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Kinship Care

Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or, in some jurisdictions, close family friends (often referred to as fictive kin). Relatives are the preferred resource for children who must be removed from their birth parents because it helps maintain the children's connections with their families, increases stability, and overall minimizes the trauma of family separation. 

It is imperative that kinship caregivers have the supports they need when a child is placed in their care. Resources in this section include information on changing family dynamics, financial and legal supports, and permanency. 

  • About kinship care
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  • Kinship care for diverse populations

Children's Bureau Grantee Synthesis: Kinship Navigator Programs

Series Title
Grantee Lessons Learned
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 0KB)
Year Published
2019
Provides information and lessons learned from Children’s Bureau grantees experience implementing kinship navigator programs, including cross-cutting themes and promising practices.

Kinship Guardianship as a Permanency Option

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 1,710KB)
Year Published
2019
Reviews State laws and policies that allow a family member or other person with close ties to a child who has been placed in out-of-home care to become that's child's permanent guardian. Guardianship has emerged as a permanency option for a child who has been placed in out-of-home care as it creates a legal relationship between a child and caregiver that is intended to be permanent and self-sustaining and can provide a permanent family for the child without the necessity of terminating the parents' parental rights. A guardian's rights and duties, approving a guardianship home, modifying or revoking a guardianship, and kinship guardianship assistance are among the issues addressed. Summaries of relevant laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Partnering With Relatives to Promote Reunification

Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 346KB)
Order (Free)
Disponibilidad
Ver
Versión para imprimir (PDF - 397KB)
Ordene (Gratis)
Year Published
2020
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.

Placement of Children With Relatives

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 377KB)
Year Published
2023
Presents an overview of State laws that give priority or preference to a child's relatives when they need to be placed in out-of-home care. The issues addressed include locating relatives, determining the fitness of a relative to provide care, and requirements for licensure. Requirements for placing siblings together whenever possible and adoption by relatives also are addressed.

State Kinship Care Contacts and Programs

Series Title
Related Organizations Lists
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Year Published
2021
This resource listing includes State Kinship Care contacts or website links to kinship care programs provided by State child welfare agencies in relevant States and the District of Columbia.

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Supporting Kinship Caregivers Podcast Series
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2017)

  • Episode 11: Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 1
  • Episode 12: Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 2

Spotlight On

It’s All Relative: Supporting Kinship Care Discussion Guides and Video Series

Capacity Building Center for States

Grandfamilies.org

Grandfamilies

Generations United

Related Content

Supporting & Preserving Families

Achieving & Maintaining Permanency

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351)

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