Episode 12: Supporting Kinship Caregivers, Part 2

Date: June 2017

Kinship care is the most preferred resource for children who must be removed from their birth parents because it maintains family connections. Approximately one-fourth of children in out-of-home care live with relatives. Kinship navigator programs support caregivers by helping them identify and access appropriate and meaningful services. Caregivers' awareness of and access to these services, however, can vary widely.

This podcast, Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 2, is the second of a two-part series showcasing successful examples of communities improving the connections between kinship caregivers and available services. Part 1 introduces the Kinship Navigator Collaborative from California. Part 2 highlights the Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-Tech) in Florida. This project was developed to address the large percentage of local kinship families who were not aware of or accessing services - specifically Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - for which they were eligible. KIN-Tech applied a three-pronged approach, including training for peer navigators and cross-agency collaboration.

This episode dives into the program's structure and implementation and looks into the findings of a randomized control trial evaluation. It features interviews with the following individuals:

  • Larry Cooper, L.C.S.W., director of kinship services, Children’s Home, Inc.
  • Kerry Littlewood, Ph.D., M.S.W., AAJ Research and Evaluation

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