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Types of Kinship Care

  • An informal agreement between family members or with a non-relative. This arrangement can occur when Hamilton County Children’s Services does not have legal custody of the child.
  • Kinship caregiver– The caregiver has physical custody, and Hamilton County Children’s Services has legal custody.
  • Kinship guardian– The caregiver has legal custody and physical custody. Hamilton County Children’s Services typically closes the case.
  • Kinship foster care– The caregiver is a licensed foster parent and has physical custody of the child. Hamilton County Children’s Services has legal custody.
  • Kinship adoption– The biological parents’ rights are terminated and the relative caregiver becomes the child’s legal parent.

Child Support

Child Support is money required by law to be paid by one parent to another to help cover the costs of raising their children.

Child Support

Food Assistance

Food Assistance helps families stretch their food budgets to buy healthy food. Also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program may be available to both families and individuals who qualify.

Food Assistance

Medical Assistance

Medicaid (medical assistance) provides health care coverage to families who may not otherwise have access to health care. Medicaid may cover part of the cost of visits to the doctor, nursing home care and home health care.

Medical Assistance

Child Care

Child Care services are available to eligible parents who are either working or in school, to help cover part of the cost of child care for their children. Parents are able to pick a child care provider that meets their …

Child Care

Cash Assistance

Cash assistance, also known as Ohio Works First, is temporary assistance available to families to help them pay for immediate needs while the adults of the family prepare for and search for jobs. While receiving assistance, families spend a  minimum …

Cash Assistance

Child Protection

The Children’s Services Division works with families to help keep Hamilton County children safe. Children’s Services operates the 241-KIDS hotline, provides services to help families and, when necessary, places children who cannot be safe in their own homes into temporary …

Child Protection

Workforce Development

The Workforce Development unit helps Hamilton County residents join the workforce and move up the economic ladder.

Workforce Development

Elder Protection

Hamilton County Adult Protective Services operates 421-LIFE, the 24-hour hotline for reporting abuse and neglect (by self or others) of Hamilton County adult residents. Hamilton County Job and Family Services works to: Identify risks to the safety and well-being of …

Elder Protection