Kinship caregivers provide a higher likelihood of permanency for children in their care. The following resources provide information on supporting family-centered, collaborative approaches to help caregivers navigate the path toward permanency for children in their care. The resources include State and local examples.
From Data to Practice: The Impact of Placement With Family on Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being (PDF - 14,199 KB)
Casey Family Programs (2018)
Presents data on children placed with family while in care compared with children placed with nonrelatives. The findings showed children placed with family had fewer critical safety incidents; had better overall well-being, including school performance; were more likely to retain permanency; and were more likely to obtain legal permanency.
How Can Guardianship Be Better Utilized to Promote Permanency and Well-Being?
Casey Family Programs (2021)
Provides insight on different types of guardianship arrangements, the benefits of children being with kin, and benefits of improving kin placement options for children in care.
How Can We Ensure a Child's First Placement Is With a Family?
Casey Family Programs (2018)
Discusses placing children in kinship care when they are removed from their families to mitigate trauma, support placement stability, and increase permanence.
Kinship Care Is Better for Children and Families
Epstein (2017)
American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law
Provides an overview of kinship care and reviews its benefits, which include increased permanency for children and youth.
Kinship Guardianship as a Permanency Option
Kinship Involvement Linked to Better Psychological Adjustment for Youth
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Children's Bureau Express, 18(6)
Provides a link to a study that found youth in foster care have fewer psychological adjustment issues and negative behaviors when extended and noncustodial family members are involved in their lives. Study results show kinship involvement can mitigate youth's externalizing behaviors.
New Research on the Characteristics, Needs of Kinship Adoptive Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Children's Bureau Express, 18(6)
Summarizes a literature review in a recent issue of Adoption Quarterly on the latest research on placement decisions and outcomes for children adopted by relatives. The authors note that kinship placements and adoptions have been steadily rising since the 1990s and lead to better outcomes for children in foster care.
Using Family-Finding Models to Achieve Permanency (Part 1) [Webinar]
AdoptUSKids (2021)
Highlights key concepts and strategies for conducting meaningful family-finding and engagement efforts.
State and local examples
Kinship Navigator Program
Foster Kinship (2019)
Addresses the immediate needs of relative caregivers who are working toward permanency in the State of Nevada.
Navigator Services
Kinship Connections of Wyoming (2021)
Offers a broad range of services and supports to grandparents and other relative caregivers.
Options for Relatives
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Discusses research that shows children thrive best when placed in kinship care and explains types of approvals for kinship care in Georgia.
Permanency Planning Options: Fit and Willing Relative
Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (2021)
Examines the permanency goal of placement with a fit and willing relative, which is typically the preferred placement for children who cannot remain in their birth homes in Michigan.
Promoting Permanency for Teens: A 50 State Review of Law and Policy
Johnson, Speiglman, Mauldon, Grimm, & Perry (2018)
National Center for Youth Law
Explores State policies and practices on permanency and transitioning to adulthood for youth in foster care or kinship care. The report concludes with recommendations for permanency standards for States.