Kinship care questions, answered in plain language.
Quick answers to the questions grandparents, relatives and other kinship caregivers often have, with links to the full guides.
These answers are starting points. The full guides provide more context and links to the current PEI, Canadian or professional source.
What is a grandfamily?
A grandfamily usually describes a family in which a grandparent is raising a grandchild. The wider kinship-care community can also include great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, cousins, family friends and other trusted people raising a child.
Do I automatically qualify for GACP if I am raising my grandchild?
No. PEI's Grandparent and Alternative Care Provider Program is tied to qualifying child-protection placements. A grandparent can be the child's day-to-day caregiver without being enrolled in GACP.
Can I receive the Canada Child Benefit for a grandchild living with me?
Possibly. CRA looks at who lives with the child and who is primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing. A new primary caregiver may need to apply for the child's benefit payments.
What should I do first if a child suddenly moves into my home?
Start with immediate safety, medications and allergies, school or child care, basic documents, legal authority and the most urgent financial or practical needs. You do not have to solve the next ten years in the first week.
Can I enrol the child in school?
The school may need proof showing who is authorized to receive information, sign forms and make education decisions. The answer depends on the child's legal arrangement, so ask the school what documentation it requires.
Can I consent to medical treatment?
Day-to-day caregiving does not automatically answer every medical-consent question. Health providers may require custody, guardianship or another authorization. Clarify your authority before a non-urgent appointment if it is uncertain.
Can I take my grandchild outside Canada?
It depends on your legal authority and the child's documents. A legal guardian may need to carry guardianship or custody documents, and someone who is not the child's parent or legal guardian should generally have appropriate written authorization for travel.
What if the parent wants the child back?
The answer depends on whether the arrangement is informal, governed by a court order, connected to GACP or otherwise part of Child Protection. Do not rely on assumptions when a child's placement or safety may change. Get legal information and involve the responsible worker where applicable.
What document proves that I have legal authority for my grandchild?
It depends on how the arrangement was created. Proof may be a current court order, a formal agreement under PEI's Children's Law Act, or an agreement or order transferring custody and guardianship through the Child, Youth and Family Services Act. Ask which document actually grants the authority you need.
Is a piece of paper signed by the parent enough to give me custody or guardianship?
Do not assume so. A note may record the parent's wishes, but a casual paper may not provide clear or enforceable permanent authority. PEI law recognizes formal agreements, but the legal requirements and wording matter.
Why can the biological parent get Legal Aid when I am refused?
Being the biological parent does not automatically qualify someone for Legal Aid. Each applicant is assessed separately based on the legal problem, financial circumstances, urgency, program resources and other eligibility factors. A refused applicant can ask PEI Legal Aid to review the decision.
When might a child in a grandparent or other caregiver's care need a Children's Lawyer?
PEI's Office of the Children's Lawyer is for qualifying complex, high-conflict family-court matters where the court is deciding parenting time, contact or decision-making responsibility. It is not used in every family dispute, and the Office does not intervene in Child Protection cases.
Can a grandparent, relative or other caregiver ask for a Children's Lawyer in PEI?
Yes. PEI says anyone can make a confidential referral, including a grandparent, relative, other caregiver or service provider. Call 902-368-4842 to request a referral form or get help completing it. A referral does not guarantee that a lawyer will be assigned.
What happens after a caregiver refers a child to the Office of the Children's Lawyer?
The Office reviews the referral and may close it or open an inquiry. During an inquiry it reviews the court file and intake information and may speak with the adults or child or gather relevant school, health or other information. It then decides whether to intervene and assign a Children's Lawyer.
Will the Children's Lawyer tell the grandparent or caregiver what the child says?
Not necessarily. The Children's Lawyer represents the child, does not take instructions from the adults, does not need their consent and does not have to report information to them. The lawyer's role is to represent the child's views and interests, while the court makes the final decision.
Why does my GACP worker ask the same questions every six months?
