The evolution of kinship care policy and practice

Future of Children

Volumn 14, Issue 1, 2004, Pages 131-149

  Geen, Rob ^a  

^a URBAN INSTITUTE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CAREGIVER; CHILD HEALTH CARE; FOSTER CARE; GOVERNMENT; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HUMAN; INCOME; PARENTAL BEHAVIOR; PRACTICE GUIDELINE; REVIEW; SUPPORT GROUP; ADOPTION; AGE; ARTICLE; CHILD; CHILD WELFARE; COMPARATIVE STUDY; CUSTODY; ECONOMICS; EDUCATION; FAMILY; FAMILY SIZE; MIDDLE AGED; POLICY; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; SAFETY; TIME; UNITED STATES;

ADOPTION; AGE FACTORS; CAREGIVERS; CHILD; CHILD CUSTODY; CHILD WELFARE; EDUCATION; FAMILY; FOSTER HOME CARE; HUMANS; INCOME; MIDDLE AGED; PUBLIC POLICY; SAFETY; SINGLE PERSON; TIME FACTORS; UNITED STATES;

EID: 2342426157     PISSN: 10548289     EISSN: 15501558     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/1602758     Document Type: Review

References (128)

1. Jantz, A., Geen, R., Bess, R., et al. The continuing evolution of state kinship care policies. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 2002.
2. The remaining states (five) reported having no definition of "kin."
3. Ehrle, J., and Geen, R. Children cared for by relatives: What services do they need? Assessing the New Federalism, Policy Brief B-47. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 2002.
4. U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey, March: Annual Demographic Files (1968-2001). Data are provided based on two- or three-year averages because the number of children in kin care in a single year's CPS sample is relatively small, and estimates are unreliable. In addition, because of the introduction of improved data collection and processing procedures, data before 1994 are not comparable to data from later years.
5. Harden, A., Clark, R., and Maguire, K. Informal and formal kinship care. Volume I: Narrative reports. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1997.
6. Hornby, H., Zeller, D., and Karracker, D. Kinship care in America: What outcomes should policy seek? Child Welfare (1996) 75(5):397-418;
7. and Spar, K. "Kinship" foster care: An emerging federal issue. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, Order No. 93-856 EPW. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1993.
8. Based on Urban Institute analysis of Current Population Survey data, the number of children in kinship care declined from an average of 2.16 million in 1995-97 to an average of 2.14 million in 1998-2000, and the prevalence declined from 3.05 to 2.98.
9. Boots, S.W., and Geen, R. Family care or foster care? How state policies affect kinship caregivers. New Federalism: Issues and Options for States, No. A-34. Washington DC: Urban Institute, 1999; see note 5, Harden, et al.;
10. and Kusserow, R. State practices in using relatives for foster care. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, 1992.
11. See note 8, Kusserow.
12. See note 5, Harden, et al.
13. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Report to the congress on kinship foster care. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000;
14. and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The AFCARS report. Washington, DC: DHHS, 2001. Available online at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/ programs/ cb/publications/afcars/june2001.pdf.
15. Ehrle, J., Geen, R., and Clark, R.L. Children cared for by relatives: Who are they and how are they faring. Assessing the New Federalism, Policy Brief B-28. Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2001.
16. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
17. See note 12, Ehrle, et al.
18. Needell, B., Webster, D., Cuccaro-Alamin, S., et al. Performance indicators for child welfare services in California. Berkeley, CA: Center for Social Services Research, 2001. Downloaded from http://cssr.berkeley.edu/ CWSCMSreports/ on June 19, 2003;
19. and Wulczyn, F., and Hislop, K.B. Unpublished data from the Multi-State Foster Care Data Archive. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children, 2001.
20. Wulczyn, F., Brunner, K., and Goerge, R. An update from the multi-state foster care data archive. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children, 1997.
21. Berrick, J.D., Needell, B., and Barth, R.P. Kinship care in California: An empirically based curriculum. Unpublished report for the Child Welfare Research Center, University of California at Berkeley, 1995;
22. Stukes Chipungu, S., Everett, J., Verduik, M., and Jones, J. Children placed in foster care with relatives: A multistate study. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1998;
23. Cook, R., and Ciarico, J. Unpublished analysis of kinship care data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, National Study of Protective, Preventive and Reunification Services Delivered to Children and Their Families, 1998;
24. Dubowitz, H., Feigelman, S., and Zuravin, S. A profile of kinship care. Child Welfare (1993) 72(2):153-69;
25. Iglehart, A. Kinship foster care: Placement, service, and outcome issues. Children and Youth Services Review (1994) 16:107-22;
26. Landsverk, J., Davis, I., Ganger, W., et al. Impact of child psychosocial functioning on reunification from out-of-home placement. Children and Youth Services Review (1996) 18(4-5):447-62;
