What government and communities should do to support kinship families

We’re very excited for today’s release of a new report on kinship care from our partners at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This policy report explains the increasing number of children living with extended family and close friends, and what policies can help support them. When parents are unable to care for their children, grandparents, other
relatives, and close family friends can provide care that is stable and nurturing.

Overall, 1 in 11 children lives in kinship care at some point before the age of 18, according to Annie E. Casey. But kin caregivers often have trouble getting all the benefits they’re entitled to, and many more don’t even know all the government supports available to them. “Less than 12 percent of kinship families receive any assistance from TANF, although nearly 100 percent of the children in such families are eligible, as well as many of the caregivers themselves,” writes the Foundation.

This report is full of important recommendations for how we can support kinship care. Policymakers, take heed!