PEI requires permanent GACP placements to be reviewed every six months for continued funding. The public policy sets the review schedule, but it does not say every unchanged part of the family's history must be retold from the beginning. Ask what actually needs to be updated and whether unchanged information can be carried forward.
Can a Child Protection worker speak with the child without me present?
Sometimes. For children in the Director's care, PEI's publicly posted contact policy includes opportunities for a social worker to meet with the child independently of the caregiver when age and developmentally appropriate. Permanent GACP placements have a different legal status, so ask the worker what purpose and policy apply in your situation.
What if a parent has a substance-use problem?
You can care about the parent's recovery while still maintaining clear safety boundaries for the child. PEI has substance-use and addiction services for youth, families and caregivers, and our kinship-specific guidance covers communication, contact, relational safety and what to do if substance use returns.
How should I handle visits with a parent?
Follow any court, GACP or Child Protection requirements first. Prepare the child without making promises, keep adult conflict away from the child and watch for patterns in behaviour before and after contact.
What happens if a parent dies?
A caregiver may need to deal with the child's grief, school, legal authority and benefits at the same time. Some children may qualify for CPP children's benefits, and Hospice PEI provides grief support.
Can a grandparent adopt a grandchild in PEI?
PEI allows relative adoption, but adoption is a distinct legal process with requirements that can include birth-parent counselling and a home-study assessment. Permanent GACP placement and adoption are not the same thing.
What happens to GACP when the child turns 18?
PEI's current GACP program can close when the child turns 18. Families should start transition planning in advance because CCB and other child-focused supports can also end or change around adulthood.
Can I take time off work to care for a child?
PEI employment standards include several unpaid, job-protected leaves depending on the circumstances, and federal EI caregiving benefits may provide income replacement in qualifying critical-illness or injury situations.
What if the child's parent is incarcerated?
Incarceration does not automatically decide custody or guardianship. Contact with the parent may be possible through visits, calls or video depending on the institution, legal arrangements and the child's needs.
Where can I find help with housing, food, child care or transportation?
211 PEI is a useful starting point, and PEI also has Family Housing, Family Resource Centres, child-care supports, school food programs and regional transportation options.
Is peer support the same as counselling?
No. Peer support connects caregivers with people who understand the experience and can share practical knowledge, but it does not replace therapy, legal advice, crisis support or other professional services.
What if the child's parent has serious mental illness?
Mental illness alone does not determine whether a parent is safe or able to care for a child. Focus on the parent's current functioning, the child's safety and any court, GACP or Child Protection plan. PEI Community Mental Health also provides support for family members affected by a loved one's mental-health challenges.
How can I support an LGBTQ+ or gender-diverse child?
Start by listening, respecting privacy and asking what the young person needs from you. PEERS Alliance offers PEI caregiver and youth programming, and Health PEI provides current gender-affirming health-service pathways when medical support is wanted.
Where can newcomer kinship families get help in PEI?
IRSA PEI provides settlement navigation for eligible newcomers, including school enrolment, interpretation, health, tax benefits, child and family services and other settlement needs. Immigration-status questions should be handled through IRSA, IRCC or a qualified immigration professional.
Where does a kinship caregiver start with PEI Family Court?
Start by identifying the legal question you need solved. Community Legal Information can provide legal navigation and lawyer referrals, while the PEI Family Law Navigator may help where its separation or divorce scope applies. Neither replaces legal advice for a specific case.
How can I keep siblings connected if they live in different homes?
Give the sibling relationship its own plan rather than assuming parent contact will cover it. Depending on safety and legal arrangements, connection can include visits, calls, online contact, photographs, shared activities and important family events.
How do I explain to a child why they live with me?
Use truthful, age-appropriate information without making the child responsible for adult problems. A child's understanding changes as they grow, so family-story conversations usually need to be revisited over time.
What should I do if a child tells me they were abused?
