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Glossary - K

Many child welfare terms are subject to interpretation. The Glossary identifies commonly held definitions for terms that can be found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. It defines common acronyms and includes links to information on major Federal legislation and related child welfare terms. The Glossary will be updated as new terminology emerges in the field, as new legislation is enacted, and as child welfare terms take on new meaning.

Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (see Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption)

kinship adoption
Adoption of a child by someone related by family ties or a prior relationship.

kinship care
A type of out-of-home care in which the full-time care of the child is provided by relatives, godparents, stepparents, or other adults who have a kinship bond with the child. This could include a close friend, a neighbor, or a member of a child's Tribe. This is also called "relative care." Children may be placed formally in homes of relatives by the courts (kinship foster care) or they may be placed informally on a voluntary basis by the parent or guardian.

Updated on May 14, 2008