Kinship Care in California: Issues and Opportunities

1. Kinship Care in California:Issues and Opportunities Jill Duerr Berrick School of Social Welfare University of California at Berkeley Presented to the Child Welfare Council April 14, 2008

5. Who is Taking Care of California’s Foster Children? Other 20%

6. Children in Foster Care 1988-2007

7. Why Kin? Legal imperative Moral imperative

8. Who are Kinship Caregivers? Adults related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree

9. Are they Foster Parents? Relatives do not need to be licensed, but must be assessed using equivalent standards of foster parent licensure – with allowance for waivers of some (non-safety) requirements on a case-by-case basis.

10. Kinship Care Across the Country 23%

11. Variability in Kinship Placementsby County 28% 34% 24% 31% 46% 37%

12. What are the Characteristics of Kin and Non-Kin Caregivers?

13. Kinship Caregiver Characteristics Similar to Non-Kin Mental Health Poor # Children in the Home

14. Kinship Characteristics Similar to Non-Kin Dissimilar to Non-Kin Mental Health Age Poor Physical Health Single Parent # Children in the Home Education Very Poor # of Siblings cared for in the Home Distressed Neighborhoods Ethnicity

15. If April is placed with kin, what are her likely experiences and outcomes?

16. Experiences in Kinship Care • Removal may be less traumatic • Visitation with birth parents and siblings is more frequent • Placement with siblings more likely • Fewer placement changes while in care

17. Children’s Views of their Caregivers Children “like who they’re living with” Children feel like they’re “part of the family”

18. Kinship Outcomes Dissimilar to Non-Kin Similar to Non-Kin Less Likely to be Adopted Preparation for Independent Living May Remain in Care Longer Adult Outcomes More likely to exit to Guardianship (Kin-GAP) Less likely to Reunify in 5 years May be Less Likely to Re-enter Care

19. System Challenges vis-à-vis Kinship Care Family Finding Relative approval

20. Ongoing Caregiver Challenges Need for KSSP services in all counties Support, information, and responsiveness of child welfare system Coordination across service systems to make access for children easier

21. References Needell, B., et al., (2007). Child welfare services reports for California. University of California at Berkeley, Center for Social Services Research. Wulczyn, F., Chen, L., & Hislop, K.B. (2007). Foster care dynamics: 2000-2005. Chapin Hall Center for Children. Geen, R. (2004). The evolution of kinship care policy and practice. The Future of Children, 14(1). National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). Foster children’s caregivers and caregiving environments. Administration for Children and Families. Fox, A., Berrick, J. D., & Frasch, K. (in press). Safety, family, permanency, and child well-being: What we can learn from children. Child Welfare.

22. Robin Ford

23. Regina DeihlLegal Advocates for Permanent Parenting

24. KSSP

25. Access to services/resources Placement issues Approval/Licensing problems Lack of access to information about the child/case Subsidy concerns Court information and participation Practical effects of permanency options Educational assessments and services Common Challenges Facing Caregivers

26. Caregivers are a lynchpin to improving safety, permanency, and well-being, BUT Inclusion is lacking Engagement is often poor

27. Caregiver Support Needs • Individualized assistance • Communication network • Leadership development/advocacy assistance • Access to policy making forums • Training and informal support systems • Respite and other practical supports

28. Possible CWC Engagement • Develop strategies to assist caregiver families to access services for children/youth across systems • Establish policies for integrated communication • Collaborate to develop integrated training and technical assistance models for all relevant agencies • Practical supports to participate in policy making forums • Develop statewide policy on respite and practical supports