In Loving Arms
In Loving Arms Most babies, children and youth have traumatic experiences before going to live with their grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives in grandfamilies. More than half of children involved with the child welfare system have experienced at least four adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), leaving them 12 times more likely to have negative health outcomes than… [read more]
Infant Safe Haven Laws
Many State legislatures have enacted legislation to address infant abandonment and infanticide in response to a reported increase in the abandonment of infants. Beginning in Texas in 1999, “Baby Moses laws” or infant safe haven laws have been enacted as an incentive for mothers in crisis to safely relinquish their babies to designated locations where… [read more]
Intercountry Adoption: Where Do I Start?
Intercountry adoption continues to be an option for parents who choose to adopt. This fact sheet provides an overview of the intercountry adoption process. Depending on your State, your adoption services provider, and the country from which you adopt, the steps in this adoption process may vary and may change over time. For example, some… [read more]
It’s Time to Make Older Child Adoption Reality
The number of youth who age out of foster care has risen steadily over the past decade, even in the wake of increased efforts to achieve permanence for all children in foster care. For far too many youth, aging out of care results in homelessness, work instability, and a lack of stable, loving relationships with… [read more]
Kinship Adoption – Meeting the Unique Needs of a Growing Population
Every year, more and more children in foster care find permanent homes with relatives when they cannot return to live with their parents. Most children will find permanent homes through relative adoption, which continued to increase throughout the decade. In 2000, 21 percent of the children adopted from foster care were adopted by relatives. By… [read more]
Kinship Care Best Practice Guidance
As the number of children in kinship care increase child welfare agencies are seeking policies, programs and practice guidance to help develop and implement effective kinship care policies and programs. Child welfare agencies are taking a new look at the nature of kinship care, the role of kinship care as a child welfare service, and… [read more]
Kinship Care May 2004
Definition and Incidence Kinship care is a living arrangement in which a relative or another person who is emotionally close to a child takes on primary responsibility for raising that child (Leos- Urbel, Bess, & Geen, 1999). According to the 2000 U.S. Census, nationally, there are 4.5 million children under the age of 18 living… [read more]
Kinship Foster Care
There is a growing consensus that group care is not beneficial for children except in time-limited therapeutic settings to meet specific treatment needs. Unfortunately, most communities lack a robust network of foster family homes. Given this reality, many child welfare agencies are redoubling their efforts to identify and engage kin as foster parents. Despite the… [read more]
Kinship Legal Guardianship – A Permanency Option in DCP&P Cases
The state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, (DCP&P), formerly the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) has placed a child in your home. You may be related to the child, a close friend of the family or perhaps the child is unrelated, but has been in your home for a long time. Your DCP&P… [read more]
Kinship Legal Guardianship Pro Se Manual
Kinship Legal Guardianship Pro Se Manual Is the child of a relative or close friend living in your home? Has the child been living with you for more than the last 12 months? Is this arrangement likely to continue? Do the parents have serious problems that prevent them from caring for their child? Are you… [read more]