Guides and Handbooks for Kinship Care Caseworkers

This section provides practical information for managers and administrators planning, implementing, and administering a kinship care program. Resources include kinship navigator program descriptions, handbooks, and information about issues common to kinship families.

Engaging Kinship Caregivers With Joseph Crumbley [Videos] 
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2017)
Presents a five-part video training series, Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Managing Risk Factors in Kinship Care, led by Joseph Crumbley, family therapist, trainer, and consultant. The resource also includes a link to the video series discussion guide to help program directors, supervisors, and child welfare trainers lead group sessions on the series. 

How Have Some States Developed and Funded Kinship Navigator Programs? (PDF - 1,249 KB) 
Casey Family Programs (2018)
Highlights how some jurisdictions have developed and funded kinship navigator programs and provides program development guidelines from Georgia and New York. 

Kinship Navigator Programs: Summary and Analysis
Grandfamilies.org (2019)
Discusses the efficacy and impact of kinship navigator programs.

New Kinship Care Guidelines From the American Academy of Pediatrics
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Children’s Bureau Express, 18(6)
Offers guidelines to doctors to enable them to promote safety and well-being in kinship care families.

A Place to Call Home: Building Affordable Housing for Grandfamilies
Generations United (2019)
Highlights housing solutions and recommendations to help support grandparents who are raising children. The resource also includes links to an infographic, a podcast, a photo album, and more.

State Guides and Manuals Search
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Provides lists of State resources for professionals on providing services to kinship families.

Support Matters: Lessons From the Field on Services for Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Care Families
AdoptUSKids (2015)
Provides instruction for managers to effectively plan and implement various support service programs, including kinship care. 

What Are Kinship Navigator Programs? (PDF - 1,352 KB) 
Casey Family Programs (2018) 
Explores kinship navigator programs, which provide information and services to grandparents and other kinship caregivers and help child welfare agencies and providers meet the needs of kinship families. 

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