Kinship Care Families

The number of kinship care families, where grandparents and other relatives care for children whose own parents are unable to care for them, continues to increase in the United States and throughout the world. These family members experience unique challenges related to their living situation.

Western Michigan University's graduate certificate in Kinship Care is specifically designed for professionals from varied fields to enhance their professional knowledge and skills when working with adults or children living in kinship care families. Coursework addresses multi-generational challenges, education systems, healthcare systems, economic challenges, and existing programs and services.

Five Kinship Care courses are offered online to accommodate both U.S. and international students and can be completed within one calendar year. Students may elect to take some or all of the courses within this specialization area. Those wishing to complete a graduate program in Family and Consumer Sciences may use these courses toward that degree.