101454: Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System

About the Course:

Informal and formal kinship care arrangements help to ensure stability and protection for children within their extended family. The fact sheet used as the basis of this course describes the benefits of kinship care as a child protection alternative and examines the agency’s responsibility for the placement. The placement decision-making process, what to expect from the child welfare service and court system, and financial support, available services, and permanency planning are discussed. Questions for new kin caregivers to ask and a list of additional references are provided.

Journal/Publisher:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Publication Date:

March 2005

Author

Children's Bureau staff

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about how the child welfare system incorporates kinship care into its processes of child placement. It is appropriate for all levels of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Describe the different types of kinship care and related services utilized by the child welfare system.

2. Identify the types of encounters kin caregivers can expect with the child welfare system.

3. Be able to utilize resources presented for helping you and your clients/patients learn more about the issues raised in this course.