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September 2024Vol. 25, No. 7Spotlight on Kinship Care

This edition of CBX spotlights kinship care and the importance of helping kin caregivers find the resources and supports they need to help the children in their care thrive. We feature a message from Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston about some recent policy and guidance "wins" that support kinship caregivers. In honor of Child Welfare Workforce Month, we also provide resources related to supporting the well-being of the child welfare professionals who work so diligently to improve the outcomes of others. Additionally, this issue includes valuable resources for professionals and the families they serve.

Issue Spotlight

  • Kinship Wins! A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Kinship Wins! A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Written by Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Children and youth belong with their families in their communities. A kin-first culture is one that believes in families, fights against family separation, and works toward a more equitable child and family well-being system. When family separation cannot be prevented, placing children and youth with kin should be prioritized over nonrelative foster care to help maintain family bonds and protect cultural identity and community connections.

    While the safety and well-being of children is paramount, there can be no safety without healing and children need their families to heal. When provided with the opportunity, families can work together, support each other, and overcome challenges so that children can thrive. The Children’s Bureau has engaged in robust actions that prioritize family relationships and reflects the ongoing commitment to the development of a kin-first culture across the continuum of child welfare services.  From new rules that address traditional barriers to foster licensing for kinship families, to clarifying kinship licensing regulations, to increasing access to resources through Kinship Navigator programming, the Bureau continues to emphasize partnerships that wrap services and supports around kinship caregivers who are critical partners in our efforts to support children and families.

     Take a look at some of the Children’s Bureau’s recent kinship “wins:” 

    • A new final rule that allows title IV-E agencies to adopt separate licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes. Prior to this regulation, many kinship caregivers were disqualified because they may not have may income and other standards established for licensing or approving foster family homes. In addition, the new rule ensures equal payment for licensed or approved nonrelated and relative/kin caregivers. This is especially helpful for low-income prospective caregivers. Several states and tribes have already approved plans to access the new regulations to improve kinship licensing opportunities.

    • Another final rule expands access to legal representation for children, their parents, and their kin caregivers by allowing state and tribal child welfare agencies to use federal funds to provide legal services. 

    • New additions to the Child Welfare Policy Manual support tribes and states in drawing on federal funds to finance background check operations to facilitate quicker licensing for kin and others who provide foster care.

    • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hosted a national convening on kinship care to highlight innovative strategies to bolster kinship care. Six states and three tribes have adopted the kinship licensing rules in the first 6 months, and three more are pending approvals to do so.  

    • The Administration on Children, Youth, and Families and the Administration for Community Living recently released a joint letter on their collaboration and coordinated efforts around their shared goal of supporting grandfamilies and kinship families, both to prevent unnecessary involvement in the child welfare system and to maintain connection to kin when child welfare intervention is necessary.

    • As of May 2024, four states and 13 tribes are approved to operate kinship navigator programs. The Family First Prevention Services Act allows title IV-E agencies the option to receive funding for evidence-based kinship navigator programs, which help relative and kin caregivers learn about and access programs and services to meet their own needs and the needs of the children they are raising.

    I am immensely proud of the collaborative work underway on behalf of kinship caregivers. The final rule allowing separate licensing standards for relative or kinship foster family homes promotes equity and kin-first culture, helping children and youth maintain family connections and cultural traditions and minimize the trauma of separation. During Kinship Care Month, we reaffirm our commitment to an equitable child and family well-being system.

  • Series of Reports Analyzes a State-by-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies

    Series of Reports Analyzes a State-by-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies

    Child Trends recently released results from a comprehensive survey of kinship care policies conducted in 2022 for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The survey's findings highlight increasing efforts by states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to promote kinship care and support kin caregivers of children and youth involved with the child welfare system. A five-part series of briefs, which is being released throughout 2024, delves into the details of the survey findings, offering valuable insights and analysis on kinship care policies across the United States.