Stay calm, listen, believe the child, avoid detailed questioning and make the required Child Protection report. If the child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
What happens after Child Protection becomes involved?
A report may be assessed, investigated and followed by services, a Family Intervention Plan or an out-of-home safety arrangement depending on the child's needs and the current risk.
What happens when a child returns to their parent?
In a child-protection placement, reunification should be planned rather than treated as a single hand-off. Ask about visits, belongings, school, health care, benefits, family contact and what to do if concerns return.
What has changed about caring for a baby since I raised my own children?
Safe-sleep guidance, car seats, feeding advice and developmental screening have changed. Current Canadian guidance says babies should sleep alone on their back on a firm, flat sleep surface with no soft items.
What is FASD?
FASD is a lifelong brain-and-body disability associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. It can affect learning, memory, attention, emotional regulation and daily functioning, and diagnosis requires more than one symptom or test.
What do I do if a child or teen may be suicidal?
Treat the concern seriously. If there is immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency department. If they are thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 and connect with PEI crisis services.
Can I get child support from the child's parent?
Possibly, but raising the child does not automatically create a support order in your favour. PEI Maintenance Enforcement can enforce a registered order or agreement, but it does not create a new support obligation.
What tax credits can a kinship caregiver claim?
It depends on the relationship, marital status, where the child lives, the child's age, disability and other claims. CCB, eligible-dependant amounts, caregiver credits and some medical or disability provisions may be relevant.
What should we plan for after high school?
Start before graduation with education or work goals, admission requirements, Student Aid, housing, transportation, identification, banking and any disability or transition supports. College is only one path; apprenticeship, training and employment may fit too.
Why does the child become so anxious when I leave?
Children who have experienced disrupted caregiving may need extra predictability before separation feels safe. Consistent routines, clear goodbyes and dependable returns can help, while severe anxiety that disrupts daily life may need professional support.
How do I set boundaries with the child's parent?
Separate negotiable details from child-safety and legal requirements. Keep adult conflict away from the child, put contact expectations in writing where useful and use short, consistent limits around visits, money, gifts and communication.
What if the child's parent is living in my home?
Clarify who is responsible for daily parenting, legal decisions, money, visitors, substances and household rules. If GACP, Child Protection or a court order is involved, ask before changing who lives in the home.
How do we handle birthdays and holidays when the parent may not be there?
Build the celebration around plans that will happen regardless of parent contact. Plan calls or visits in advance, prepare for cancellations and let the child keep meaningful traditions without making them choose between family members.
What supports are available if we live in rural PEI?
Use regional health centres, Family Resource Centres, 211, Transit PEI and virtual care where eligible. Ask programs whether mileage or transportation support is available and plan around the services realistically reachable from your community.
Where can Mi'kmaq kinship families find support on PEI?
Mi'kmaq-led starting points include the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI, Family PRIDE, community health and education programs and the Mi'kmaq Family Resource Centre. Eligible First Nations children may also access Jordan's Principle.
Where can Francophone kinship families find support in PEI?
Cap Enfants, the Commission scolaire de langue française, French-designated provincial services and the PEI French Health Network are useful starting points for maintaining French-language support and connection.
Who do I call if I do not know which service I need?
Use the PEI Who Do I Call directory. It brings together Child Protection, mental health, 9-8-8, family violence, legal information, GACP, school support and 211. For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.
What should I do if I am suddenly asked to take a child?
Start with immediate safety, then clarify who has legal custody, whether Child Protection is involved, what authority you have for health and school decisions, the rules for parent contact, who your after-hours contact is and when the arrangement will be reviewed. See our emergency kinship placement guide and printable question sheet.
How do I know whether the arrangement is informal care, GACP, guardianship or adoption?
The day-to-day care can look similar while the legal arrangement is very different. Check whether Child Protection is involved, whether there is a court order or written agreement, who has custody or guardianship, whether reunification is the goal and what document gives you authority. Our Kinship Care Pathways in PEI guide compares the common routes.
