STEPPING UP FOR KIDS

The new KIDS COUNT report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, STEPPING UP FOR KIDS, highlights the importance of kinship care and outlines how state governments and communities can help these relatives.  Nationally, there are 2.7 million children cared for by extended family members and close family friends.  In New York, about 153,000 children are living in this type of household, which represents about 3 percent of all children 18 years and younger in the state. For more information, view the national report, Stepping Up for Kids <http://bit.ly/JgZbt7> and a New York state brief, Kinship Children in New York State <http://bit.ly/K7S1bR> . A New York State Quick Fact Sheet <http://bit.ly/JPZWfw> is also available.