    The executive summary, Family Ties: Analysis From a State-by-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies, provides an overview of the current landscape of kinship care policies. It explains the importance of kinship care, showcases various approaches states take to encourage and support kinship care, and addresses areas needing improvement. The report highlights survey findings and offers high-level recommendations for policy enhancements to better support kin caregivers.

    The first brief in the series, Unlocking Foster Care Licensing for More Kinship Caregivers, delves into the challenges and opportunities created by current policies related to licensing kin caregivers as foster parents. This brief emphasizes the importance of making foster care licensing more accessible to kin caregivers, outlining strategies to remove barriers and streamline the process. The goal is to help more kin caregivers become licensed, access additional resources, and increase the potential pool of those who can provide support for children needing out-of-home caregivers.

    The second brief, Supporting Unlicensed Kinship Caregivers, focuses on the needs and challenges faced by kin caregivers who are not formally licensed as foster parents. This brief discusses the various forms of support that can be extended to unlicensed kin caregivers, including financial assistance, access to services, and legal support. It highlights these caregivers' critical role in the child welfare system and underscores the need for policies that provide them with adequate support.

    The survey and briefs emphasize the importance of kinship care for children in the child welfare system. Kinship care maintains family connections and provides stability for better outcomes. However, there are variations in state support for kin caregivers, highlighting the need for consistent policies. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's briefs offer recommendations for policymakers and agencies, such as simplifying licensing for kin caregivers and increasing awareness of its benefits. These resources provide valuable guidance for improving support for kin caregivers nationwide. Visit the Family Ties series page to access these resources.

  • Tip Sheet for Supporting Adult Sibling Caregivers

    Tip Sheet for Supporting Adult Sibling Caregivers

    The Children's Bureau released a tip sheet for state child welfare agencies and kinship navigator programs focusing on supporting adult sibling caregivers. These caregivers take on the responsibility of raising their younger siblings, either through the foster care system or informal kinship care arrangements. This guide serves as a foundational tool for states to develop their own comprehensive support guides tailored to the unique needs of adult sibling caregivers. 

    Resources for Adult Sibling Caregivers provides a structured approach to exploring various categories of support necessary for these caregivers. It covers employment support, access to health care, educational support, and emotional and mental health resources. By addressing these fundamental areas, the guide helps state agencies equip sibling caregivers to provide the best possible care for their younger siblings.

    The tip sheet includes questions to help state agencies delve into each support category. The questions are designed to uncover specific needs and challenges faced by sibling caregivers, enabling agencies to develop focused and effective support strategies, including the following:

    • What housing supports are available in your state?
    • What child care options and subsidies are available for families in your state?
    • What campus support programs are available for young people in or formerly in foster care?
    • What local mental health and well-being services are available for children, young people, and families in your state?

    The guide encourages a customized approach, acknowledging the diverse needs across different states, tribes, and jurisdictions. States are urged to use the provided questions and categories as a starting point to create personalized guides that address the specific needs of their caregiver populations so the support provided is relevant and practical in various contexts.

    State child welfare agencies and kinship navigator programs can use this tip sheet to promote best practices and consistent support for adult sibling caregivers. It offers a structured yet flexible framework to support adult sibling caregivers. By providing focused assistance and encouraging a tailored approach, this guide helps sibling caregivers offer the best possible care for their younger siblings. 

  • Empowering Kin Caregivers Through the National Training and Development Curriculum

    Empowering Kin Caregivers Through the National Training and Development Curriculum

    Written by Spaulding for Children, a Children's Bureau grantee 

    When a child enters the child welfare system, kin can provide a great source of comfort for both children and their parents. Family connections contribute significantly to the development and identity of children, helping them grow and thrive. Research confirms that living with relatives is better for children, reducing the trauma related to separation from parents and preserving cultural identity and community connections. Kin caregivers also provide higher levels of permanency, and children experience less foster care reentry when living with kin. 

