How to Support Kinship Care: Lessons Learnt Across the World

Abstract

Kinship care is acknowledged in global guidance as the first form of care that should be explored for children outside of parental care. It is widely used across the world. However, it is poorly supported in many countries. A global review of the literature, key informant interviews and consultations with 411 kinship carers and children in kinship care provide lessons learnt on how to effectively support kinship care. Principles of good practice include enabling the active participation of children and caregivers, taking a kin-first approach, building on the strengths in kinship care families and acknowledging diversity within kinship care. Effective support to kinship care requires an enabling environment, which includes a strong evidence base, policies, strategies and guidance on kinship care, properly financed services across sectors and supportive social norms. In some instances, it is appropriate to formalise kinship care either through registering these arrangements or through the involvement of courts or social services in arranging and monitoring placements. However, this formalisation is neither necessary nor advisable in all instances, and support should never be contingent on formalisation. Kinship care families need access to a range of services and support, including child protection and social services, information about available services, social protection, support accessing health care and education and caregiving supports.