The Villages of Indiana’s Family Connection Network (FCN) has helped support kinship families financially for almost 25 years. But they say it’s hard to keep up with the support families need as the cost of living increases.
Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or close family friends when biological parents are unable to do so.
During a roundtable discussion earlier this week at The Villages of Indiana, kinship families gathered to tell stories of their experiences navigating the system. All agreed that if they were asked to take in grandchildren, nieces and nephews they would do it again in a heartbeat, even if they felt like navigating the kinship care system was complicated.
Unlike foster parenting, which is also becoming strained as the cost of living increases, resources available to kinship caregivers are limited. Due to some laws, it’s also complicated to qualify for certain government assistance.
Terrell Smith is the Villages Family Connection Network Program Case Manager. She says many kinship caregivers take on the role unexpectedly and a lot of the time they’re seniors – grandparents taking care of grandchildren. Smith says they’re then left to rework a fixed income.
"People assume that these caregivers don’t need help, probably because they assume they know how to be financially literate,” Smith said, “But that is not the case at all."
That’s where FCN comes in. The program helps families cover the costs of some basic needs, including housing, food, utilities, and even healthcare.
The Villages CEO Shannon Schumacher says families aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living. The program is as well.
“I hope we can promote the program more in the future,” Schumacher said, “It’s had to remain word of mouth, because we just can’t help all the families that need the help right now.”
Schumacher says FCN served more than 100 families in 2025, across 13 counties in the state. The program relies on community partnerships and donations.
Along with the listening roundtable, The Villages was also presented a check from AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation. The $150,000 grant from Caritas will go towards supporting kinship families.
Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Barbara Anguiano at banguiano@wfyi.org
