Becoming a Licensed Kinship Caregiver
Kinship Care
When you take in a relative's child, you can care for them informally — but becoming a licensed kinship caregiver unlocks training, financial assistance, and a dedicated support team to walk beside you. Here is how the process works and what you gain by completing it.
Why Get Licensed?
You stepped in because a child you love needed a safe place to be. Getting licensed through Angelheart means you do not have to shoulder that responsibility alone. As a licensed relative caregiver, you receive:
- Case management — a dedicated worker who knows your family and helps you navigate appointments, paperwork, and the courts.
- Trauma-informed care training — practical tools for understanding what the child has experienced and helping them feel safe and settled.
- Financial support — assistance with the everyday costs of raising a child you may not have planned to take in.
- A path to permanency — if the child cannot return to their parents, you receive the verification and support needed to provide a permanent, stable home.
How the Licensing Process Works
Licensed kinship homes in Texas meet the same state safety standards as foster homes, and your Angelheart caseworker guides you through every step. The process generally looks like this:
Step 1: Connect With Angelheart
It starts with a conversation. Reach out to us — or, if the child was placed through the Department of Family and Protective Services, let your caseworker know you would like to become licensed. We will explain what to expect and answer your questions.
Step 2: Application and Background Checks
You will complete an application and the required criminal history and abuse/neglect background checks for the adults in your home. These checks are a standard, required part of keeping the child safe, and we help you work through the paperwork.
Step 3: Home Assessment
An Angelheart caseworker will visit your home and meet with your household. This assessment confirms your home is a safe environment and helps us understand how best to support you and the child. It is a conversation, not a test.
Step 4: Training
You will complete trauma-informed care training facilitated by Angelheart. This prepares you for the real needs of a child who has been through a difficult transition and connects you with strategies that help them heal and thrive.
Step 5: Verification
Once your application, background checks, home assessment, and training are complete, Angelheart verifies your home as a licensed kinship home. From here, the financial and case-management support described above become available to you.
Step 6: Ongoing Support and Permanency
Licensing is the beginning, not the end. Your caseworker stays accessible, and we continue to support your family while the goal of reunification is pursued. If reunification is not possible, we help you take the steps toward permanency so the child has a lasting, stable home.
New to All of This?
If you are a grandparent or relative who has suddenly found yourself raising a child, start with For Grandparents Raising Grandkids for a gentler overview, or read What Is Kinship Care? for the bigger picture. You will also find resources gathered for relative caregivers on our For Kinship Caregivers page.
Still Have Questions?
Our Kinship Care FAQ answers what relative caregivers ask most — or reach out and we will walk you through it personally.