The following resources provide information on supporting and meeting the needs of kinship caregivers as they navigate the path toward permanency for children in their care. The resources include State and local examples.
The Child Welfare Placement Continuum: What's Best for Children?
National Conference of State Legislatures (2016)
Describes types of placements for foster children and why kinship care is often the least restrictive, most family-like environment available and therefore the most preferred.
Children in Kinship Care Experience Improved Placement Stability, Higher Levels of Permanency, and Decreased Behavioral Problems: Findings From the Literature (PDF - 81 KB)
Child Focus (2015)
Explains research that shows children have better outcomes in kinship families, including improved placement stability, higher levels of permanency, and decreased behavioral problems. This literature review examines the recent literature on kinship care and summarizes findings.
From Data to Practice: The Impact of Placement With Family on Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being (PDF - 14,203 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 We Ensure a Child's First Placement Is With a Family? (PDF - 2,304 KB)
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 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.
State and local examples
CPS Purchased Services: Permanency Care Assistance (PCA)
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Summarizes the Permanency Care Assistance program, which gives financial support to kinship caregivers who want to provide a permanent home to relative children in Texas.
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 (2017)
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 (PDF - 3,154 KB)
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.
Supporting Permanency of Children in Foster Care Through Relative Placement
University of Minnesota, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (2016)
Discusses kinship care as a path to permanency in Minnesota and reviews kinship assistance available to relative caregivers in the State.