Nearly 2.5 million children in the U.S. are growing up in kinship families being raised by relatives, or close family friends. Research is clear - when children can’t stay with their parents, they do best with kin. Kinship families offer greater stability and permanency, stronger connections to cultural identity, better mental health and behavioral outcomes, and deeper community links than non-kin foster families. Unlike parents, kin do not have automatic legal rights—and they often step in unexpectedly, during a crisis, to raise a child they did not plan for. This kinship legal toolkit was created to assist judges and attorneys understand the value of kinship, the federal laws impacting kin, and their role in supporting kin who open their hearts and homes. In this toolkit you will find resources and practical tips to assist in day-to-day work with families and kin involved with the child welfare system.
Each topic listed below contains tips for improving legal practice, a downloadable quick guide which summarizes the key points, and helpful resources. Additionally, there is a judicial bench card and videos to help legal professionals understand the importance of their role in honoring and supporting kinship care not just as a placement, but also a relationship rooted in love, resilience, and connection.