About
In June 2026, Think of Us launched a $500 micro-cash grant opportunity to support formal and informal kinship caregivers across Texas. The grant was designed to provide direct financial assistance to relatives and other trusted adults caring for children who are not their biological children.
The application also served as a learning opportunity to better understand caregivers’ experiences, financial circumstances, support systems, and unmet needs. Caregivers shared information about their households, caregiving arrangements, increased expenses, access to benefits and services, legal authority, barriers to support, and the changes they believe would make the greatest difference for kinship families.
What we learned will help inform advocacy and improve programs, policies, and support systems for kinship caregivers across Texas.
The Population
- Kinship Caregivers
- Currently reside in Texas
- Serve as the primary caregiver for at least one child under age 18 who is not their biological child
- Provide either formal or informal kinship care
- This includes licensed foster parents, caregivers working toward licensure, informal caregivers, adoptive parents, and legal guardians
The Why
Kinship caregivers provide children with stability, connection, and the opportunity to remain within their families and communities. Yet many caregivers step into this role unexpectedly and without the financial resources, legal authority, information, or services they need.
Listening directly to formal and informal caregivers helps Think of Us and its partners understand how caregiving affects families and where existing systems fall short. This information can help build supports around caregivers’ actual experiences instead of assuming that every kinship family needs—or can access—the same things.
The Challenge
Kinship caregivers often take on significant new responsibilities with little preparation. They may experience increased costs for food, housing, clothing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, and school needs. Some reduce their work hours, leave employment, spend their savings, borrow money, or modify their homes to accommodate the children in their care.
At the same time, caregivers may struggle to understand which benefits they qualify for, complete complex applications, obtain legal authority, or receive timely responses from service systems. Informal caregivers can face particular barriers because they may not have formal custody arrangements or connections to the child welfare system.
Programs and policies do not always account for how these financial, legal, practical, and emotional pressures overlap—or for the differences between formal and informal caregiving arrangements.
The Action
Think of Us provided direct cash assistance to eligible kinship caregivers across Texas. The application was open from June 16 through July 16, 2026.
Through the application, caregivers shared information about:
- Their household and caregiving arrangements
- The children in their care
- Employment, income, benefits, and subsidies
- Costs and financial adjustments associated with caregiving
- Legal authority and access to legal assistance
- Support received and barriers to obtaining help
- The personal impact of caregiving
- The changes that would most help kinship families in Texas
The findings are used to elevate caregivers’ experiences, identify gaps in existing support systems, and inform efforts to strengthen policies and services for kinship families across Texas.
Explore the Data
The dashboard below highlights who applied, the circumstances and needs of kinship caregivers across Texas, the impact caregiving has on their families, and opportunities to strengthen policies and support systems based on their lived experiences. Use the filters on each visual to explore the data and better understand the experiences of caregivers.
*This dashboard is only viewable by desktop and some compatible tablets and not compatible with mobile devices.
