Kinship care is the invisible backbone of our communities. Whether you are a family member stepping into the gap, a professional looking for kinship family resources, or a child trying to make sense of a world that has shifted, you have found a place of sanctuary. Kinship families are the unsung heroes of our communities, quietly performing the extraordinary work of keeping families together against all odds.

These “invisible villages” are built on the courage of caregivers—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings—who step into the gap with fierce devotion, often at a moment’s notice and without a map. But the heroism also shines through in the children, who show incredible courage as they begin the quiet, steady work of building a new sense of home. Together, they form a sanctuary that saves the childhoods of those they love. By acknowledging their strength and providing the steady ground they deserve, we don’t just support a single home—we strengthen the very foundation of our society. I have walked this path firsthand. And from that journey I wrote The Sheltering Tree as an invitation to conversation, connection, and healing.