    Despite existing relationships with children, kin caregivers need training to help navigate the child welfare system; learn how to care for a child who has experienced trauma, grief, and loss; and handle family dynamics in light of their new role with the child. The National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) has content that helps kin through these experiences and provides ongoing skill development.

    One classroom-based theme, "Kinship Parenting," addresses complexities such as divided loyalties; redefining roles and relationships; setting boundaries with parents and other relatives; and emotions like anger, resentment, guilt, or embarrassment that caregivers can feel. The content also shares strategies for managing family dynamics and conflicts, identifying triggers, and effectively managing stress.

    "Building Parental Resilience for Kinship Caregivers" focuses on the importance of self-care and practical ideas for how to do it. This theme describes parental resilience, why resilience is important, and how caring for children who have experienced trauma, separation, or loss can affect a caregiver’s own well-being. It also covers behaviors that foster a protective environment for parents and children.

    Take a moment to view all of the classroom-based training materials included in the curriculum. NTDC is a comprehensive no-cost curriculum funded through a 5-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. The curriculum is available to all states, tribes, and territories as they prepare and equip foster, adoptive, and kinship families. 

    For more information about NTDC and implementing this curriculum in your training for kinship families, visit the NTDC website or contact Sue Cohick at scohick@spaulding.org.

  • Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care

    Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care

    The Bipartisan Policy Center posted a recording of its webinar "Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care," which addresses the prioritization of kinship placements when children need to be separated from their parents and placed in foster care. This hour-long webinar features an expert panel discussing appropriate policies and practices for situations where relatives or other kin care for children and prevent state custody. 

    The webinar explores the broad and bipartisan support for kinship placements, reflecting a shared belief that placing children with relatives can provide stability and continuity during a difficult time. The discussion delves into various perspectives on the best approaches to kinship placements, highlighting differing opinions on appropriate policies and practices.

    The expert panel brings together those with lived experience, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and legal experts, providing a well-rounded discussion that considers kinship care's practical, legal, and emotional aspects. The panel examines some recently enacted and proposed state legislation, key considerations when relying on kin to avoid foster care, and how some states are currently working to support informal and formal kinship families.

    Key issues addressed in the webinar include the criteria for determining when kinship placements are appropriate, the support systems necessary for kin caregivers, and the legal and bureaucratic hurdles that can complicate the process. The panelists also discuss the challenges and barriers that families face and how policies can be changed to better benefit the families they directly affect, whether or not kinship care is considered formal or informal.

    This resource is valuable for state agencies, kinship navigator programs, and policymakers looking to understand and implement effective kinship care strategies. By offering diverse perspectives and indepth analysis, the webinar helps child welfare partners navigate the complexities of kinship placements and work toward solutions that prioritize the best interests of children.

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News From the Children's Bureau

In this section, find the latest news, resources, and publications from the Administration for Children and Families, the Children's Bureau, and other offices within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as a listing of the latest additions to the Children's Bureau website.

Training & Technical Assistance Updates

This section features resources and updates from the Children's Bureau's technical assistance partners to support practices and systems that improve the lives of children and families.

Child Welfare Research

In this section, we highlight recent studies, literature reviews, and other research on child welfare topics.

  • Journal Special Issue Focuses on Kinship Care

    Journal Special Issue Focuses on Kinship Care

    Child welfare agencies are increasingly recognizing the benefits of kinship care and prioritizing the placement of children with family and kin. However, there is limited research exploring how children end up in kinship care, what support and resources are available for kin caregivers and children, the physical and mental well-being of children and caregivers in kinship care, and the impact of culture on kinship care.

    Recognizing this gap, Societies, a monthly open-access journal published by MDPI, dedicated a special issue to the topic of kinship care. The issue includes 10 articles dedicated to kinship care research, including the following:

    Explore the remaining articles in the special issue and additional information on the MDPI website.

  • How Young People Transition From Care and Develop Independent Living Skills

    How Young People Transition From Care and Develop Independent Living Skills

    Young people who transition to independent living after out-of-home care can experience challenges and hardships compared with peers who did not experience out-of-home care. A recent systemic review explores the intersection of independent living skills (ILS) and outcomes among youth who transition from out-of-home care.

