparent has acted in a role similar to a parent or caregiver to the child, and losing the relationship would cause substantial harm to the child; or, Both parents are unfit or incompetent in a way that creates potential harm to the child. If the presumption is overcome, the court may then consider whether visitation is in the child's best interest and may consider the totality of the circumstances, including the reasonableness of the parent's decision to deny visitation, the child's age, the death or unavailability of a parent, and—when the child is age 14 or older—the child's wishes regarding visitation.
READ THE CURRENT UTAH LAW
What if you believe losing the relationship could harm your grandchild?
If you believe that the loss of your relationship with your grandchild could cause significant harm, or you believe there are other circumstances that may meet the requirements of Utah law, consider speaking with a qualified family-law attorney about your specific situation.
GRANDfamilies cannot provide legal advice or determine whether you qualify for court-ordered visitation, but we can help you identify places to start.
Legal Help & Information
Utah State Courts Self-Help Center The Utah State Courts Self-Help Center provides free information about court processes, forms, and legal options for people who do not have an attorney. They can also provide information about legal aid, pro bono and low-cost legal services, and lawyer referral resources. The Self-Help Center does not represent individuals or provide legal advice.
Self-Help Center: 888-683-0009Text: 801-742-1898Email:
Visit the Utah Courts Self-Help Center
Additional Legal Resources
Utah Courts also provides information about legal assistance programs, including Utah Legal Services and the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake. The Legal Aid Society may provide representation in grandparent visitation and guardianship matters for financially eligible clients.
Find Legal Help Through Utah Courts
A note from GRANDfamilies
We understand that sometimes the hardest part is not knowing where to turn. If you are a grandparent who is grieving the loss of contact with your grandchild, we encourage you to seek appropriate legal guidance while also considering what support may be available for you and your family.
Our Family Advocates can help you understand available community resources and connect you with appropriate services. We cannot provide legal advice or determine your legal rights, but you do not have to navigate the search for help alone.