27. and LeProhn, N., and Pecora, P. The Casey foster parent study: Research summary. Seattle: The Casey Family Program, 1994.
28. See note 17, Berrick, et al.; note 17, Iglehart; note 17, Landsverk, et al.; note 17, Cook and Ciarico; Bonecutter, F., and Gleeson, J. Broadening our view: Lessons from kinship foster care. Journal of Multicultural Social Work (1997) 5(1/2):99-119;
29. Dubowitz, H. The physical and mental health and educational status of children placed with relatives, final report. Baltimore: University of Maryland Medical School, 1990;
30. Grogan-Kaylor, A. Who goes into kinship care? A study examining the factors influencing the placement of children into kinship care. Unpublished report, 1996;
31. and Scannapieco, M., Hegar, R., and McAlpine, C. Kinship care and foster care: A comparison of characteristics and outcomes. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services (September-October 1997):480-88.
32. There appear to be no significant differences between the proportions of Hispanic foster children living with kin and non-kin. Data on other ethnic groups are not available. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; and note 17, Cook and Ciarico.
33. See note 5, Harden, et al.
34. See note 17, Cook and Ciarico.
35. Gleeson, J., Bonecutter, F., and Altshuler, S. Facilitating permanence in kinship care: The Illinois project. Kinship Care Forum. New York: National Resource Center for Permanency Planning at the Hunter College School of Social Work, 1995; note 18, Grogan-Kaylor; note 17, Iglehart; and note 17, Landsverk, et al.
36. See note 11, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000; Altshuler, S. Child well-being in kinship foster care: Similar to, or different from, non-related foster care? Children and Youth Services Review (1998) 20(5):369-88;
37. Beeman, S., Wattenberg, E., Boisen, L., and Bullerdick, S. Kinship foster care in Minnesota. St. Paul, MN: Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, 1996;
38. Benedict, M., Zuravin, S., and Stallings, R. Adult functioning of children who lived in kin versus nonrelative family foster homes. Child Welfare (1996) 125(5):529-49; note 17, Cook and Ciarico; and note 22, Gleeson, et al.
39. See note 23, Altshuler; and note 17, Cook and Ciarico.
40. See note 12, Ehrle, et al.
41. Barth, R., Courtney, M., Berrick, J., and Albert, V. From child abuse to permanency planning. New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1994;
42. Berrick, J.D., Barth, R., and Needell, B. A comparison of kinship foster homes and foster family homes: Implications for kinship foster care as family preservation. Children and Youth Services Review (1994) 16(1-2):33-63;
43. see note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; Davis, I., Landsverk, J., Newton, R., and Ganger, W. Parental visiting and foster care reunification. Children and Youth Services Review (1996) 18(4-5):363-82;
44. Gaudin, J., and Sutphen, R. Foster care vs. extended family care for children of incarcerated mothers. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation (1993) 19(3-4):129-47;
45. Gebel, T. Kinship care and non-relative foster care: A comparison of caregiver attributes and attitudes. Child Welfare (1996) 75(1):5-18; note 5, Harden, et al.;
46. and LeProhn, N. The role of the kinship foster parent: A comparison of the role conceptions of relative and non-relative foster parents. Children and Youth Services Review (1994) 16(1-2):65-81.
47. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; and note 26, Gebel.
48. See note 5, Harden, et al.; note 18, Dubowitz; note 22, Gleeson, et al.; note 26, Gebel; note 26, LeProhn; Brooks, D., and Barth, R. Characteristics and outcomes of drug-exposed and non-drugexposed children in kinship and non-relative foster care. Children and Youth Services Review (1998) 20(6):475-501;
49. Ehrle, J., and Geen, R. Kin and non-kin foster care-findings from a national survey. Children and Youth Services Review (2002) 24:55-78;
50. and Link, M. Permanency outcomes in kinship care: A study of children placed in kinship care in Erie County, NY. Child Welfare (1996) 75(5):509-28.
51. See note 26, Barth, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; and note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.
52. National Survey of America's Families, a project of the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism Program, 2002, data available online at http://newfederalism.urban.org.nsaf/.
53. See note 5, Harden, et al.; note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al; note 26, Gebel; note 26, LeProhn; note 28, Brooks and Barth; note 28, Ehrle and Geen; note 26, Barth, et al.; and Zimmerman, E., Daykin, D., Moore, V., et al. Kinship and non-kinship foster care in New York City: Pathways and outcomes. New York: City of New York Human Resources Administration, and Administration for Children's Services, United Way of New York City, 1998.
54. See note 28, Ehrle and Geen.
55. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 23, Beeman, et al.; note 26, Barth, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; note 26, Gebel; note 26, LeProhn; and note 31, Zimmerman, et al.
