Carl Perkins Relative Caregiver Program

Eligibility Requirements

Relative Caregiver Program Eligibility >The caregiver must be related to the child by blood, marriage or adoption. >The caregiver must have primary care and control of the child through an informal family arrangement or through legal custody or guardianship. >The child must live with the caregiver in the Northwest or Southwest regions of Tennessee >The child must be 18 or younger: age 19 if the child will complete high school or any equivalent vocational/technical training at this age. >The caregiver and spouse must take part in an in-home assessment and provide supporting documentation verifying program eligibility. >The caregiver must agree to support services. >The caregiver must be able to provide a safe home for the related child and be committed to providing that home as long as is necessary and appropriate or until the child reaches the age of majority. In order to be considered for financial assistance, the relative caregiver cannot be in receipt of any type of kinship payment or subsidy (i.e. Foster Care Board payment, or Subsidized Guardianship). Also, the family's household income must not exceed twice the current Federal Poverty guideline, which is subject to change each year. (TN Department of Children Services helps with some of the funding for the Relative Caregiver Program.)