About
In June 2026, Think of Us launched a $500 micro-cash grant for formal and informal kinship caregivers across Texas, providing direct financial support to relatives and trusted adults caring for children who are not their biological children.
The application also helped us better understand caregivers’ experiences, including their financial circumstances, caregiving arrangements, access to benefits and services, legal authority, support systems, and unmet needs.
These insights will inform advocacy and strengthen programs, policies, and support systems for kinship families across Texas.
The Population
- Kinship caregivers, including licensed foster parents, caregivers working toward licensure, informal caregivers, adoptive parents, and legal guardians
- Currently reside in Texas
- Serve as the primary caregiver for at least one child under age 18 who is not their biological child
The Why
Kinship caregivers provide children with stability, connection, and the ability to remain within their families and communities. Yet many step into caregiving unexpectedly, 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 where systems fall short and design supports around families’ real experiences, rather than assuming all kinship caregivers have the same needs or access.
The Challenge
Kinship caregivers often take on major new responsibilities with little preparation, including higher costs for food, housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, and school needs. Many also reduce work hours, leave jobs, use savings, borrow money, or adapt their homes to meet children’s needs.
At the same time, caregivers may face barriers to accessing benefits, navigating complex applications, securing legal authority, and getting timely support. Informal caregivers can face added challenges without formal custody or connections to the child welfare system.
Programs and policies do not always reflect how these financial, legal, practical, and emotional pressures overlap—or how needs differ between formal and informal caregivers.
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, caregiving arrangement, and 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
What We Heard From Kinship Caregivers
“The most positive part of being a kinship caregiver is seeing the impact I make in a child’s life. Watching them smile, grow, learn, and feel loved makes everything worthwhile.”
“My family gets to stay together.”
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.
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.
