Kinship Foster Care
What is Kinship Foster Care?
The full-time care of children by relatives, extended family, or close family friends (“fictive kin”) when they cannot live with their birth parents. It is considered the most desirable out-of-home placement, as it minimizes trauma, maintains family connections, and offers stability.
Who Can Be Considered For Kinship Foster Care?
Relative Kinship – Maternal and paternal blood relatives; relationships created by marriage; relatives by adoption.
- Examples include: brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, ex-step parent, half sibling
Non-Relative Kinship – Related by emotional tie or bond, prior to or after a child’s out-of-home placement.
- Examples include: teacher, coach, or other school personnel, pastor, members and staff from churches or organizations, parents of the child’s friends, friends or coworkers of the bio parents, counselors, physicians, therapists, neighbors, tribal clans, previous referral collaterals/reporting parties, previous safety plan monitors, or previous foster placements
RESEARCH FINDINGS: CHILDREN IN KINSHIP HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES
“Children placed with family have better behavioral and mental health outcomes than their peers in traditional foster care. Children in kinship care, which is broadly defined as relatives or close family friends, have fewer placements and school changes and are less likely to run away from home than children in traditional foster care. They are more likely to report that they ‘always felt loved’ and have higher satisfaction with kin placement.”
– Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Our Kinship Values
- Provides HOPE for families as they are surrounded and strengthened by family and friends
- Less trauma experienced for the youth or child to be placed with someone they know
- Fewer placement moves and school changes
- Built-in support network when reunification occurs
- Higher likelihood that siblings are placed together
- Maintain a child safely outside of custody (FCS)
- Tribal citizenship and heritage are protected and honored
- Culture and traditions are respected and validated
Resources for Kinship Foster Families
- Kinship Welcome Packet (PDF)
- Resources for Kinship Foster Families (PDF)
- Resources and Support for Kinship Foster Families (PDF)
- Resources for Kinship and Adult Sibling Caregivers (PDF)
