Kenosha County Kinship Program outlines monthly stipends and support for relatives raising children

Clary Snowol of the Kenosha County Kinship Program said the county provides a monthly stipend to eligible relatives who are raising children, a support meant to help keep children with family and reduce foster-care placements.

Snowol, who identified herself as working with the county program, said the stipend helps relatives cover day-to-day costs and that placing children with known caregivers "is seen as more of a prevention to foster care." She said the program gives families continuity and helps children keep connections to their communities and identities.

Speaking about the need for peer supports, Snowol noted parenting today differs from two decades ago and described caregivers who are older: "I have some clients that are in their 80s that are raising five-year-olds or teenagers." She said the Kinship support group began to provide practical help and emotional support for relatives in that role.

Snowol said the program also hosts an annual picnic "as a way to support caregivers and tell them how thankful the county is for the work that they're doing." She described her work as personally rewarding: "I come to work every day because I believe in the job I do. I love the job I do."

Snowol said the program’s central goal is to support caregivers so children can remain in familiar environments rather than enter foster care. She did not specify the dollar amount of the monthly stipend or exact eligibility thresholds.