Kinship care is when a parent is unable to care for their child; a relative or close family friend often steps in temporarily. This type of care is widely recognized as the preferred option because it helps children stay connected to their family, culture, and community. It gives them a sense of stability and belonging, which is critical during difficult transitions. Research shows that kinship care can significantly reduce the trauma associated with family separation, allowing children to thrive in familiar environments.
However, kinship caregivers—whether grandparents, aunts, uncles or close family friends—often face unique challenges. They may not be aware of the various services and supports available to them, especially if they are caring for children outside of the formal foster care system. Many caregivers take on this responsibility without formal training or support, which can make it difficult for them to navigate the child welfare system or address the emotional and behavioral needs of the children they care for.
The Growing Need for Kinship Care
In recent years, the need for kinship care has grown dramatically. This growth is partly due to rising rates of addiction, particularly opioid addiction, which has led to a surge in children entering out-of-home care. In states like Ohio, for example, the number of children placed with relatives increased by over 60% between 20
10 and 2017 (Annie E. Casey Foundation (2017) Kids Count Data Center: Children in kinship care. Date Center for Kids Count). As more families face crises, the role of kinship caregivers has become even more essential.
Despite the increasing reliance on kinship care, many caregivers need to be made aware of their eligibility for support services, such as financial assistance or respite care. To address this, many states have launched kinship awareness campaigns to recognize the tremendous contributions of kinship caregivers and connect them with the resources they need. Virginia has a Kinship Navigator program through different regions of the state. Virginia Kinship Navigators provide the family with resources to locate funding and services and navigate the Child Welfare systems.
Types of Kinship Care
There are three primary forms of kinship care:
- Informal Kinship Care: This is the most common form of kinship care outside the formal child welfare system. For example, a parent might voluntarily place their child with a grandparent while they receive addiction treatment. In these cases, the caregivers may not receive formal support from child welfare agencies.
- Voluntary Kinship Care: This occurs when a child welfare agency places a child with relatives but does not take legal custody. The agency may monitor the situation but does not have complete oversight or responsibility for the child’s care.
- Formal Kinship Care: In this scenario, a child welfare agency has legal custody of the child and places them with a relative in a foster care arrangement. Licensed kinship caregivers in this arrangement often receive financial support, training, and other services like non-relative foster parents.
Supporting Kinship Caregivers
Kinship caregivers often take on their caregiving roles with little preparation or warning, which makes support services critical. Programs such as Impact’s Kinship Connect provide extensive, personalized support for kinship families. This program provides case management beyond traditional foster care, offering around-the-clock assistance, in-home visits, and additional resources to help with kinship caregivers’ unique challenges.
Kinship caregivers may also need legal and financial assistance, especially if they provide care outside the formal child welfare system. Programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or food assistance can help ease some financial burdens, but navigating these systems can be challenging. Caseworkers and kinship navigator programs are crucial in assisting caregivers in accessing these benefits and support services.
The Importance of Training
To succeed, both caregivers and caseworkers need specialized training. Caregivers often take in children who have experienced trauma, so understanding trauma-informed care is essential. Many kinship caregivers are older relatives who may also be caring for more than one child, adding to their emotional and physical challenges.
Caseworkers, in turn, need to be trained in family-centered practices, which emphasize keeping children connected to their families whenever possible. They also need to be equipped to help caregivers navigate the complexities of the child welfare system, from legal proceedings to accessing support services.
Kinship Care as a Pathway to Stability
In summary, kinship care is a vital option for children who cannot remain with their parents, offering them a sense of stability, identity, and belonging. With the proper support and training, kinship caregivers can provide the nurturing environment these children need to heal and thrive. Programs like Impact’s Kinship Connect, which provide personalized, intensive case management, are crucial to ensure kinship caregivers have the necessary resources to succeed. By investing in training and support, we can help ensure that more children in need find a safe and loving home with their extended family.
Want to connect with Impact and learn more about Kinship Connect? Click HERE.