56. See note 28, Ehrle and Geen.
57. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 18, Bonecutter and Gleeson, 1997; note 18, Scannapieco, et al.; note 18, Dubowitz; note 26, Gaudin and Sutphen; note 26, Gebel; note 26, LeProhn; note 26, Barth, et al.; Stukes Chipungu, S., and Everett, J. The power of information: Exchange patterns between African-American foster parents and child welfare workers. Journal of Multicultural Social Work (1994) 3(3):17-33;
58. Pecora, P., LeProhn, N., and Nasuti, J. Role perceptions of kinship and other foster parents in family foster care. In Kinship foster care: Policy, practice and research. R. Hegar and M. Scannapieco, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
59. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; note 26, Gebel; and note 26, LeProhn.
60. See note 26, Berrick, et al.
61. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 26, Barth, et al.; and note 26, Berrick, et al.
62. See note 23, Beeman, et al.; and note 26, Gebel.
63. Solomon, J. and Marx, J. The physical, mental, and social health of custodial grandparents. In Grandparents raising grandchildren: Theoretical, empirical, and clinical perspectives. B. Hayslip and R. Goldberg-Glen, eds. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2000.
64. Minkler, M., Roe, K.M., and Price, M. The physical and emotional health of grandmothers raising grandchildren in the crack cocaine epidemic. The Gerontologist (1992) 32(6):752-61.
65. Minkler, M., Fuller-Thomson, E., Miller, D., and Driver, D. Grandparent caregiving and depression. In Grandparents raising grandchildren. B. Hayslip and R. Goldberg-Glen, eds. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2000.
66. Emick, M.A., and Hayslip, B., Jr. Custodial grandparenting: New roles for middle-aged and older adults. International Journal of Aging and Human Development: A Journal of Psychosocial Gerontology (1996) 43:135-54;
67. and Giarrusso, R., Feng, D., Wang, Q., and Silverstein, M. Parenting and the co-parenting of grandchildren: Effects on grandparents' well-being and family solidarity. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy (1996) 16:124-54.
68. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). Public Law 104-193. Title V, section 505.
69. See note 1, Jantz, et al. In the remaining two states, one gives preference to kin who come forward, and the other determines preference for kin on a case-by-case basis.
70. Malm, K., and Bess, R. Identifying and recruiting kin to act as foster parents. In Kinship care: Making the most of a valuable resource. R. Geen, ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. In press.
71. Miller v. Youakim, 44 U.S. 125, 99 S. Ct. 957 (1979).
72. Jantz, A., Geen, R., Bess, R., Andrews, C., and Russell, V. The continuing evolution of state kinship care policies. Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2002.
73. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
74. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
75. Only nine states require kin to meet all licensing standards before they can start caring for children.
76. Templeman, A. Licensing and payment of kinship foster parents. In Kinship care: Making the most of a valuable resource. R. Geen, ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. In press.
77. See note 52, Templeman.
78. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
79. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 17, Iglehart; note 18, Dubowitz; note 23, Beeman, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; note 26, Gebel; note 28, Brooks and Barth; and Geen, R., and Malm, K. Casework practices with kinship foster parents. In Kinship care: Making the most of a valuable resource. R. Geen, ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. In press.
80. See note 26, Gebel.
81. See note 18, Dubowitz.
82. See note 35, Stukes Chipungu and Everett; note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; and note 55, Geen and Malm.
83. See note 26, Berrick, et al.
84. See note 55, Geen and Malm; and Thornton, J.L. Permanency planning for children in kinship foster homes. Child Welfare (1991) 70(5):593-601.
85. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 26, Barth, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; and note 55, Geen and Malm.
86. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; and note 55, Geen and Malm.
87. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
88. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 17, Cook and Ciarico; note 26, Barth, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; note 35, Stukes Chipungu and Everett; and Geen, R. Providing services to kinship foster families. In Kinship care: Making the most of a valuable resource. R. Geen, ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. In press.
89. See note 64, Geen.
90. They can receive assistance for themselves and the children in their care if they are poor. All kin, regardless of income, can receive assistance for related children in their care.
91. See note 3, Ehrle and Geen.
92. See note 28, Ehrle and Geen.
93. Geen, R., Holcomb, P., Jantz, A., et al. On their own terms: Supporting kinship care outside of TANF and foster care. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2001.
