22.2 Use of Kinship Caregivers in Foster Care

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

Kinship

Policy Title:

Use of Kinship Caregivers in Foster Care

Policy Number:

22.2

Previous Policy Number(s):

10.5

Effective Date:

September 2020

Manual Transmittal:

2020-06

Codes/References

N/A

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Utilize kinship caregivers to care for children in foster care to maintain family connections, minimize trauma, and promote placement stability and a sense of normalcy.

  2. Through the diligent search process identify and locate kin who may be considered as a placement or permanency resource for the child.

  3. Complete a Kinship Assessment to assess the suitability of kin to provide temporary care for a child(ren) and the physical home environment:

    1. Abbreviated Kinship Assessment, within 72 hours of:

      1. An immediate foster care kinship placement (initial or placement change).

      2. DFCS being granted legal custody of a child, when the child will remain with the same kinship caregiver from the voluntary kinship arrangement.

      For continued placement, the Kinship Assessment must be completed within 30 calendar days of the foster care kinship placement.

    2. Kinship Assessment, within 30 days of:

      1. An immediate foster care kinship placement.

      2. Being granted legal custody of a child, when the child will remain placed with the same kinship caregiver from the voluntary kinship arrangement.

      3. A kinship caregiver’s request to be a placement resource or the referral to a Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment (CCFA) provider to conduct the Kinship Assessment.

  4. Following approval of the Kinship Assessment, obtain approval for the placement of the child into the kinship caregiver’s home and provide placement notifications:

    1. When the kinship caregiver resides in the legal county:

      1. Abbreviated Kinship Assessment or Kinship Assessment:

        1. Obtain placement approval from the legal County Director or Regional Resource Development Administrator (RRDA).

    2. When the kinship caregiver resides in another county:

      1. Abbreviated Kinship Assessment:

        1. Notify the boarding County Director or RRDA, of the immediate foster care kinship placement (include a copy of the approved abbreviated Kinship Assessment).

      2. Kinship Assessment:

        1. Obtain placement approval from the legal County Director or RRDA.

        2. Obtain placement approval from the boarding County Director or RRDA.

        3. Notify the boarding County Director or RRDA of the intended placement date with the kinship caregiver.

  5. Prepare the child for transitioning from their home or current placement into the kinship caregiver’s home in a manner that minimizes trauma.

  6. Notify the Regional Kinship Coordinator of the foster care kinship placement.

    The Regional Kinship Coordinator will receive an alert in Georgia SHINES when the Placement Information page is updated with the foster care kinship placement.

  7. Conduct a Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment within 72 hours of the foster care kinship placement to identify needs to support the kinship caregiver(s) in adequately providing for the care or needs of the child(ren).

  8. Determine the kinship caregivers’ eligibility for Enhanced Relative Rate (ERR), upon placement.

  9. Make purposeful face-to-face contact with the child within seven calendar days of the initial placement with the kinship caregiver to assess the child’s safety, adjustment to the placement, and any needs of the child or caregiver.

  10. Provide full disclosure to the kinship caregiver(s) within ten calendar days of the foster care kinship placement explaining the kinship caregiver’s roles and responsibilities, service provision, financial and non-financial supports, implications of caring for a child in foster care, and legal options.

  11. Provide or arrange for individualized services to address identified needs based on the developmental challenges they are experiencing in their everyday lives.

  12. Initiate the initial home evaluation for the kinship caregivers to transition to kinship foster parents by referring the kinship caregiver to a Resource Development within 30 calendar days of the Kinship Coordinator’s initial contact with the kinship caregivers.

  13. Require foster care kinship caregivers to transition to kinship foster parents within 120 calendar days of the foster care kinship placement to ensure the continued readiness to meet the behavioral and psychological needs of child(ren) in their home.

  14. Make at least one face-to-face purposeful contact each calendar month with the child placed with a kinship caregiver to assess child safety, well-being and permanency with the majority (over 50%) of the contacts occurring in the kinship caregiver residence.

  15. Conduct a supervisor staffing as often as necessary, but at least once per calendar month, to provide oversight of case management activities intended to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of child(ren) placed with a kinship caregiver.