    The review examines studies that address eight domains of ILS:  

    • Financial management
    • Knowledge of accessing available supports
    • Managing housing
    • Education planning
    • Job seeking
    • Health risk management
    • Domestic and self-help task
    • Managing relationships

    There were 27 studies published between 1994 and 2022 that met eligibility criteria. The review authors aimed to examine the studies to understand the development of ILS among young people who transition from out-of-home care and identify ways to improve outcomes.

    The review’s authors highlight that understanding outcomes among youth who transition from care requires understanding that young people develop ILS over time and throughout their lives. In addition, the authors stress that the various domains of ILS are interconnected and must be understood holistically as factors that help and hinder one another. They conclude that more research is needed for a comprehensive approach to understanding the domains to better inform policy, program, and practice improvements.

    For more information, read the full article, "Understanding How Young People Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care Acquire and Develop Independent Living Skills and Knowledge: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies."

Strategies and Tools for Practice

This section of CBX offers publications, articles, reports, toolkits, and other resources that provide evidence-based strategies or other concrete help to child welfare and related professionals.

  • Resources for Fostering and Assessing Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

    Resources for Fostering and Assessing Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

    The Capacity Building Center for States released an overview publication and assessment tool focused on fostering psychological safety within child welfare teams. These resources explore strategies for assessing and building an environment where team members feel safe expressing ideas, concerns, and mistakes without fear of negative consequences.

    The overview publication, Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams, outlines the importance of psychological safety in child welfare settings. It highlights concepts related to psychological safety on child welfare teams, real-life examples from states, and reflection activities teams can complete. The publication provides practical strategies for leaders and team members to create and maintain a psychologically safe environment, emphasizing the role of open communication, trust building, and supportive leadership. It also includes tips and questions team leaders and team members can ask themselves to better understand how they can contribute to creating a psychologically safe team.

    Assessment Tool for Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams offers a structured approach to evaluating a team's current psychological safety. This tool includes a series of questions and prompts designed to help teams identify strengths and areas for improvement. The assessment tool encourages ongoing reflection and dialogue, fostering a continuous commitment to enhancing psychological safety.

    By using these resources, child welfare teams can develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics that contribute to psychological safety and implement focused strategies to strengthen their work environment. This focus on psychological safety is crucial for the well-being of team members and the effectiveness of their work with the populations they support.

  • Legislation Database Provides Child Welfare Legislation from 2012 to Present

    Legislation Database Provides Child Welfare Legislation from 2012 to Present

    The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has an online child welfare legislation database that includes all enacted legislation from 2012 to the present. NCSL updates the database weekly.  

    Users can search by state and topic area, which include the following:

    • Adoption
    • Child Fatality/Near Fatality
    • Child Protection
    • Child Sex Trafficking/Exploitation
    • Courts and Legal Representation
    • Disproportionality
    • Education
    • Foster Care
    • Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
    • Funding of Child Welfare Services
    • Health and Mental/Behavioral Health
    • Infant Abandonment/Safe Surrender
    • Kinship Care
    • Oversight/Administration/Interagency Collaboration
    • Prevention, Treatment of Abuse, and Training
    • Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect
    • Services for Older Youth
    • Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention
    • Siblings
    • TPR (Termination of Parental Rights)
    • Tribes
    • Workforce

    Pieces of legislation matching search criteria are listed including bill number, year, status, date of last action, author, topics, summary, and history. Results may be filtered by keyword, status, bill number, year, and author.

    Explore the database, including user guidance, on the NCSL website.

  • Applying Protective Factors to Social Worker Self-Care

    Applying Protective Factors to Social Worker Self-Care

    A protective factors framework is often promoted as a strategy for supporting child and family well-being and reducing the risk of child maltreatment. That same framework can be used as a self-care strategy to promote the health and well-being of child welfare workers who support children and families.

