More than 12-hundred families in Broome County are Kinship Caregivers.

They are grandparents, aunts, uncles even cousins who are raising a relatives child.

And as we told you Monday, the Census expects the number to rise by 30% in the US this decade.

Kinship Caregivers have special legal and planning challenges.

Action News reporter Erik Burling tells us some resources available to help.

The challenges can range from going to family court to deal with custody issues.

To making plans if the caregiver has an emergency.

Help is available.

Richard and Heidi Webster in Conklin are raising nephews Russel and Sam.

But what if something happened to Richard and Heidi?

The boys would go to stay with a woman who is caring for their sister.

The Family Enrichment Network in Johnson City wants all Kinship Caregivers to plan like the Websters.

"Anyway that we can make kinship caregivers think about who's going to be there for the children if they are ill, or if they are in an accident. I think that's really important," says Deborah Falks of the Family Enrichment Network.

It's working to set up a social network kinship caregivers can turn to in an emergency.

"Sometimes people's options are very limited and they have to use who's available," says Falks.

"Don't be afraid to pick the phone up, because there's people like us that can help," says Richard Webster of Conklin.

Over the years Webster raised 4 grandchildren, 3 nephews, 2 nieces and two unrelated children.

He has plenty of experience dealing with Family Court.

"When you go before a judge with plans, you know, they already know you're thinking of the children," says Webster.

"And you need to be able to present that to the court to let the court know that this is not just something that is going to be for a couple weeks. That you're willing to do it," says Sam Monachino of Levene, Gouldin & Thompson.

Attorney Sam Monachino says kinship care is growing part of his practice at Levene, Gouldin and Thompson.

The Family Enrichment Network works with the law firm.

"The sooner you get to a competent attorney to get good legal advice the better of you're going to be in dealing with issues down the road," says Falks.

We are also told if a caregiver gets sick, or is found to be unfit, the Department of Social Services would step in to make decisions about the child.

That's why it's important to plan.

The Family Enrichment Network can arrange for one free legal consultation and provide other types of support.

For information call 723-8313