The Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support implemented Louisiana's Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) on March 1, 2000. This program is funded by Louisiana's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Block Grant and was implemented as a result of legislation passed during the 1999 Louisiana State Legislature. KCSP provides cash assistance of $222 per month for each eligible child who resides with a qualified relative other than a parent. The relative may be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, first cousin, niece or nephew, step-brother or step-sister.

In order to receive KCSP for a child, the qualified relative must meet the following requirements:

- The qualified relative must possess or obtain within one year of certification, either: Legal custody or guardianship or provisional custody by mandate of the child who is living in the home. Legal custody or guardianship must be granted by a court and verified through court records or other reliable documents. Provisional custody by mandate is a notarized authorization made by the child´s parent or parents to a person of legal age to provide for the care, custody, and control of a minor child. Certain requirements must be met for the execution of this document.

- Have an annual family income which is less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold in accordance with the size of the qualified relative's family.

- Have neither of the child's parents living in their home.

- Assign to the state the rights to child support for the child and cooperate with Support Enforcement Services in obtaining child support for the child unless good cause has been established.

- Have not been convicted or released from incarceration following conviction of a felony for the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance within the past year.
A child may meet the eligibility requirements for both FITAP and KCSP but may only receive assistance in one program.

During State Fiscal Year 02-03, an average of 3,626 cases were paid each month. Benefits totaling $17,941,951 were paid during the year, a monthly average of $1,495,163.