    Protective factors are conditions and attributes, such as social connections or concrete support, that promote individual and family health and well-being. A recent brief from the Center for the Study of Social Policy explores how those protective factors can be applied to child welfare workers and their families. Taking Care of Yourself: Putting Protective Factors Into Play for Yourself covers five protective factors:

    1. Personal resilience
    2. Social connections
    3. Knowledge of parenting and child development
    4. Concrete support in times of need
    5. Social and emotional competence of children

    Within each category, the brief provides tips for incorporating the protective factors into your daily routine. These include strategies for taking care of yourself, building and maintaining positive relationships with others, and accessing resources and supports in your community. For parents, it also includes working on assumptions and understanding of parenting and child development.

    The brief provides a series of questions to help social workers reflect on how the protective factors are present in their lives. In cases where the protective factors are not already prevalent, it provides strategies for incorporating them.

    The brief is available on the Center for the Study of Social Policy website.

  • Newsletter Highlights the "Good Stuff" in Child Welfare

    Newsletter Highlights the "Good Stuff" in Child Welfare

    It can be hard to focus on the positive elements of child welfare when the system is inherently related to child maltreatment. However, there are also many positives that come with a system designed to promote child well-being, safety, and permanency while strengthening families.

    The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research at the University of Pennsylvania offers a monthly newsletter focused on those positives. The Good Stuff in Child Welfare highlights programs, services, collaborations, and other encouraging and heartening child welfare stories from across the country.

    Each newsletter offers short summaries of approximately four to six feel-good child welfare stories, with links to read the full articles. Recent newsletters featured the following stories:

    • An Atlanta nonprofit helps youth who experienced foster care move into college
    • A California nonprofit that empowers youth in foster care welcomes two new youth ambassadors
    • An intergenerational community in Missouri will house foster families, seniors, and older youth transitioning from care
    • A tutoring program offers academic and emotional support to youth in foster care

    Past editions of the newsletter are available on the Field Center’s newsletters webpage. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by email by scrolling to the bottom of the Field Center’s website and clicking "Newsletter Sign Up." You can also sign up by opening one of the past editions and selecting "Join Our Email List" at the top of the page.

Resources

In this section, we present interesting resources, such as websites, videos, journals, funding or scholarship opportunities, or other materials, that can be used in the field or with families.

  • New Resource Helps Kin Caregivers Find and Pay for Child Care

    New Resource Helps Kin Caregivers Find and Pay for Child Care

    Reliable and affordable child care is hard to find and secure, a reality that can be even more cumbersome for kin caregivers who may not have been prepared to care for their young loved ones. In response to this challenge, the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network recently developed a 2-page tipsheet to help kin caregivers and the child- and family-serving professionals who support them learn about and navigate the child care system.

    Information about public and private options, eligibility requirements, financial assistance, and links to pertinent organizations and resources are organized into two easy-to-follow sections—Finding Child Care and Paying for Child Care.

    To learn more, access Finding and Paying for Child Care on the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network's website.

  • American Academy of Pediatrics Introduces New Podcast for Parents

    American Academy of Pediatrics Introduces New Podcast for Parents

    This past May, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the Healthy Children Podcast, a new resource for parents and families. In it, host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a mother, primary care pediatrician, and director of the pediatric telemedicine program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, talks with experts about how to help children be happy, healthy, and thrive in today's world.

    To date, episodes span a manageable 20 to 30 minutes in length and address topics such as breastfeeding, creating healthy and realistic eating habits, the mental and developmental benefits of participating in sports, navigating social media, safe sleep, and more.

    To learn more about the Healthy Children Podcast, visit the AAP's website and listen to Dr. Bracho-Sanchez's welcome and introduction in the first episode.

Training and Conferences

Find trainings, workshops, webinars, and other opportunities for professionals and families to learn about how to improve the lives of children and youth as well as a listing of upcoming events and conferences.

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