Related Resources: Support Services for Relative/Kinship Caregivers

Additional information about the needs of and services for families who are caring for relatives' children, including State and local examples.

Children Cared for by Relatives: Who Are They and How Are They Faring?
Urban Institute (2001)
Presents research that showed kinship children face several areas of socioeconomic risk and that although many relatives caring for abused and neglected children qualify for child welfare services, few receive foster parent training or other services and benefits to which they are entitled.

Developing a Network of Support for Relative Caregivers
Strozier, Elrod, Beiler, Smith, & Carter
Children and Youth Services Review, 26(7), 2004
View Abstract
Describes a sample of kinship caregivers who received computer training designed to benefit kin caregivers by improving self-efficacy, enhancing career skills, augmenting social support, and increasing confidence in their ability to help educate the children in their care.

Foster Care
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Resources, presentations, and recommended websites about foster care.

To Grandmother's House We Go and Stay: Perspectives on Custodial Grandparents
Cox (Ed.) (2000)
View Abstract
Identifies the problems experienced by grandparents raising their grandchildren and describes interventions designed to support these family structures.

Handbooks for Foster Parents
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Provides links to several online agency handbooks.

Helping Grandchildren Stay in Contact With Parents (PDF - 83 KB)
University of Georgia, College of Family & Consumer Sciences (2003)
Provides guidelines to help children cared for by grandparents maintain a relationship with their parents.

Highlights of Recent Kinship Care State Legislative Enactments
National Conference of State Legislatures (2006)
This document highlights recently enacted State legislation addressing kinship care for children receiving child welfare services.

KinNET (including, A Guide to the National Family Caregiver Support Program and its Inclusion of Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children)
Generations United (2004)
View Abstract
Describes the KinNET (Nurturing, Educating and Teaching) project, developed to strengthen the services provided by support groups for grandparents and other relatives who are caring for children placed by the foster care system.

Kinship Caregivers and Social Workers: The Challenge of Collaboration
Pasztor, Goodman, Potts, Santana, & Runnels (2002)
View Abstract
A curriculum to facilitate collaboration toward providing the highest level of service for at-risk children and their families.

Kith and Kin Care: Parental Attitudes and Resources of Foster and Relative Caregivers
Harden, Jones, Clyman, Kriebel, & Lyons
Children and Youth Services Review, 26(7), 2004
View Abstract
Findings from a study that compared a group of traditional and kinship foster parents by examining parenting attitudes, social resources, economic resources, and health.

A Multimodal Intervention for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Results of an Exploratory Study
Kelley, Yorker, Whitley, & Sipe
Child Welfare, 80(1), 2001
View Abstract
Results of an exploratory study of a multimodal, home-based intervention designed to reduce stress, improve physical and mental health, and strengthen the social support and resources of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Psychological Distress in Grandmother Kinship Care Providers: The Role of Resources, Social Support, and Physical Health
Kelley, Whitley, Sipe, & Yorker
Child Abuse and Neglect, 24(3), 2000
View Abstract
Results of this study suggest that greater attention be paid to interventions intended to decrease psychological distress and improve the financial resources and physical health of grandmothers raising grandchildren.

Support Groups in the Lives of Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren
Cohen & Pyle (2000)
In To Grandmother's House We Go and Stay: Perspectives on Custodial Grandparents
View Abstract
Discusses the importance of support groups in helping grandmothers cope with the stress of raising grandchildren. Provides two leadership models for support groups, logistics for starting and running support groups, and common meeting activities.

Training and Services for Kinship and Nonkinship Foster Families
Cuddeback & Orme
Child Welfare, 81(6), 2002
View Abstract
This study using data from the National Survey of Current and Former Foster Parents to compare kinship and nonkinship caregivers found few differences between the two groups in training or services, demographic characteristics, or foster children's problems.

Working With Custodial Grandparents
Hayslip & Hicks-Patrick (Eds.) (2003)
View Abstract
Explores the impact of custodial care on grandparents and their grandchildren and intervention strategies for assisting caregiving grandparents.

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State and local examples

Family Group Conferencing: Building Partnerships With Kin in Washington State (PDF - 174 KB)
Gunderson (2004)
Presents results of a brief qualitative research project to identify what helps and hinders social workers in their efforts to engage and work with families.

Juggling the Multiple Facets of Case Management With Relative Caregiver Families
Haner & Bouchard
The Source, 12(1), 2003
View Abstract
Case studies from an Albuquerque project are presented to illustrate the support needs of relative caregivers.

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