The Standards to License Kinship Foster Parents Around the United States: Using Research Findings to Effect Change

Abstract

The challenges and strengths of all kinship caregivers, whether licensed foster parents, unlicensed, or outside the system entirely, are similar; financial supports and services are essential to assist most kinship caregivers in their efforts to raise children. Despite similarities, financial assistance, services, and oversight are significantly different depending on whether a relative is licensed. Without licensure, kinship families cannot access an important pathway to permanence for children in their care and the accompanying financial assistance available under the federal Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) in 33 participating jurisdictions. In part to address these inequities, the Annie E. Casey Foundation spearheaded a multipartner effort to look at family foster care licensing around the country. Generations United's National Center on Grandfamilies and the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law conducted comprehensive legal research into foster care licensing standards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They found problematic and varying licensing standards that cause significant barriers for kinship caregivers. This article summarizes those research findings, along with guiding principles, which are being used to create model licensing standards to remove unnecessary barriers and facilitate the licensure of appropriate kinship and non-kinship foster parents.