94. Chalfie, D. Going it alone: A closer look at grandparents parenting grandchildren. Washington, DC: AARP, 1994;
95. and Horby, H., Zeller, D., and Karracker, D. Kinship care in America: A national policy study. Portland, OR: Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs, 1995.
96. See note 69, Geen, et al.
97. See note 1, Jantz, et al.
98. Geen, R. Permanency planning with kinship foster parents. In Kinship care: Making the most of a valuable resource. R. Geen, ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. In press.
99. See note 73, Geen.
100. See note 73, Geen.
101. See note 73, Geen.
102. Berrick, J.D., and Needell, B. Recent trends in kinship care: Public policy, payments, and outcomes for children. In The Foster Care Crisis: Translating Research into Policy and Practice. P.A. Curtis, G. Dale, Jr., and J.C. Kendall, eds. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press and the Child Welfare League of America, 1999;
103. and Testa, M., and Slack, K.S. The gift of kinship foster care. Children and Youth Services Review (2002) 24:55-78.
104. Shlonsky, A.R., and Berrick, J.D. Assessing and promoting quality in kin and nonkin foster care. Social Service Review (2001) 75(1):60-83.
105. Berrick, J.D., Minkler, M., and Needell, B. The policy implications of welfare reform for older caregivers, kinship care, and family configuration. Children and Youth Services Review (1999) 21(9-10):843-64;
106. and Johnson, I. Kinship care. In When drug addicts have children. D. Besharov, ed. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America, 1994.
107. Testa, M. Kinship foster care in Illinois. In Child welfare research review, vol. II. J.D. Berrick, R.P. Barth, and N. Gilbert, eds. New York: Columbia University Press, 1997.
108. See note 77, Testa and Slack.
109. Geen, R., and Berrick, J.D. Kinship care: An evolving service delivery option. Children and Youth Services Review (2002) 24(1-2):1-14.
110. See note 17, Iglehart; note 17, Landsverk, et al.; note 18, Grogan-Kaylor; and note 22, Gleeson, et al.
111. See note 17, Dubowitz, et al.
112. Zuravin, S., Benedict, M., and Somerfield, M. Child maltreatment in family foster care. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (1993) 63(4):589-96.
113. See note 17, Cook and Ciarico; and Courtney, M. Factors associated with the reunification of foster children with their families. Social Service Review (1994) 68(1):81-108.
114. See note 11, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000; note 17, Berrick, et al.; and note 80, Testa.
115. See note 17, Berrick, et al.; and note 77, Berrick and Needell.
116. See note 17, Cook and Ciarico; note 23, Beeman, et al.; Benedict, et al.; and Berrick, J.D. When children cannot remain home: Foster family care and kinship care. The Future of Children (1998) 8(1):72-87.
117. Testa, M. Kinship care and permanency. Journal of Social Service Research (2001) 28(1):25-43.
118. Gleeson, J., and Craig, L. Kinship care in child welfare: An analysis of states' policies. Children and Youth Services Review (1994) 16(1-2):7-31;
119. see note 79, Johnson; and Zwas, M. Kinship foster care: A relatively permanent solution. Fordham Urban Law Journal (1993) 20:343-73.
120. National Commission on Family Foster Care. A blueprint for fostering infants, children, and youths in the 1990s. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America, 1991.
121. Wilson, L., and Conroy, J. Satisfaction of children in out-of-home care. Child Welfare (1999) 78(1):53-69.
122. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 17, LeProhn and Pecora; note 26, Barth, et al.; note 26, Berrick, et al.; note 26, Davis, et al.; and U.S. General Accounting Office. Kinship care quality and permanency issues. Washington, DC: GAO, 1999.
123. See note 26, Berrick, et al.; Gleeson, J., O'Donnell, J., and Bonecutter, F. Understanding the complexity of practice in kinship foster care. Child Welfare (1997) 76(6):801-26;
124. and Testa, M., and Rolock, N. Professional foster care: A future worth pursuing? Child Welfare (1999) 78(1):108-24.
125. DiLeonardi, J. Kinship care, permanency planning and substance abuse. Unpublished report distributed by Lifelink-Bensenville Home Society, Bensenville, IL, no date; see note 80, Testa; and note 95, Testa and Rolock.
126. See note 17, Stukes Chipungu, et al.; note 17, Iglehart; note 17, LeProhn and Pecora; note 23, Beeman, et al.; note 23, Benedict, et al.; note 31, Zimmerman, et al.; Berrick, J.D., Needell, B., and Barth, R.P. Kin as a family and child welfare resource: The child welfare worker's perspective. In Kinship foster care: Practice, policy and research. R.L. Hegar and M. Scannapieco, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999;
127. and Goerge, R. The reunification process in substitute care. Social Service Review (September 1990): 422-57.
128. In fact, one of the few longitudinal studies of the well-being of children in kin and non-kin foster care found little difference in the adult functioning of these children. See Zuravin, S., Benedict, M., and Stallings, R. The adult functioning of former kinship and nonrelative foster care children. In Kinship foster care: Policy, practice, and research. R. Hegar and M. Scannapieco, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.