Can Building GRAND-Families help me figure out which service to contact?
Yes. The PEI Kinship Care Support Navigator lets you describe the practical issue you are trying to solve without needing to know the program name. It is a general navigation service, not emergency, legal, medical or clinical advice.
Does a child get a say in a kinship-care decision?
A child's views matter, but the child should not be made responsible for the final adult decision. PEI's Child, Youth and Family Services Act includes the child's views and preferences among the best-interest factors, with weight appropriate to age and maturity. Family-law matters may also use formal processes such as a Views of the Child Report.
What does kin-finding mean?
Kin-finding means identifying and engaging relatives, siblings, family friends and other people who are significant to a child. It is broader than finding a placement. Some people may support sibling contact, culture, respite, transportation, family history or emotional connection even if they cannot provide full-time care.
Can a professional refer a caregiver to Building GRAND-Families?
Yes, with the caregiver's permission. Use the Professional Referral page to make a general navigation referral. Share only the caregiver's contact information and practical need, not the child's court documents, medical records, Child Protection files or detailed trauma history.
What makes a form kinship-friendly?
A kinship-friendly form separates the day-to-day caregiver from the legal decision-maker, uses inclusive family language where the legal distinction is not required, asks only for necessary private information and gives staff a way to resolve unusual arrangements.
What is a warm referral?
A warm referral goes beyond giving a phone number or link. With the caregiver's consent, the referring person may help make the first connection and then check whether the caregiver reached the service or encountered another barrier.
What should professionals focus on in the first month of a new kinship placement?
Start with immediate safety, medication, school or child care, legal authority, parent and sibling contact, basic needs and after-hours contacts. Then address benefits, housing, caregiver capacity, family connections and the next review or decision point.
How do I explain a parent's substance-use problem to a child?
Use truthful, age-appropriate language. Explain that the parent has a serious substance-use problem or health condition that affects their ability to provide safe, reliable care. The child did not cause it and cannot fix it. Avoid telling the child the parent chose substances over them.
Does a parent's recovery mean the child should return home?
Not automatically. Treatment and recovery progress can be very positive, but reunification also depends on parenting capacity, safety, stability and any Child Protection, GACP, court or guardianship process already in place.
Should a grandparent keep naloxone if the child's parent uses opioids?
PEI says free take-home naloxone is available to anyone at risk of experiencing or witnessing a drug-related overdose. If opioid use is part of the family situation, keeping naloxone and knowing the adult emergency plan can be a practical safety measure.
Where can PEI grandparents get help when an adult child's substance use is affecting the family?
PEI Youth and Family Addiction Services supports youth and families or caregivers. Current programs include CRAFT and the seniors group Friends Supporting Friends. The Mental Health and Addictions Phone Line is available 24/7 at 1-833-553-6983.
A grandchild just moved in with me. Should I apply for the Canada Child Benefit?
If the child is under 18, lives with you and you are primarily responsible for the child's care, CRA says you should apply when the child starts living with you rather than assuming another person's CCB automatically transfers. If Children's Special Allowances are payable for the child, CCB cannot be paid for the same month.
Can a kinship caregiver receive CCB when Child Protection is involved?
Possibly. CRA specifically says CCB may be available when a child lives with a caregiver under a government kinship or close relationship program, as long as Children's Special Allowances are not payable for that child. Ask the worker which child allowance is being paid.
What documents can CRA ask for to prove a child lives with me?
CRA lists examples such as school or daycare letters, school registration or emergency-contact forms, report cards, activity registrations, court orders or agreements, and letters from professionals who know the child lived with you.
What disability-related benefits should a kinship caregiver check?
Start with the Disability Tax Credit. DTC approval can lead to the Child Disability Benefit when the caregiver receives CCB, and may also affect disability amount transfers, an RDSP and other disability-related tax measures. The Canada Caregiver Credit is separate and has its own rules.
