Children in foster care may experience placement instability due to a variety of factors, and this instability can have a significant negative impact on their well-being. Those in kinship care environments have fewer disruptions and overall better permanency outcomes than those in nonfamily placements. The resources below address practices and programs that promote stability and positive permanency outcomes for children in kinship care.
Achieving Permanency for Children in Care: Barriers and Future Directions
Madden & Aguiniga (2017)
Upbring
Reviews factors and programs that may impact the likelihood of a permanent placement for a child in care.
Children in Kinship Care Experience Improved Placement Stability, Higher Levels of Permanency, and Decreased Behavioral Problems: Findings From the Literature (PDF - 81 KB)
ChildFocus (2015)
Summarizes research suggesting that kinship caregivers provide improved placement stability, higher levels of permanency, and decreased behavior problems for children in care.
Children Thrive in Grandfamilies (PDF - 365 KB)
Generations United (2016)
Reviews research showing that children thrive in grandfamilies and fare even better when supported by services.
Creating a Kin-First Culture
Miller (2018)
Child Law Practice Today, July/August
Focuses on steps child welfare organizations can take to prioritize kinship placement, help children maintain family connections, and preserve cultural identity all while also supporting kinship caregivers.
From Data to Practice: The Impact of Placement With Family on Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being
Roberts, Shimshock, O’Brien, Claps, Cabrera, & Rozanski (2018)
Casey Family Programs
Presents data regarding kinship families, including demographic characteristics and factors correlated with time placed with family (compared to time with nonrelatives). The report also highlights success stories.
Kinship Care Is Better for Children and Families
Epstein (2017)
Child Law Practice Today, July/August
Examines efforts to remove barriers related to kinship placements, which allow relatives to care for children and while maintaining family connections.
Placement Stability of Children in Informal Kinship Care: Age, Poverty and Involvement in the Child Welfare System
Lee, Choi, Lee & Kramer (2017)
Child Welfare, 95(2)
Reviews data regarding the characteristics of children in informal kinship care and their caregivers, children’s prior involvement with the system, and factors that may be associated with placement instability.
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. The report concludes with recommendations for permanency standards for States.
State of Grandfamilies 2017: In Loving Arms: The Protective Role of Grandparents and Other Relatives in Raising Children Exposed to Trauma (PDF - 2,729 KB)
Generations United (2017)
Discusses ways in which kinship caregivers can help their children understand and respond to the trauma they have experienced, including maintaining community ties and creating a safe and stable home.
What Impacts Placement Stability?
Casey Family Programs (2018)
Explores the importance of children having placement stability and explains the challenges that may prevent it.