Kinship Care in Transition: Navigating through Changes and Centering Families 

Kinship care continues to be a vital part of the child and family well-being system, offering children safety, stability, and the comfort of familiar relationships. As federal policies evolve to better support kinship families, agencies and organizations must adapt to shifting standards while maintaining their commitment to equity, family voice, and culturally responsive care. This webinar is designed to help participants understand recent federal rule changes impacting kinship care and relevant updates to COA Accreditation standards and how to translate those changes into meaningful, family-centered practice. 

This interactive webinar will also provide 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 leave with takeaways to strengthen kinship placements and elevate the voices of those caring for their own. 

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

Takeaways

• Participants will gain an understanding of federal rule changes to kinship care and the impacts.
• Attendees will gain clarity on updates to COA Accreditation standards and compliance expectations for agencies working with kinship families.
• Participants will learn practical strategies organizations can use to adapt to the new regulations while remaining family-centered and culturally responsive.
• Attendees will identify actionable ways to engage, support, and value kinship caregivers as key partners in the care system.

Who Should Attend

• Community-based organization staff
• Court-appointed advocates and GALs
• Foster care and kinship care trainers
• Kinship navigators and family support workers
• Child welfare agency staff and supervisors