  16. Make at least one face-to-face purposeful contact each calendar month with the kinship caregiver(s), to evaluate if the placement continues to meet the needs of the child, caregiver capacity and family functioning to assess child safety. If the placement resource is a two-parent household, ensure both parents are engaged.

  17. Make purposeful face-to-face contact with any child in a kinship placement who is seriously injured or has attempted self-harm or suicide within 24 hours of notification to assess for maltreatment, the child’s current condition and future treatment needs.

  18. Make face-to-face contact with any child in foster care placed with a kinship caregiver who is the subject of a Child Protective Services (CPS) intake report that is screened out to confirm child safety and wellbeing. Contact shall be made with the child and their caregiver within 24 hours of notification of the screen out decision.

  19. Continue diligent search efforts until a kin or other committed individual has been identified for the placement or permanency of the child or until such child is placed for adoption in accordance with policy 19.20 Case Management: Diligent Search.

Procedures

Social Services Case Manager

  1. Identify and locate kin who may be considered as a placement resource for the child while in foster care in accordance with policy 19.20 Case Management: Diligent Search.

  2. Contact the prospective kinship caregiver:

    1. Confirm their willingness to care for the child(ren);

    2. Discuss the requirements of being a kinship caregiver for a child in foster care;

    3. If an abbreviated Kinship Assessment is being completed, explain a Kinship Assessment is required to be completed within 30 days of the placement;

    4. Explain for the kinship caregiver to continue as a placement resource for the child, he/she must be approved as a foster parent within 120 days from the date of the placement.

  3. In conjunction with the Social Services Supervisor (SSS) determine whether a CCFA provider will complete the Kinship Assessment in accordance with policy 10.10 Foster Care: Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment (CCFA).

  4. Conduct a Kinship Assessment to assess the suitability of kin (relatives or fictive kin) to provide temporary care for a child(ren) and to assess the physical home environment:

    1. Abbreviated Kinship Assessment in accordance with policy 22.3 Kinship: Kinship Assessment.

      For continued placement, the Kinship Assessment must be completed within 30 calendar days of the foster care kinship placement.

    2. Kinship Assessment in accordance with policy 22.3 Kinship: Kinship Assessment.

  5. When the Kinship Assessment is not approved:

    1. Engage the caregiver:

      1. Explain that the children already placed in the home will need to be moved.

      2. If the reasons for denial can be rectified, explain that once the issues have been resolved an updated Kinship Assessment or Home Evaluation is needed to be considered for future kinship placement.

      3. Ask for support with transitioning the child(ren) to a new placement.

      4. Identify other ways they can support the child(ren) in foster care, if they are unable to be a placement resource.

    2. Select a new placement for the child(ren) in accordance with policy 10.4 Foster Care: Selecting a Placement Resource.

  6. When the Kinship Assessment is approved:

    1. Obtain approval from the County Director or RRDA for the placement of the child into the kinship caregiver’s home.

    2. When the approved kinship caregiver resides in another county:

      1. Obtain placement approval from the County Director or RRDA, where the kinship caregiver resides; and

      2. Notify the of the intended placement date with the kinship caregiver.

  7. Prepare the child for transitioning from their home or current placement into the kinship caregiver’s home. Place the child into the home of the approved kinship caregiver.

    1. If this is the initial placement into foster care, follow procedures in policy 10.1 Foster Care: Placement of a Child.

    2. If this is a placement change, follow procedures in policy 10.3 Foster Care: Changes in Placement.

  8. Indicate the child’s placement with a Kinship Caregiver on the Placement Information page in Georgia SHINES.

  9. Determine the Kinship Caregivers eligibility for Enhanced Relative Rate (ERR), upon placement in accordance with policy 22.8 Kinship: Financial and Non-Financial Support for Children in Foster Care or Who Have Achieved Permanency.

  10. Assign the Regional Kinship Coordinator as secondary on the foster care case in Georgia SHINES within 48 hours of the placement with a foster care kinship caregiver.

  11. Make purposeful face-to-face contact with the child(ren) within seven calendar days of the placement with the kinship caregiver.

  12. Make at least one face-to-face purposeful contact each calendar month with each child placed with a kinship caregiver to assess child safety, well-being and permanency in accordance with policy 10.18 Foster Care: Purposeful Contacts in Foster Care.

