General Kinship Publications

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). 

Generations United fact sheet summarizing research showing that children thrive in grandfamilies, especially when well-supported by services. Most recently updated with new data and research in September 2026.

This document developed by the Center for Legal and Judicial Innovation and Advancement shares ideas and suggested best practices for exploring or expanding the use of IV-E funding to improve the quality of legal representation in child welfare. 

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its third brief in a five-part series  - Family Ties: Analysis from a State-By-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies - based on survey data collected in 2022 for the AECF by Child Trends.  This brief,  New Insights on State Kinship Diversion Policies, examines survey data related to state’s policies for creating, overseeing and tracking diversion arrangements and the resources made available for children and kinship caregivers in diversion arrangements.

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.