Can a grandparent receive a CPP children's benefit for a child in their care?
A child may qualify when a parent receives CPP disability benefits or has died after meeting CPP contribution rules. For a child under 18 who is not living with the contributor, Service Canada can pay the benefit on the child's behalf to the person or agency with decision-making responsibility and care of the child.
How do I know whether a child might need an FASD assessment?
FASD cannot be diagnosed from one behaviour. Raise the question with a health provider when there is known or possible prenatal alcohol exposure together with persistent differences in areas such as learning, memory, attention, communication, regulation, motor skills or everyday functioning. Other conditions can look similar, so a multidisciplinary assessment is important.
Where do I start with FASD assessment in PEI?
Start with the child's family doctor, nurse practitioner or other health provider. Health PEI pediatric outpatient care requires a referral from a health provider. Eligible families with complex developmental, behavioural, emotional or medical needs may also use the Children with Complex Needs Navigator for help finding services and next steps.
Why does a child with FASD repeat the same mistake even after consequences?
FASD can affect working memory, impulse control, receptive language, sequencing and the ability to connect cause and effect. A repeated mistake may mean the child cannot reliably retrieve or apply the skill in that situation. Visual cues, repeated routines, supervision and environmental changes may work better than escalating punishment.
What can a school do to support a student with FASD?
Useful supports can include concrete one-step instructions, visual schedules, predictable routines, advance warning before transitions, extra processing time, reduced-distraction spaces, movement or sensory breaks and one trusted adult who understands the student's profile.
When should transition planning start for a teenager with FASD?
Start before age 18, often around 15 or 16. Canadian FASD transition research emphasizes early planning, a timeline, one person coordinating the plan, the young person's voice and planning across income, education, employment, health, housing, daily living, relationships and crisis support.
Does a caregiver need support too when raising a child with FASD?
Yes. FASD can involve long-term structure, supervision, appointments and system navigation. Caregiver health, respite, peer support, backup planning and future planning are part of placement stability, especially for older grandparents.
What helps a child recover after a major family disruption?
Recovery is supported by repeated experiences of safety, predictable care, supportive relationships, school connection, sleep, movement, belonging, cultural identity and age-appropriate participation in decisions. Protective factors reduce risk and support wellbeing, but they do not erase trauma or guarantee a particular outcome.
How can I help a child feel safe after they suddenly move into my home?
Start with what the child needs to know now: where they will sleep, who will be there, how school and meals will work, and when important contact is expected if known. Use short truthful explanations, predictable routines and advance warning before changes. Do not promise outcomes you cannot control.
Why are sleep and routines important after family disruption?
Sleep, nutrition, physical activity and predictable routines are protective factors for child and youth wellbeing. After disruption, consistent daily patterns can reduce uncertainty and make regulation easier. If sleep problems are severe or persistent, talk with a health provider or call PEI 8-1-1 for non-emergency health guidance.
Can school help a child recover after family disruption?
Yes. Canadian youth data show that strong relationships with family, friends and schools are associated with better mental health and wellbeing. A trusted adult at school, continuity, friendships, activities and predictable routines can be important protective supports.
How can I make a medical or dental visit safer for a child who has experienced trauma?
Prepare the child for what will happen, tell the provider about triggers or sensory needs without retelling the whole family history, offer realistic choices where possible, explain before touch and record what helped for the next visit. Canadian Paediatric Society trauma-informed care resources emphasize safe spaces, safe interactions and sensitive conversations.
Can a kinship caregiver make a Jordan's Principle request?
A parent or guardian can submit a request for an eligible child. An authorized representative can also submit with the parent or guardian's written or verbal consent. If you are caring for a child informally and are not sure whether you can submit directly, call Jordan's Principle or the Atlantic regional contact and ask what authorization is needed.
Does a First Nations child need a status card to qualify for Jordan's Principle?
