September 2024Vol. 25, No. 7Kinship 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.