  13. Make at least one face-to-face purposeful contact each calendar month with the kinship caregiver(s), to evaluate if the placement continues to meet the needs of the child, caregiver capacity and family functioning to assess child safety in accordance with policy 10.18 Foster Care: Purposeful Contacts in Foster Care. If the placement resource is a two-parent household, ensure both parents are engaged.

  14. Discuss with the kinship caregiver(s) their role and responsibilities, service provision, financial and non-financial supports, implications of caring for a child in foster care, and legal options.

  15. When becoming aware of changes in the kinship caregiver’s household circumstances:

    1. Initiate a staffing with the SSS, within 72 hours to discuss the changes and the impact on the child’s safety, permanency and well-being.

      Immediately staff any safety concerns.

    2. Assess the impact the change has on the eligibility for ERR. Initiate any necessary adjustments to the subsidy payments in accordance with policy 22.8 Kinship: Financial and Non-Financial Supports for Children in Foster Care or Who Have Achieved Permanency.

    3. Document the changes in the household circumstances, the impact on child safety and well-being, and any changes to the eligibility status of subsidy payments, in the narrative of the Contact Detail page of Georgia SHINES.

    4. Notify Regional Accounting and the Resource Maintainer of the changes.

  16. Participate in any staffings to discuss challenges in the kin caregivers foster home approval process and explore possible solutions, when requirements for foster home approval were not completed.

  17. In conjunction with the SSS, determine if it is in the best interest of the child to remain with the kinship caregiver, when consensus cannot be achieved to overcome challenges to foster home approval.

    For continued placement with the current kinship caregiver, approval from the Regional Director/Designee is required.

  18. Terminate ERR payments if the kinship caregiver has not completed the requirements for foster family home approval within 120 days, if the Regional Director/Designee has not granted approval for continued placement in accordance with policy 22.8 Kinship: Financial and Non-Financial Supports for Children in Foster Care or Who Have Achieved Permanency.

Social Services Supervisor

  1. Determine if the Kinship Assessment or Abbreviated Kinship Assessment is required to be completed based on case circumstances. Oversee the completion of the Kinship Assessment in accordance with the policy 22.3 Kinship: Kinship Assessment.

  2. When the Kinship Assessment is approved, obtain approval from the applicable County Director(s) or RRDAs for the placement of the child with the kinship caregiver and provide notification of the intended placement or placement dates as outlined in the requirements.

  3. Assist the SSCM in selecting a new placement for the child(ren) when the Kinship Assessment is not approved in accordance with policy 10.4 Foster Care: Selecting a Placement Resource.

  4. Ensure the child is prepared for the transitioning from their home or current placement into the kinship caregiver’s home in accordance with policy:

    1. 10.1 Foster Care: Placement of a Child, if it’s the initial placement into foster care.

    2. 10.3 Foster Care: Changes in Placement, if this is a placement change.

  5. Ensure the child is placed with the approved kinship caregiver, if not already in the kinship caregiver’s home, in accordance with policy 10.1 Foster Care: Placement of a Child or 10.3 Foster Care: Changes in Placement.

  6. Ensure individualized services were provided or arranged to preserve and support the kinship foster care placement in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision.

  7. Ensure the SSCM conducts a visit within seven calendar days of the child(ren)'s placement with the kinship caregiver(s) (see policy 10.1 Foster Care: Placement of a Child and 10.3 Foster Care: Changes in Placement).

  8. Ensure at least one face-to-face purposeful contact each calendar month with the child placed with a kinship caregiver in accordance with policy 10.18 Foster Care: Purposeful Contacts in Foster Care.

  9. Ensure at least one face-to-face purposeful contact conducted with the kinship caregiver each calendar month in accordance with policy 10.18 Foster Care: Purposeful Contacts in Foster Care. If the placement resource is a two-parent household, ensure both parents are engaged.

  10. Conduct a staffing with the SSCM on a monthly basis to provide oversight of case management activities intended to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of child(ren) in accordance with policy 19.6 Case Management: Supervisor Staffing.

  11. Conduct a staffing with the SSCM when there are changes to the kinship caregiver household circumstances to assess the impact of the change on the child’s safety, permanency and well-being and the impact on the eligibility for ERR.

