The Department of Health and Human Services is starting a registry that could potentially help foster care children to be placed in homes with their extended family.
A registered relative can now be considered as a placement for a child within foster care, thanks to the 2009 Close Relative Registry, which recently went into effect.
The Department says this option makes the transition into foster care much easier for the child.
The legislation defines a close relative as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling.
And over the last 5 years, the number of children placed with relatives has risen from 19 to 26%.
To register yourself as a close relative, you can call 866-820-KIDS.