September is National Kinship Care Month, when families recognize the unconditional love and sacrifice made by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and other relatives to raise children while their parents are not available. In Nevada, Foster Kinship strengthens that recognition by providing services, resources, and guidance for kinship caregivers – that way they can help their families thrive with much awareness.
Helping Caregivers and Kids
The mission of Foster Kinship is clear-cut: to ensure that children have safe, stable, and loving homes and to provide caregivers with the resources and support they need. Since it began operations, Foster Kinship has served over 24,000 children. In only 2024, Foster Kinship completed over 58,000 service events to more than 3,200 families–some families raising relatives’ children with little income and virtually no access to traditional foster care resources.
“Kinship families are the hidden backbone of child welfare,” says Dr. Ali Caliendo, founder and executive director of Foster Kinship. “They step up in a time of crisis, often with no notice, and take on a tremendous responsibility out of love. It is our job to walk alongside them and ensure they have the resources, knowledge, and emotional support to raise thriving children.”
Programs That Make a Difference
Foster Kinship has programs that support families and children at their immediate location. For example
Kinship Navigator Program: Provides access to case management, legal and financial needs support, and basic needs assistance to put children and families at risk of foster care back into stability.
Child and Youth Intervention Services: Provides trauma-informed therapeutic programs, including respite care and youth and family support services, to support children in their healing and recovery from abuse, neglect, or loss.
Thriving Together Academy: A wrap-around model to support families that includes caregiver education, behavioral consultations, workshops, support groups, and community events open to all caregivers.
Marcie’s Heart Resource Center: A free service providing necessities such as clothing, diapers, formula, car seats, and cribs—often relieving significant financial burdens and reconnecting caregivers with caregivers and community service providers.
Kinship Advocacy Network: A platform that allows caregivers and children the opportunity to amplify their voices and engage with agencies and policymakers in the policies and services disbursed by some agencies before those policies are developed and implemented.
In addressing emotional, legal, financial, and community needs, Foster Kinship helps children thrive while supporting caregivers—many of whom are older adults raising children who have experienced trauma.
Recognition and Impact
Foster Kinship’s work is recognized statewide and nationally. In 2025, it was given the “Agency of the Year” by the Children’s Advocacy Alliance for a successful, innovative approach to community and family support with policy advocacy. In early September, the organization will be honored in Washington, D.C., as Nevada’s “Angels in Adoption” recipient by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, highlighting its leadership in child welfare.
Standing with Families in Nevada
Foster Kinship highlights how vital support is for families. At Nevada Autism Center, our focus is helping children with autism build skills to talk, walk, and grow more independent—while guiding parents to better understand and support their child. Every step matters.
Please connect with us today, and let’s work together to help your child thrive.
