When children cannot remain safely in their homes, placing them with kin not only minimizes the trauma of removal and separation, but increases their likelihood of remaining connected to siblings, families of origin, and community, which improves their overall well-being. … Read More
Kinship Care
Public-Private Child Welfare Partnerships Can Facilitate Beneficial Kinship Placements for Children in Foster Care
In 2022, more than 2.5 million children were being raised in kinship care (i.e., by a grandparent, other relative, or close family friend), with the vast majority in informal care arrangements—in other words, they were being raised outside of the foster care system. Despite … Read More
How to Support a Kin-First Culture
Nationally, more than 2.4 million children are being raised by kin, relatives, or close family friends, without a parent in the household. According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 2022 data, 34% of children … Read More
Kin Engagement Toolkit
About this Toolkit Youth in care do better when they’re placed with family members or other adults they know and trust, also known as “fictive kin.” But identifying and connecting with extended kin can be a challenge for child welfare … Read More
Adoption and Guardianship for Children in Kinship Foster Care
The laws dictating how adoption and guardianship are granted, by which court, and what those options entail are developed at the state and tribal levels, so the intricacies for obtaining these legal relationships differ. The Brief The brief provides general … Read More
Essential Skills for Intergenerational Practice
Introduction Intergenerational practice brings together people of different ages to promote mutual understanding, learning, and support. Effective intergenerational programs rely on skilled practitioners who can navigate the unique needs, abilities, and perspectives of multiple generations. The following essential skills outline … Read More
Supporting Kinship Caregivers: Tips and Tools Featuring Foster Kinship
When Ali Caliendo launched Foster Kinship in 2011, she knew she wanted her nonprofit to meet a real need. “Children really need their family,” she said. Caliendo witnessed the importance of continued family connection directly through her experience as a … Read More
School Breakfast and Lunch Programs for Grandfamilies and Kinship Families
Millions of children across the country are raised by their grandparents, other extended family members, or close family friends when their parents are unable to raise them. These families, known as grandfamilies or kinship families, provide a safe, stable, and … Read More
Promoting Reunification as a Kin Caregiver
As a kin caregiver, you play an important role in the child welfare system by helping support the family connections that are essential to a child’s health and well-being. Because kin caregivers must navigate the often-blurred line between being a … Read More
Kinship Legal Toolkit
Nearly 2.5 million children in the U.S. are growing up in kinship families being raised by relatives, or close family friends. Research is clear – when children can’t stay with their parents, they do best with kin. Kinship families offer greater stability … Read More