Within the continuum of kinship service provision, smaller and peer-led organizations play an important role in providing critical supports and resources to caregivers in their communities. Many of these programs serve kinship families outside of the child welfare system that have significant needs for support and concrete goods. While smaller and peer-led organizations, are vital partners in an overall system of support for kinship/grandfamilies, they often face challenges with capacity building and financial sustainability.
In 2023, the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network at Generations United piloted a small learning community of four kinship organizations. Their leaders received training, individualized support, and group coaching to increase the internal capacity of their organizations so that they could become better equipped to gain funding and track their outcomes.
These program leaders will share the lessons learned from the learning community and the progress they are making in building their organizational capacity. Based on their experiences, hear their recommendations on how smaller, peer-led organizations can leverage their data, increase their program funding, and serve more families in their communities.