What is Kinship Care?
Kinship care can be defined as the provision of full time nurturing and protection of children by adults other than parents who have a family relationship bond with the children (Child Welfare League of America, 1994).
Examples of Kinship Caregivers
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Siblings
- Cousins
- Stepparent
- Stepsister or stepbrother
- Family friends
Most kinship families form as a result of issues relating to biological parents such as:
- Death
- Incarceration
- Mental and physical illness
- Child abuse and neglect
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Poverty
- AIDS
- Military leave
Benefits of Kinship Care
- Family preservation and stability.
- Kinship families can keep siblings together.
- Kinship care allows for children to remain in their family's cultural heritage.
- Provides an alternative to other forms of institutional care e.g. foster care.
- Reduces the trauma of separation from parents by keeping them in the family circle.
- Families can create new traditions, goals, and values.
Kinship Data- (Please see "The Michigan Kinship Data Booklet" for more information and data by counties in Michigan)
Statistics taken from the 2000 US Census Bureau
In Michigan there are:
- 183,621 children living with relatives.
- 143,523 children living with grandparents.
- 70,044 grandparent caregivers for children.
Nationally there are:
- 4.5 million children living in grandparent-headed households.
- 1.5 million children in the United States living in households headed by other relatives.
Kinship Care Issues
- Lack of financial assistance.
- Lack of respite care.
- Health issues for older kinship caregivers.
- Housing.
- Need for specialized counseling services.
- Lack of specialized services and programs.
