Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program

Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This opportunity is intended for states and tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, with projects focusing on administering KNP services, collaborative planning, evaluating the KNP, and completing a final evaluation report that…

The Family First Prevention Services Act enacted as part of Public Law (PL) 115 -123, amended Title IV-E to allow title IV-E agencies the option to receive funding for evidence-based kinship navigator programs that meet certain criteria. Kinship navigator programs help relative and kin caregivers learn about and access programs and services to meet their own needs and the needs of the children they are raising.

Kinship Navigator Programs must meet the requirements described in section 427(a)(1) of the Social Security Act, as follows: * shall be coordinated with other state or local agencies who promote service coordination or referral services which may include 2-1-1- or 3-1-1 information systems, * shall be planned and operated in consultation with kinship caregivers, youth raised in kinship care, and organizations representing the caregivers interests and provide outreach to kinship families, * shall establish information and referral services that link kinship caregivers with relevant training and legal assistance.

* shall provide outreach to kinship care families, including by establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care website, or other relevant guides or outreach materials, and * shall promote partnerships between public and private agencies across the sectors including schools, community based or faith-based organizations, and relevant government agencies, to increase their knowledge of the needs of kinship care families Title IV-E agencies approved to operate the program may claim 50 percent Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for allowable kinship navigator programs.

Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program requires use of program models that have been reviewed and rated by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse as meeting promising, supported, or well-supported practice standards. To apply to participate in the program, title IV-E agencies must submit an attachment to their title IV-E plan, following guidance provided in Program Instruction ACYF-CB-PI-18-11.

As of January 2026, there are 11 states and one territory (Puerto Rico) that have been approved to operate an evidence-based kinship navigator program: Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington.

The Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator Program has received a Supported rating from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, and this program is also eligible for the Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program.

**Title IV-E Agency****Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program Implemented** ColoradoColorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program DelawareKinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically Advanced Model (KIN-TECH TM) Iowa, Ohio, Puerto RicoOhio's Kinship Supports Intervention/ProtectOHIO Minnesota, Nevada, South Carolina, and UtahFoster Kinship Navigator Program NebraskaArizona Kinship Support Services Virgina and WashingtonWashington State Kinship Navigator