Partnering With Relatives to Promote Reunification

This factsheet shares stories and advice from caregivers and birth parents who have experienced kinship care on the importance of maintaining boundaries, managing family dynamics, building trust, positive parenting and communication, and securing support. Relative caregivers may face certain challenges when caring for a family member's children. A better understanding of how to maintain boundaries and respond to the birth parents' needs and concerns can help kinship caregivers improve reunification odds and long-term outcomes. 

Acknowledgment(s): This product was developed with assistance from Alison Caliendo of Foster Kinship, Las Vegas, NV, and Jaia Peterson Lent of Generations United, Washington, DC, who helped connect us with the featured kinship caregivers and parents.

 Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Partnering with relatives to promote reunification. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

To order printed copies of this publication, please use our order form.