Annotated bibliography developed by Chapin Hall which highlights 50 social science research on on kinship caregivers and children in kinship care. This resource provides a list of source citations, the kinship population studied (formal, informal, or diversion/voluntary), key findings, notable result(s), and its limitations. This bibliography is drawn almost entirely from peer-reviewed academic research and on articles published between 2016 and 2026 (September 2026). 

Finalized kin-specific licensing or approval standards, guidance and template forms for kinship foster family homes developed by national organizations with input from kin caregivers, subject matter experts, and at least 45 title IV-E agencies. These Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval Standards respect the unique circumstances of kin caregivers, removing historic barriers and striving to make the approval process more flexible for kin caregivers. Visit this page for the Spanish version.

 -- For sample template forms please visit this page. 

This second in a series of Family First briefs focuses on Leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act to Improve Use of Title IV-E GAP in states and tribes.  This brief contains an analysis on the impact of this new law on GAP  and provides action steps to promote its use for children in relative care.

This model law developed by the Hidden Foster Care Coalition was adopted and finalized by ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) on January 6, 2026. This model law sets clear legal guidelines to establish parameters and processes for short term arrangements that enable relatives and fictive kin to play constructive roles in caring for children during investigations when the alternative to these arrangements would be placement of the children into foster care. Model laws provide a legislative framework for states to implement at the state level.  

Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the topic of foster care legal representation, released on 9/28/23. This new rule includes the “costs of legal representation” as a reimbursable expense under Title IV-E for a list of involved persons, including kinship caregivers. The final rule was released on May 9, 2024, and will go into effect on July 9, 2024.