Why Does Kinship Care Matter?

What is Kinship Care?

'Kinship care' refers to when a relative takes over as primary caregiver for a child. Some states have expanded 'kin' to include 'fictive kin' (people who are not directly related to the child, but are relationally close to them) when it comes to kinship caregiving through the child welfare system. 

How many youth in care are living with kin?

According to the 2021 AFCARS report:

• 35% of youth in foster care live with kin
• 28% of youth in foster care are living with kin while awaiting adoption
• 34% of youth in foster care were adopted by relatives (in 2021 alone)

"Kin play a critical role in helping youth people achieve permanency..."

Aleks Talsky, former youth in foster care¹

Why is kinship caregiving important?

Kinship caregiving provides unique benefits to young people in foster care. These benefits can include, but are not limited to:

• Minimizes the trauma of removal²
• Improves youth's well-being³
• Improves behavioral and mental health outcomes⁴
• Provides a bride into adulthood for older youth⁵
• Higher rates of permaency⁶
• Stronger sibling ties⁷
• Protects cultural identity⁸
• Greater placement satisfaction for children and youth, including feelings of love and belonging⁹

 

Research also tells us that young people who grow up living with kin and relatives are more likely to maintain stability by maintaining meaningful relationships

Joshua Christian Oswald, former youth in foster care¹⁰

 

How does the Family First Act support kinship caregivers?

• Reduces foster care licensing barriers to encourage the use of kinship caregivers

• Supports kinship navigator programs as a way to aid kinship families

• Promotes family engagement for children who are placed in congregate care

 

Want to learn more? Here are some more resources:

• Support for Kinship Care is an Investment that can Benefit Families and Children

• Family First Prevention Services Act: Implementing the Provisions that Support Kinship Families

• HHS Announces New Proposed Foster Family Licensing Regulation to Help Expand Access to Kinship Caregiving

• Practical Tips and Resources: Kinship Navigator Programs

• Engaging Kinship Caregivers With Joseph Crumbley

• Kinship Process Mapping: A Guide to Improving Practice in Kinship Care

• About Kinship Care

Sources:

¹All-In Campaign: Permanency with Kin

^2-5Kinship Care is Better for Children and Families

^6-8 Kinship Navigator Program: Benefits to Kids

⁹ Benefits of Kinship Placement

¹⁰ All-In Campaign: Permanency with Kin