Kinship Care
Kinship care is when children and youth live with relatives, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, extended family, or fictive kin (those known to the family). Kinship care, in its many forms, has become a focus in meeting the needs of children and youth involved in the child welfare system. When the home environment is unsafe, kinship placements are the preferred option because they can help to maintain family connections and cultural traditions and minimize the trauma of separation. Kinship care is a longstanding tradition in communities of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds that continues to prevail.
Prioritizing the placement of children and youth with kin can help transform the child welfare system into one that truly supports families. Supporting kin caregivers by using family engagement strategies and providing culturally appropriate training, services, and equitable supports can positively impact stability and permanency outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Click HERE to continue reading the article and explore resources.