Kinship Diversion

Child Trends brief that uses field work, stakeholder interviews, administrative data reviews, and a digital survey tool to examine the use of kinship diversion across child welfare agencies. It finds that while kinship diversion is the most common out-of-home placement, few child welfare jurisdictions collect data on diversion, making it challenging to gauge its effectiveness or understand the experiences of the children involved. Recommendations include clear practice guidelines and collection of accurate, consistent, child-level information.

2023 Casey Family Programs brief describing hidden foster care and issues related to its practice. The brief lists 3 prinicples of best practice: support to the child is central for safety and permanency; parents have a right to due process and quality representation; and caregivers need support and resources to safely care for children.

2023 ABA Journal article by Amanda Robert examining "shadow" or "hidden" foster care, and following one family's experience navigating the system.

2023 Chapin Hall report examining kinship diversion, listing the evidence surrounding its practice, and giving policy and practice recommendations.

One of the most fundamental differences between kinship/grandfamilies and parent-headed families is the lack of an automatic legal relationship between the caregiver and child. Without such a relationship, access to services and supports for the child and their kinship/grandfamily can be challenging, if not impossible.

This webinar explores the various legal relationship options and the array of public benefits and tax credits that are available to these families. Presented by the Director of the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center, Ana Beltran, JD, and Network subject matter expert, Heidi Redlich Epstein, MSW, JD, Director of Kinship Policy and State Projects, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law.