Grandfamilies or kinship families are families in which grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends are raising children because their parents cannot. Across the U.S., more than 2.5 million children live in grandfamilies or kinship families.
This chart provides a look at the range of federal nutrition programs available to grandfamilies and kinship families with low incomes. Most of these programs are available to anyone who is eligible without waitlists or participation caps, and the programs are especially important resources for grandfamilies and kinship families, since a caregiver does not need to have legal custody or guardianship, or be related to the child living with them to receive help.