Kinship foster families who are thinking about taking the next steps to legal permanency have many options to consider and decisions to make for their child and family’s well-being. These include selecting the most appropriate permanency option based on the child’s unique situation, family preferences, and available resources. Because adoption and guardianship laws are developed and implemented at the state, tribal, and local levels, it’s important that families understand what the paths to permanency look like in their specific locality so they can make the best-informed decision.
Generations United’s newly updated state-specific comparison charts provide important details about what adoption looks like in all 50 states and the District of Columbia as compared to guardianship. Kinship foster families can use their state’s comparison chart to help guide their permanency decisions and learn how their locality addresses the following:
- Rights and responsibilities
- Financial and legal assistance
- Public benefits
- Health insurance
- Federal and state tax credits
- Caregiver successor planning and death benefits for children
- College and independent living