Parental Incarceration and Kinship Care: Caregiver Experiences, Child Well-Being, and Permanency Intentions

Abstract

The number of children who reside with a relative because of parental incarceration has increased over the past two decades. Although these children are at risk for negative outcomes, some protective factors, such as a strong and nurturing caregiver experience, buffer the effect of parental incarceration. This study examined the experiences of 72 caregivers and 127 children to learn whether caregivers' stress and strain, readiness and capacity, perceptions of child well-being, and unmet service needs are associated with permanency intentions. The study found strong inclinations against adoption, high intentions toward guardianship, and strong associations between these permanency choices and caregivers' experiences and their reports of unmet service needs and makes recommendations for policy, practice, and research advocacy.