  12. Participate in any staffings to discuss challenges in the kin caregivers foster home approval process and explore possible solutions, when requirements for foster home approval were not completed. When consensus cannot be achieved to overcome challenges to foster home approval:

    1. In conjunction with the SSCM, determine if it is in the best interest of the child to remain with the kinship caregiver.

    2. Obtain approval from the Regional Director/Designee for continued placement with the current kinship caregiver(s), if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child.

  13. Ensure ERR payments are terminated if the kinship caregiver has not completed the requirements for foster family home approval within 120 days, if the Regional Director/Designee has not granted approval for continued placement (see policy 22.8 Kinship: Financial and Non-Financial Supports for Children in Foster Care or Who Have Achieved Permanency).

The Regional Kinship Coordinator will:

  1. Engage the kinship caregiver(s) within 72 hours of the child being placed in the kinship caregiver’s home.

    If an approved voluntary kinship caregiver is transitioning to a kinship caregiver for a child in foster care, contact should be made within 10 days of DFCS being granted legal custody of the child(ren).

  2. Conduct a Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment within 72 hours of the foster care kinship placement, to identify what services and supports would be needed to strengthen the out-of-home arrangement.

  3. Upload the Needs Assessment into Georgia SHINES External Documentation.

  4. Initiate individualized services to address identified needs based on the developmental challenges they are experiencing in their everyday lives in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision.

  5. Provide the Kinship Pathways (full disclosure) within ten calendar days of the foster care kinship placement (see Practice Guidance: Full Disclosure). Obtain the kinship caregiver(s) signatures on the disclosure Statement acknowledging the full disclosure discussion and receipt of the Kinship Pathway.

  6. Engage the kinship caregiver(s) bi-weekly (face-to-face or telephone) to:

    1. Provide resources and supports the to assist in caring for the child.

    2. Continue discussion of the Kinship Pathway.

    3. Conduct the ongoing Needs Assessment.

    The contact method (face-to-face or by telephone) will be determined based on the needs of the kinship caregiver(s).

  7. Refer the kinship caregiver to a Resource Development SSCM within 30 days of contact to initiate the kinship caregivers’ transition to kinship foster parents (see policy 22.4 Kinship: Kinship Foster Home Evaluation).

  8. Monitor the kinship caregivers’ transition to kinship foster parents to ensure timely completion in accordance with policy 22.4 Kinship: Kinship Foster Home Evaluation.

Practice Guidance

Kinship Care

Kinship care is the full-time care and nurturing of a child by a relative or someone with a significant emotional connection to the child, such as a close family friend, when parents are not able to provide care. Kin includes:

  • Grandparents

  • Siblings

  • Extended family members

  • Tribal members

  • Godparents

  • Stepparents

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

When out-of-home care is needed, kinship care is the preferred option because it can reduce trauma and help children maintain family bonds, a sense of belonging, and their identity. Research shows that children benefit from kinship care in many ways. Kinship care can reduce the trauma that children may have previously endured and the trauma that accompanies parental separation by providing them with a sense of stability and belonging in an otherwise unsettling time. Kinship care has the following benefits:

  • Connections with a child’s birth family, extended family, siblings, and community—bonds that are essential to well-being

  • Minimize trauma

  • Preservation of cultural identity

  • Increase the chances the siblings will remain together

  • Placement stability compared to children in other out-of-home care arrangements

Prospective kinship caregivers should be provided all the information on the child’s needs and situation to allow the prospective caregiver and DFCS to make the best possible placement decision for the child.

Success of Placement with Kinship Caregivers

The success of placement with a kinship caregiver(s) can be positively impacted by:

  1. The extent of kin caregiver’s preparation for meeting the child(ren)'s needs.

  2. The accuracy of their kin caregiver’s perceptions of the requirements for managing the child(ren) and his/her needs (i.e., medical, physical, emotional, educational, and/or behavioral issues).

  3. The open communication and information sharing between the DFCS, the family and kinship caregivers.

  4. Their kin caregiver’s familiarity with and commitment to abide by the agency’s requirements regarding children in out-of-home placements.

