Kinship Care: A Foundation for Child and Family Well-Being  

Kinship care is the full-time care of children by relatives or other adults with whom they have a close, family-like bond, also known as “fictive kin.” This arrangement typically occurs when a child’s biological parents are unable to care for them due to various circumstances, such as illness, death, substance abuse, incarceration, or abuse. Kinship caregivers can be grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins, or even close family friends. According to Kids Count Data Center, there are 2.5 million children currently living in kinship arrangements in the U.S.  

Benefits of Kinship Care 

Research consistently shows that placing children with kin leads to better outcomes than traditional foster care. For children, the emotional and psychological benefits are profound. Kinship placements help minimize the trauma of being separated from their parents by offering a familiar environment with people they already know and trust. Children in kinship care experience greater placement stability, with fewer school changes and a lower likelihood of re-entering foster care. Kinship care also helps children maintain vital connections to their family, culture, and community. This continuity provides a strong sense of identity and belonging, which is crucial for healthy development.  

Though kinship care has historically been practiced informally outside child welfare systems, child and family services are now recognizing and prioritizing a “kin-first” approach, where they actively seek out and support kin placements as the preferred option for children who are removed from their parents’ care. This paradigm shift, marked by the passage of a new federal rule giving states greater licensing and standards flexibility for kinship arrangements, must be matched with state policies and concrete resources that support kinship caregivers to improve child and family outcomes. 

Challenges for Kinship Caregivers 

Kinship caregivers, while providing a stable home for children, often face significant barriers that can make their role difficult. In a recent study of 868 kinship caregivers in Washington state, respondents reported an array of challenges that varied depending on income levels, region, and reason for placement.  

The most pressing challenges reported include: 

Financial Pressure: Kinship caregivers often take on the responsibility of raising children with little to no notice and without the same level of financial support that traditional foster parents receive. This can be especially difficult for grandparents or other relatives who may be retired or on a fixed income. Financial concerns were consistently reported as a “Top 3” need, regardless of income and region. Those in lower income brackets reported needing housing, food, and basic amenities, but even those in higher brackets reported financial uncertainty and strain.  

Emotional Strain: Taking on the full-time care of children, especially those who have experienced trauma, can take a heavy emotional toll. Caregivers often report feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unprepared. The challenges reported in this category include the need for more comprehensive mental health care, relationship counseling, and behavioral health support, particularly if the child was placed due to abuse.  

Legal Challenges: Gaining legal custody or guardianship can be a confusing, lengthy process. Without it, caregivers may find it difficult to enroll children in school, access medical care, or make critical decisions on their behalf. The requirements for approval and licensing are often strict and costly, and kinship caregivers may experience bias from caseworkers, making it hard to access information and understand their rights. 

Supporting the Future of Kinship Care 

To fully realize the potential of kinship care, systemic changes are needed. While a “kin-first” approach is gaining momentum, policies and procedures still create barriers for kinship caregivers.  

To provide genuine support for kinship caregivers, the system needs to evolve to: 

• Equalize support: Many kinship caregivers, especially those in “informal” arrangements, don’t receive the same financial, legal, and other essential support as non-relative foster parents, even when they are eligible. A promising solution is to create and fund peer-to-peer kinship support networks. These networks connect caregivers with others with lived experience, helping them navigate the system, access resources, and understand the financial and legal support they’re entitled to.  

• Alleviate legal barriers: To simplify the process for relatives to become kinship caregivers, preventative legal assistance is a crucial solution. This approach should focus on easing licensing requirements and providing no-cost legal services to help caregivers navigate the legal system and become legal guardians. Success hinges on the coordinated efforts of legal service providers, courts, and the Title IV-E agency to ensure a seamless and supportive experience for these families. 

• Create a “kin-first” policy environment: This requires advocating for foundational state policies that prioritize placing children with kin, even without immediate financial support. At the same time, forming grassroots networks can empower kinship caregivers to advocate for the legal rights and financial resources that put them on the same footing as nonrelative foster parents. 

By strengthening the kinship care system, we can create a more family-centered approach that benefits children, caregivers, and communities alike. 

Key Resources 

Explore these three top resources to learn more about impactful practices in Kinship Care: 

• Within our reach: What we’ve learned: Building a 21st-century child and family well-being system based on protective factors and strengthening families policy education and communications toolkit. Social Current & Casey Family Programs. (2024). 
• Special Issue: Building the Evidence of Effective Programs That Serve Formal and Informal Kin Caring for Their Relative’s Children. Families in Society, Volume 105, Issue 1. (2024). 
• Research Report Summary: What Can We Learn from the Voices of Those Involved in Kinship Care? Casey Family Programs. (2025). 

Social Current Solutions 

Webinar: Kinship Care in Transition 

This on-demand webinar, originally held Sept. 22, provides practical tools and strategies for engaging and valuing kinship caregivers as true partners in the system. Whether you’re a frontline worker, administrator, or advocate, you’ll gain takeaways to strengthen kinship placements and elevate the voices of those caring for their own.  

The presentation clarifies what’s changing, what remains consistent, and how organizations can remain compliant while also honoring the lived experience of kinship families. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of recent federal rule changes, practical steps for organizational alignment, and approaches to supporting and empowering kinship families across diverse communities. 

COA Accreditation 

COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, supports organizations in effectively managing resources, implementing best practices, and creating an organizational culture of performance quality improvement. Our comprehensive accreditation reviews organizations’ administrative processes and infrastructure, as well as all programs with applicable service standards. 

Our Foster Care and Kinship Care standards were refreshed as part of our annual standards update in 2025. Learn more about the 2025 standards update on our website. 

To learn more about COA Accreditation, join a free upcoming webinar. 

Consulting 

We partner and co-create with communities and organizations to strengthen families and build supportive systems. Our tailored technical assistance and consultation utilizes recognized best practices, data, and lived experience to identify and move toward upstream solutions that reduce child abuse and neglect by building protective factors. 

Knowledge and Insights Center Resources 

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About the Knowledge and Insights Center 

Social Current’s Knowledge and Insights Center equips social sector professionals with the research and resources they need to stay current on trends, implement best practices, and improve their organizations. It specializes in vetting information sources and systematizing information so that it is easy to understand. Gain access to the Knowledge and Insights Center by becoming a Social Current Impact Partner or purchasing access. 

About Social Current 

Social Current is the premier partner and solutions provider to a diverse network of more than 1,800 human and social service organizations. Together with our network, we are activating the power of the social sector to effect broader systemic change that is needed to achieve our vision of an equitable society where all people can thrive. We support, strengthen, and amplify the work of the social sector in five core integrated areas including brain science and trauma-informed approaches; COA Accreditation; child, family, and community well-being; government affairs and advocacy; and leadership and organizational development. 

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