Washington Kinship Navigator Program
WA DSHS HCLA
Kinship Navigators are staff (and in some communities Resource Persons or support group leaders) whose job is to help relatives raising children navigate Washington's public benefits, healthcare, child care, food assistance, legal services, and other supports. Navigators are available to answer questions for relatives in 39 Washington counties, with Tribal Kinship Navigators also serving tribal communities. The program has been designated a Nationally Exemplary Kinship Program.
Who qualifies
What it covers
Cost
How to apply
Where to get this in Washington
16 organizations deliver this program. Coverage varies, so check the area each one serves.
Free public agency that helps older adults and people with disabilities in central Washington find in-home care, caregiver support, nutrition, transportation, and benefits help.
AAA for the Spokane region; one number connects callers to information, caregiver support, dementia help, Medicaid in-home care, Medicare counseling, and nutrition.
Council-of-governments AAA covering eight southeast Washington counties; one call connects callers to information & referral, case management, nutrition, caregiver support, and Medicaid in-home care.
Free public AAA for the Vancouver/Longview area covering five counties; one stop for caregiver assistance, dementia resources, in-home help, kinship care, Medicare counseling, and WA Cares Fund support.
Tribal AAA at the Lucy F. Covington Government Center, serving elders 55 and older on the Colville Reservation with meal sites in Nespelem, Inchelium, Keller, and Omak.
Tribal AAA on the Colville Reservation; serves all seniors 55+ on the reservation with nutrition, family/kinship caregiver support, legal services, SHIBA, and case management.
Kitsap County Human Services division and AAA for Kitsap County. Coordinates information, case management, caregiver support, nutrition, kinship care, and Medicaid in-home services.
Three-county AAA for Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties offering caregiver support, in-home services, nutrition, and the Senior Farmers Market produce benefit.
AAA for Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties. Helps older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers navigate aging and disability services since 1971.
AAA covering the Olympic Peninsula and southwest Washington coast; offers information & assistance, caregiver support, nutrition, transportation, and Medicaid case management for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Pierce County's AAA and Aging & Disability Resource Center; coordinates long-term services and supports for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers.
Community Action Agency serving 12+ rural counties in eastern Washington since 1965. Runs the SAILS senior services department covering info & assistance, caregiver support, kinship care, SHIBA, senior nutrition, and tailored supports for older adults.
Seattle Human Services division that serves as the AAA for King County. Runs Community Living Connections for aging/disability help and administers caregiver support, healthy aging, and age-friendly programs.
Snohomish County's AAA. Partners with Homage to deliver caregiver support, nutrition, kinship care, transportation, and Medicaid in-home services.
Tribal AAA serving Yakama Nation elders and adults with disabilities; provides information & referral, kinship caregiver support, nutrition, and Aging & Disability Resource Center services.
Tribal Area Agency on Aging operated by the Yakama Nation under Older Americans Act Title VI, serving reservation elders with meals and case management.
Source www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services-kinship-care/kinship-care