An Introduction to Kinship Care

Outline

• What is Kinship Care? 
• Definitions
• New Mexico Statistics
• Cultural Roots
  

  • A Culturally Appropriate Alternative to "Traditional" Foster Care
• Is Kinship Care Effective?
  

  • Advantages and Disadvantages
• Benefits With Formal Kinship Care
• How Does One Apply?
• Policies Affecting Kinship Care
• Federal and State
• Conclusions and Recommendations 
  

  • More Equitable Policies Needed

References and Resources

Children, Youth and Families Department, & Protective Services Division. (2009). Licensing requirements for foster and adoptive homes. Retrieved from http://www.cyfd.org/pdf/providers/lic_req_foster_adoptive_homes.pdf

Freundlich, M., Morris, L., & Hernandez, C. (2003). Kinship care: meeting the needs of children and families of color (A Position Paper of the Race Matters Consortium), Retrieved from www.racemattersconsortium.org/docs/whopaper5.pdf

Grands Place. (2008). Grandparents as kinship caregivers. Retrieved from http://www.grandsplace.org/gp8/nm.html  

Jordan Institute for Families. (1996). Is kinship care a road to permanence? Retrieved from http://www.practicenotes.org/vol1_no2/is_kinship_care_a_road.htm  

Palacios and Jimenez, (2009). 'Kinship foster care: protection or risk?' (Adoption & Fostering, 33:3). Adoption & Fostering, 33(4), 93. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). Permanency with relatives. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov/permanency/relatives.cfm