Kids -n- Kin program starting in Clarke County

What do single parents do with their children when they have to work and can't afford to pay for childcare? Often they turn to family members, grandparents or aunts and uncles to help take care of the children while mom or dad are away.

The problem as seen by Family Guidance Center of Alabama, is that those relatives haven't received any training to know what to do in case of emergencies.

A 1997 survey performed by the Urban Institute found that almost one third of Alabama's children under age five with working mothers are cared for by relatives.

So the program, Kids and Kin was established to help those relative child care providers, and now it's making its way to Clarke and Baldwin Counties. It is the only one of its kind in the state.

"We want to reach out to those relative child care givers in this area with the training they need," said Denise Martin, representative who is working in the two-county area.

Martin said the training would cover a wide variety of topics and that participants would be able to complete a voluntary certification program.

Relative child care providers can earn up to $150 in educational materials, toys and books for their participation in the program. Classes are usually two hours in length and held twice a month.

Topics will include teaching children conflict resolution, instilling positive values, making learning fun, safety and childhood diseases.

The program is funded through a contract with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

The program is free and open to all adults over the age of 19 who are caring for a grandchild, niece, nephew or sibling under the age of 13.

To get more information and learn how to enroll in the program, call Denise Martin at 334-357-0799.

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