September 2026Vol. 1, No. 4Promoting Kinship Care Across the Child Welfare Continuum
Successful kin-first approaches to child safety, permanency, and well-being occur across the child welfare continuum. Promoting kinship care involves more than identifying a safe kin placement; it requires systems that prioritize family connections, professionals who know how to partner with kin caregivers, and caregivers who have access to the information and resources they need to succeed.
The System Level: Creating a Kin-First Culture
Helping children remain with family starts at the system level with policies, values, and practices in place to ensure they do so when possible. Agencies that take kin-first approaches to child welfare have guiding principles that honor the role of family in a child's life. The following are steps agencies can take to embody a culture that prioritizes kin:
- Implement family-driven decision-making practices
- Involve families in program and policy design
- Invest in family finding and engagement
- Review licensing standards and approval processes for kin caregivers
- Track data on kin placements and permanency outcomes
Explore system-level information, including State examples of kin-first policies and procedures, in Child Welfare Information Gateway's issue brief on the topic, Kin-First Approaches in Child Welfare.
The Practice Level: Partnering With Kin Caregivers
While having systems in place that prioritize kinship care is the first step, the second is equipping professionals who work directly with families to partner with kin caregivers. For caseworkers, supporting kin caregivers sometimes requires a different approach than working with non-kin foster caregivers. The following are steps professionals can take to support kin caregivers:
- Recognize that kin often become caregivers unexpectedly
- Don't assume caregivers understand child welfare processes
- Connect families to financial, legal, and emotional supports early
- Use family engagement strategies that honor existing family relationships and strengthen new ones
- Help caregivers navigate changing family roles and dynamics
- Ensure kin caregivers receive the same level of preparation and support as non-kin foster caregivers
Find more strategies in Information Gateway's bulletin for professionals, Working With Kin Caregivers.
The Family Level: What Kin Caregivers Need to Know
The final piece of the kinship care continuum is the family level—the kin caregivers themselves. These caregivers often step up unexpectedly and without the same support that non-kin, formal foster parents receive. It is important that they are equipped with the resources and support they need to thrive. When caregivers have support, children benefit, too. The following are tips for kin caregivers:
- Recognize that you are not expected to navigate this journey alone
- Ask about financial assistance and available benefits
- Seek support groups and community resources
- Learn about permanency options and legal pathways
- Build a support network for yourself as well as the child
- Prioritize your own well-being and self-care
More resources for kin families are available in Information Gateway's factsheet for families, Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System.
Positive kinship care experiences are possible when systems create pathways, professionals build partnerships, and caregivers receive the support they need. No single strategy is enough on its own. Together, these layers help preserve family connections, strengthen stability, and support children's safety and well-being.
