This brief outlines key considerations when addressing barriers to GAP participation and promoting a kin-first culture. These considerations were informed by regional convenings held in June 2021 of more than 200 representatives from 44 states, four tribes, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (Network) at Generations United is seeking a Project Assistant to join our results-oriented team.

This publication developed by ABA Center on Children and the Law, Children’s Defense Fund, and Generations United helps kinship families and the professionals who assist them compare caregiving options. It provides a broad, national overview about the choices and considerations to help caregivers make informed decisions about the pathways to pursue (2022). A webinar of this tool can be viewed here.      

On November 16, 2021, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren delivered its initial report to Congress. It includes a comprehensive review of the joys, challenges, gaps, and unmet needs and 22 recommendations for how the federal government, states, tribes, territories, and communities—in partnership with the private sector—can better support kin and grandparent caregivers.

Generations United is creating the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center,* funded through a five-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Generations United State of Grandfamilies 2021 - Reinforcing a Strong Foundation: Equitable Supports for Basic Needs of Grandfamilies highlights how the systems and services that help U.S. families were not designed for grandfamilies, leaving children and caregivers in these families with inequitable access to key resources to help their families thrive.

The Family First Prevention Services Act: Implementing the Provisions that Support Kinship Families Checklist, created in a partnership between the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Casey Family Programs, Children’s Defense Fund and Generations United, is designed to describe the necessary steps for effective implementation of the federal requirements of the kinship provisions of the Family First Act.

Generations United released two new racial equity tool kits that feature grandfamilies-related content on the racism, bias and justice in the juvenile justice system, policing and courts and how it impacts Black and Brown people. The first, created in partnership with the National Indian Child Welfare Association, focuses on American Indian and Alaskan Native grandfamilies. The other focuses on African American grandfamilies. 

COVID-19 Resource Page. As we are facing a pandemic unlike any many of us have seen, people over the age of 60 and those with compromised immune systems are among the highest-risk populations. To help you and the families you serve we have compiled resources to help you through this difficult time. 

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.

Children's Defense Fund has recently released the Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act Guide created in partnership with ChildFocus, American Academy of Pediatrics, Generations United, FosterClub, Juvenile Law Center, and National Indian Child Welfare Association.  The guide is a question-and-answer-style resource containing commonly asked questions about the many important provisions in Family First.