Why We Should Care About Kinship Care

Let’s start with an exercise. Take a moment to think about your family and closest friends. Can you think of that one person who perhaps the family judges or is worried about? Maybe there is more than one. Do they have children? Have you personally ever thought about taking that child or sibling group into your home if needed? Have you discussed it with extended family and made a plan? In my experience most people haven’t although in some cultures this is more common. As the designated social worker in my friend and family group, I am often consulted in these matters. Most of us become entrenched into our day to day lives and barely have time to plan dinner. This is not to add to your to-do list, however, maybe at the next family gathering have an honest conversation, this is to encourage everyone to think about family separation sincerely and broaden the scope of resources needed. 

In honor of National Kinship Care Awareness Month, let’s talk about what kinship care really is and where the gaps in service and understanding are. Formal kinship care is known as placement of children and youth with relatives and/or fictive kin when there is Social Services or Child Protective Services involvement. Informal kinship care is voluntary care that has been arranged between family members. Nationally there are 32% children in kinship care on average. In Maryland there are 40% and in Delaware 15% in formal kinship care (Child Trends, 2021).  Within the Maryland and Delaware region, children and youth are exiting by guardianship significantly more in Maryland where in Delaware more kinship adoptions are occurring. 

Mary­land Gov­er­nor Wes Moore signed leg­is­la­tion in May 2024 reinforcing a kin-first cul­ture in child wel­fare. For youth expe­ri­enc­ing out-of-home care, the new law expands on the pref­er­ence for liv­ing with rel­a­tives, includ­ing fam­i­ly by choice. Delaware has not made changes at this time and still requires kin to be a relative to the 5th degree. Best practice for foster care programs has been what is called “least restrictive setting” which refers to a placement strategy of placing with family first. This law in Maryland expands the definition of kin with an attachment focused approach. 

Findings from a 2018 national survey of children in nonparental care showed that just under half of all kinship care arrangements are informal kinship care. There is a need for attention to pre-placement and post permanency services and support for kinship caregivers. Some supports are in place for formal kinship care such as kinship navigation, however, informal caregivers may not have access or run into barriers for financial and other services. Unfortunately, inequities in caregiver support persists.

When a child enters foster care, the hope is that the extended family can step in and provide a familiar, loving environment. Yet, this doesn’t always happen. Why wouldn’t someone want to offer a safe haven to a child they’re related to? The reality is multifaceted, and often rooted in a complex interplay of factors. 

Although I was adopted from foster care at the age of 11, there was a lot of information and connections that were not maintained for me. Like many of us, this results in snippets of information here and there and an extended lifelong reunion process. Specifically in my large family, I had a few reunions that enlightened me about kinship care. It was the 1990’s when I was in care, but since I uniquely also became a caseworker for social services, some things have not progressed as much as I’d hoped. In one reunion with a paternal Aunt, she shared with me her need to hold boundaries and distance themselves from my birth parents due to their behaviors and choices. She further shared that her financial and marital challenges were too much to take us in (a sibling group of 3) and expressed great love and fortitude. After this conversation, I realized I had received either no information or negative information about why my relatives couldn’t care for me. The messaging was “they didn’t want you”, and “they didn’t step up.” As you can imagine, this approach can leave youth feeling unloved, unwanted, and rejected again.

Let’s shift the narrative about kinship care and honor the families of origin with respect and dignity. If a relative is unable, find an approachable way to share that information to youth and make efforts to maintain the connection. Let’s look at some of the reasons kin may not reach out or respond to be a placement resource for children entering foster care:

Unseen Struggles: The most critical factor might be simple lack of awareness. Some family members may be completely unaware that the child is in foster care. As in my experience, some families tend to set boundaries and become estranged when confronted with challenges.  It can be difficult to effectively track down and notify all potential relatives. Distance can be an issue since families across State lines require a more extensive process and the mechanism for working with other States and Countries can be cumbersome.

Burdens and Boundaries: Even when they know, not everyone has the capacity to take on the additional responsibility of raising a child or sibling group, especially if they’re already battling their own struggles. Poverty, lack of stable housing, or existing childcare burdens can make even well-intentioned relatives feel inadequate to meet the child’s needs. Moreover, cultural stigma surrounding foster care can deter some families from coming forward. Some families follow a golden rule of minding their own business and need permission and education to bypass that societal standard. 

Missing Supports: While the foster care system itself is supposed to offer resources and support for kin caregivers, these crucial services often fall short. Lack of clear timely information about available financial assistance, training programs, or respite care can leave families feeling like they’re navigating a complex system alone. This lack of support can be disheartening and ultimately discouraging potential kin placements.

Unconscious Bias: Unfortunately, implicit bias within the child welfare system can also play a role. Stereotypes about certain demographics, particularly low-income or minority families, can lead social workers to underestimate their capabilities as potential caregivers. This bias can manifest in inadequate outreach efforts, overlooking qualified kin, or imposing unnecessary hurdles in the kinship placement process. Oftentimes this bias presents itself when children are placed in good foster homes before kin are located and approved. 

Revisiting Resources: Recognizing these reasons is crucial to breaking down barriers and increasing kinship placements. The community must prioritize comprehensive outreach, culturally sensitive approaches, partnering with community organizations, and providing translation services can further bridge the gap.

Equally important is building a robust support system for kin families. Proactive enrollment in financial assistance programs, offering trauma-informed training and parenting resources, and creating accessible respite care options can empower kin with confidence.

Finally, revisiting resources and support is key. Reaching out to kin should not just be a one time box to check. Ask families what their concerns are and what their needs are. Circumstances change, families grow, and what wasn’t possible before might be an option now. Regularly checking in with potential kin, reassessing their capabilities, and ensuring ongoing support can lead to positive outcomes even years after the initial placement.

These are just some of the reasons why kin may not initially be explored in foster care. By dismantling barriers, offering robust support, and revisiting resources regularly, we can unlock the potential of family connections and create a more holistic foster care system.

Important: The content on this blog is for educational purposes only. It is our goal to share adoptee centered thoughts and ideas. This post should not be taken as direct personal advice or used as a substitute. You should always speak to your own therapist or professional. This blog may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the content or accuracy on those sites.