What is Kinship Care?

Kinship care refers to when a relative takes over as primary caregiver for a child(ren). 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 coems to kinship caregiving through the child welfare system. 

Quick recap of History of Kinship Care Part 1:

Kinship caregiving has been around as long as families. However, it wasn't until about 1978 that kinship caregivers became more widely utilized by the child welfare system. 

The History of Kinship Care:

1979: New Requirements

  • The Supreme Court case, Miller v Youakim, dtermined states musht make the same payment to kinship caregivers as non-kin foster parents receive
  • To be eligible, kinship caregivers must meet state foster care licensing standards
  • Outside of this, no legislation or court cases specifically oversaw or supported kinship caregivers at the time

2000s: Looking to Kinship Caregivers as a Permanency Plan

  • In 2008, the Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act passed, which increased federal support to states in an effort to place more children with relative guardians (or adoptive parents) permanently
  • Note: Funding was focused on placing children with relative guardians, and not necessarily providing supports for kinship caregivers to keep children wiht them

2010s: The Conversation Shifts

  • In the 2010s, lived experience leaders began sharing about the importance of kinship caregivers and, specifically, about the need to support kinship caregivers
  • This started a conversation about utilizing kinship caregivers more formally and providing them the unique supports they require
  • In 2018, the Family First Prevention Services Act  (FFPSA) was signed into law. FFPSA provides support for kinship caregivers by:
    • Providing federal funds for Kinship Navigator programs, which connect kinship caregivers with services and supports to help children stay safely with them
    • Requiring states to document how their foster care licensing standards accommodate relative caregivers

Summary

While kinship caregivers have existed as long as families, support for kinship caregivers caring for children in the child welfare system is relatively new. The Family First Act aimed to support kinship caregivers in caring for relative children by providing funds for Kinship Navigator programs and requiring states to document how their foster care licensing standards accomodate relative caregivers. However, the Family First Act is just a starting point to successfully supporting kinship caregivers. 

 

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