22.0 Introduction to Kinship

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(22) Kinship

Policy Title:

Introduction to Kinship

Policy Number:

22.0

Previous Policy Number(s):

N/A

Effective Date:

September 2020

Manual Transmittal:

2020-06

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 15-11-2 Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-133.1 Temporary Alternatives to Foster Care; Orders; Minimal Preliminary Assessments; Preliminary Protective Hearing; Time for Hearings
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-135 Placement in Eligible Foster Care

Discussion

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) strives to provide services and resources to keep children in their homes with their families whenever possible. When children cannot remain safely with their parents, DFCS recognizes that children thrive best in kinship care and through its Kinship Continuum prioritizes placement with kinship caregivers as the preferred and best option for children.

Kinship care is the full-time care and nurturing of a child by a relative or fictive kin (an individual with a significant connection to the child, such as a close family friend). Kinship relationships should be respected based on the family’s cultural values and emotional ties. Research shows that kinship care reduces trauma to the child by maintaining family bonds, connections, traditions, a sense of belonging, and identity for the child. Further, kinship care increases placement stability and permanency for children and creates an opportunity to strengthen the family.

DFCS’s Kinship Continuum includes voluntary kinship arrangements to prevent children from entering foster care, and kinship foster care placements when children must enter foster care. DFCS makes diligent efforts to identify and locate relatives or committed individuals who has a significant relationship with the child who can safely care for them while parents receive treatment and services.

While the goal for children in kinship care is to safely return home with their parents, kinship caregivers are encouraged to support the goal of a safe return home but remain willing to provide a permanent home if children cannot return home. Kinship caregivers can assist families by providing safe, loving environments for the children, being positive role models for the parents, and generally supporting the families through difficult times.

It is important for DFCS staff to understand the family dynamics and relationships and provide full disclosure so that everyone is aware of all aspects of the process to support positive outcome for children and families.

Kinship (Kin)

Kin includes relatives and fictive kin. A relative is someone defined by blood, marriage or adoption, including the spouse of any of those persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or divorce. Fictive kin is a person who is not related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption but who prior to his or her placement in foster care is known to the family, has a substantial and positive relationship with the child, and is willing and able to provide a suitable home for the child. Kinship caregivers may include:

  • Grandparents

  • Siblings

  • Extended family members

  • Tribal members

  • Godparents

  • Anyone with a “family like” relationship with the child

Voluntary Kinship

Voluntary Kinship serves as the foundation of Kinship Care. The purpose of voluntary kinship is to serve as a safety and crisis intervention modality that works to stabilize the family dynamic and utilizes the Solution Based Casework tenants (“natural helpers”) and practices to address the identified safety threats leading to the need for temporary out of home placement via an out of home Safety Plan.

Kinship Foster Care

Kinship foster care may become necessary if safety threats cannot be mitigated via an in-home safety plan, voluntary kinship, or if the condition for return were not met within the 90-day voluntary kinship arrangement. Kinship caregivers typically are motivated by a desire or obligation to step in at a critical moment to meet the caregiving needs for a specific child when a biological parent/caregiver is unable. A growing body of research confirms that, in most circumstances, kinship foster care is the best option when children cannot live with their own parents. Several studies have found that children in kinship foster care are better able to adjust to their new environment and are less likely to experience behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders than those in the general foster care population. Finally, children in kinship foster care experience fewer school disruptions than children in non-kin foster care, and their sense of identity and self-esteem is reinforced.

Kinship Assessment

Child safety is paramount when identifying kinship caregivers. It is vital for all frontline staff to ensure that children are being placed in a home that will meet the child’s needs for safety, permanency, and well-being. The Kinship Assessment is an evaluation of the kinship caregiver(s), the home environment and the capacity of the kinship caregiver(s) to safely meet the needs of the children.

Kinship Coordinators

Kinship Coordinators partner with kinship caregivers to identify needs of the caregivers and children that would impact the kinship caregivers’ ability to provide adequate care for the child(ren). They assist kinship families in identifying and locating resources within their local community, and work to close gaps and/or delays in service delivery to kinship caregivers.