Placement with a kinship caregiver(s) may not be appropriate when:

  1. Child abuse has been substantiated on the kinship caregiver.

  2. Unsatisfactory criminal records checks are received.

  3. Safety concerns are identified.

  4. They are unable to meet the on-going needs of the child(ren).

  5. Parental interference in the placement would negatively affect the child(ren).

  6. They are not willing to accept the placement.

  7. They are openly or passively hostile or negative toward the parents, child(ren) or DFCS.

  8. They are unable or unwilling to protect the child(ren) from risks or harm from others.

  9. They are unable or unwilling to comply with agency or court ordered visitation plans or outcome of reunification.

Kinship Coordinator

The 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 children. Following the Kinship Needs Assessment, the Kinship Coordinator will partner with the SSCM to provide or arrange individualized services to address the identified needs. This includes providing kinship caregivers with information about how to access health care, financial support and public benefits, legal assistance, emergency services, respite etc. and/or linking the kinship caregiver with community services such as support groups and counseling. In addition, kinship caregivers are provided information on the court system, including the different types of hearings, court procedures, and the kinship caregiver’s role in any court proceedings. The Kinship Coordinator’s involvement begins at the initiation of out-of-home care with a kinship caregiver and continues until the kinship arrangement or placement is no longer needed.

Full Disclosure

Full disclosures will be provided to the voluntary kinship caregiver by the Kinship Coordinator when the child(ren) enters the home of the kinship caregiver.

  1. Explain the role and responsibilities of a voluntary kinship caregiver.

  2. Ensure that the kinship caregiver is willing to maintain the child(ren)'s safety and well-being.

  3. Identify the role kinship caregiver(s) has in assisting the parent(s)/guardian(s)/legal custodian(s) in achieving the conditions for return.

  4. Explain agency terms and definitions (i.e. kinship caregiver, TAFC, conditions for return), including DFCS requirement to abide by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and confidentiality standards.

  5. Explore the available services.

  6. Inform of legal options and financial support.

  7. Advise how to access the Kinship Navigator Program.

  8. Explore short term and long-term implications for caring for a child(ren) who is unable to live with their parent(s)/guardian(s)/legal custodian(s).

  9. Provide the Kinship Pathway to help kin caregivers navigate DFCS.

  10. Advise decisions will be made in partnership with the family based upon individual needs of the child(ren) and family, while considering safety, permanency, and well-being.

Although full disclosure is the discussion with the kinship caregiver, information will also be provided in writing to the kin caregivers via the Kinship Pathways. The kinship caregiver(s) will sign the Disclosure Statement Form acknowledging the discussion and receipt of the written information. The Kinship Coordinator will provide subsequent updated full disclosures when the permanency plan changes (i.e. non-reunification, adoption) or there is change in the kinship caregiver’s role (i.e. a kinship placement caregiver that transitioning into a kinship foster parent).

Kinship Needs Assessment

Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment is a conduit to facilitate a discussion with the kinship caregivers regarding the tangible needs they will require to successfully care for the child(ren). The Needs Assessment assists the parent, kinship caregivers, case manager, and community providers to accurately identify what services and supports would be needed to strengthen the out-of-home arrangement. The Kinship Needs Assessment is an ongoing evaluation that is child and caregiver focused. Every kinship caregiver will have different needs based on their parenting experience and skills, prior knowledge of the child, and community resource knowledge. It should be expected that the identified needs of the kinship caregiver will change throughout the agency involvement.

Tips for Supporting Kinship Caregivers

The following Tips should be considered when placing a child with Kin/ Fictive Kin Caregivers:

  1. Ensure the caregiver is informed and supported throughout the kinship assessment and foster home evaluation process.

  2. Maintain regular contact with the regional kinship coordinator and the resource development staff to assist with kinship placements.

  3. Ensure the safety screens are completed prior to initiating a home assessment.

  4. Inform the caregiver of the timeframes and keep them abreast of any delays.

  5. Work with the caregiver to get forms or other information that may be needed to expedite the process.

  6. Proactively address any barriers to the foster care kinship placement or foster home evaluation approval process.

  7. Consideration should be given to approving the Abbreviated Kinship Assessment and the Subsidy Application simultaneously to ensure continuity of approval dates.

Forms and Tools

N/A