Not necessarily. Current eligibility can include a child who is registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act, has a parent or guardian who is registered or entitled, is recognized by their First Nation for Jordan's Principle purposes, or is ordinarily resident on reserve.
Can Jordan's Principle apply when a child is living with relatives off reserve?
Possibly. Living off reserve does not automatically make a child ineligible if another eligibility route applies. Indigenous Services Canada also describes circumstances where ordinary residence on reserve can continue when a child enters care, kinship care or an informal arrangement.
What is MCPEI Family PRIDE?
Family PRIDE is a Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI prevention and family-support program operating in Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations communities. Current supports for eligible families include in-home help, therapy, transportation, respite, Child Protection advocacy, emergency basic-needs help and emergency funding for an alternative caregiver in some situations.
What does cultural continuity mean for a Mi'kmaq child in kinship care?
It means the child's family origins, important relationships, community, language, culture and identity should remain visible and supported where this is consistent with the child's best interests. The practical plan should be guided by the child, family, First Nation and Mi'kmaq-led services rather than invented by outside professionals.
Should I read all of a teenager's messages to keep them safe online?
Usually not as a default. Canadian youth research from MediaSmarts has found that heavy surveillance can undermine trust and make young people less likely to ask adults for help. Caregivers may need closer monitoring when there is a specific safety concern, but it is better to explain what is being monitored and why whenever that is safe.
What should I do if a youth is being sextorted?
Have the youth stop communicating with the offender, do not pay money or send more sexual images, preserve usernames and threatening messages, block the offender, tell a safe adult and report to Cybertip.ca or police. NeedHelpNow.ca can help with image-removal steps.
What should I do if an intimate image of a youth is being shared?
Stay calm and do not punish the youth for telling you. Record useful information such as usernames, links and threats without forwarding the intimate image. Report online sexual exploitation to Cybertip.ca, use NeedHelpNow.ca for removal support, and involve the school if peers are distributing the image.
Does an AI-generated sexual image of a youth still need a serious response?
Yes. A sexual deepfake may be fabricated, but the humiliation, threats, peer distribution and mental-health harm can be real. Canadian Centre for Child Protection guidance for schools now addresses real, edited and AI-generated intimate images together.
When should I tell the school about cyberbullying?
Tell the school when students are involved, when online harm is affecting attendance or safety, or when peer harassment is continuing into the school day. Ask for a safety and follow-up plan rather than focusing only on punishment.
What is the difference between Cybertip.ca and NeedHelpNow.ca?
Cybertip.ca is Canada's national tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children and can provide information about next steps. NeedHelpNow.ca is operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and provides practical support to youth affected by online sexual violence, including help with intimate-image removal.
Why can a grandparent or other caregiver who adopted a child from the foster system be told they cannot receive GACP?
Under PEI’s current rules, GACP care providers are people other than the child’s parent. An adoption order makes the adoptive grandparent, relative or other caregiver the child’s legal parent, so GACP is generally no longer the applicable program. That does not necessarily mean there is no support. If the child was adopted from the permanent care of the Director of Child Protection, ask PEI Adoption Services about the separate Supported Adoption Program.
What is PEI’s Supported Adoption Program?
Supported Adoption is separate from GACP. For qualifying children adopted from the permanent care of the Director, an adoption support agreement can include a maintenance payment for ongoing basic needs and special supports such as counselling or therapy, medical expenses, equipment, respite, extraordinary transportation and other approved care or treatment needs.
Can a grandparent, relative or other caregiver ask for Supported Adoption help years after the adoption?
Potentially. Since November 2024, PEI’s regulations allow the Director to enter into a post-adoption support agreement at any time after the final adoption order where the child is still under 18, was in the permanent custody and guardianship of the Director immediately before the adoption, and has or is at risk of developing qualifying special needs. A maintenance payment also requires the Director to find that the child’s care creates an undue financial burden. Contact PEI Adoption Services at 902-368-6511 or adoption@gov.pe.ca and ask specifically about a post-adoption support agreement.
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