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Supporting Kinship Care: Research andResearch andResearch andResearch andStrategies to Promote and FundStrategies to Promote and FundStrategies to Promote and FundStrategies to Promote and FundPlacement with RelativesPlacement with RelativesPlacement with RelativesPlacement with Relatives
Kay Casey, M.A.Kay Casey, M.A.Kay Casey, M.A.Kay Casey, M.A.
Maia Hurley, Ph.D., M.P.P.Maia Hurley, Ph.D., M.P.P.Maia Hurley, Ph.D., M.P.P.Maia Hurley, Ph.D., M.P.P.
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Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewPresentation OverviewPresentation Overview
Legislative Background & Context
Overview of Research Findings & Policy Implications
Available Funding for Kinship Caregiver Support
Strategies for States to Leverage Available Funding
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Legislative Context & Policy TrendsLegislative Context & Policy TrendsLegislative Context & Policy TrendsLegislative Context & Policy Trends
Increase in reports of child abuse/neglect and numberof children in foster care
Shifting demographic trends in foster care Overrepresentation of minority children
Severe health needs
Debate over Best Interest of Child Caregiver type (Relative vs. Non-Relative)
Placement type (Permanent Home vs. Long-Term Foster Care)
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Kinship Care OverviewKinship Care OverviewKinship Care OverviewKinship Care Overview
Formal vs. Informal Kinship Care
Integration of Formal Kinship Care Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997
Fostering Connections Act of 2008
Characteristics of kinship foster caregivers are differentthan non-relative foster caregivers
Subsidized guardianship seen as alternative permanentplacement when adoption is not an option
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WellWellWellWell----being of Children in Nonbeing of Children in Nonbeing of Children in Nonbeing of Children in Non----Relative Foster CareRelative Foster CareRelative Foster CareRelative Foster Care
Shaped by environment and experiences beforeentering, as well as during, placement
Disproportionately high rates of: Physical, developmental, mental health, behavioral problems
Increased risk of insecure or disordered attachment
Lower rates of school readiness and academicachievement
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WellWellWellWell----Being of Children in Kinship Foster CareBeing of Children in Kinship Foster CareBeing of Children in Kinship Foster CareBeing of Children in Kinship Foster Care
Consistent with notion that children are best served intheir own homes
Maintains attachment relationships; serves as bufferagainst trauma of separation
Research provides mixed results for well-being ofchildren in kinship foster care Increased placement stability
Fewer behavior problems?
Higher academic functioning?
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Description of Data & MethodsDescription of Data & MethodsDescription of Data & MethodsDescription of Data & Methods
National Survey of Child and AdolescentWellbeing (NSCAW), Restricted Release, Waves
1-4
Collects data from children and families who
have had contact with the child welfare system
Logistic regression analysis examined: Demographic predictors of children placed in kinship foster vs. non-relative care
Demographic predictors of kinship foster vs. non-relative caregivers
Predictors of severe scores on 3 domains of well-being for children (Behavior, Adaptive Skills,Developmental/Educational)
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Characteristics of Children in Kinship Foster CareCharacteristics of Children in Kinship Foster CareCharacteristics of Children in Kinship Foster CareCharacteristics of Children in Kinship Foster Care
Child Age
Gender
.0032.07 (.01; .40)Special Education
.07342.05 (.93; 4.49)3-5 years
.04671.99 (1.01; 3.92)Female
Kinship Foster Care vs. NonKinship Foster Care vs. NonKinship Foster Care vs. NonKinship Foster Care vs. Non----Relative Foster CareRelative Foster CareRelative Foster CareRelative Foster Care
PPPP----valuevaluevaluevalueOR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)
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Characteristics of Kinship Foster CaregiversCharacteristics of Kinship Foster CaregiversCharacteristics of Kinship Foster CaregiversCharacteristics of Kinship Foster Caregivers
.0003.14 (.05; .40)35-44
Caregiver Age
Overall Health
.00493.96 (1.54; 10.23)Good
.000015.14 (4.28; 53.54)Fair
.05762.44 (.97; 6.12)Very Good
.0047.27 (.11; .66)45-54
.0000.14 (.06; .35)
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Impact of Caregiver Type on Severe ScoresImpact of Caregiver Type on Severe ScoresImpact of Caregiver Type on Severe ScoresImpact of Caregiver Type on Severe Scores
Adaptive SkillsAdaptive SkillsAdaptive SkillsAdaptive Skills
BehaviorBehaviorBehaviorBehavior
.0301.30 (.10; .89)Kinship Foster Care
.0273.21 (.05; .83)Kinship Foster Care
Children in OOH PlacementChildren in OOH PlacementChildren in OOH PlacementChildren in OOH Placement
PPPP----valuevaluevaluevalueOR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)
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Demographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe Scores
.0301.13 (.10; .89)Hispanic
Race/Ethnicity
.03203.80 (1.13; 12.84)Severe
Wave 1 Scores
Gender
.0022.20 (.07; .55)Female
Adaptive Skills, Children in OOH PlacementAdaptive Skills, Children in OOH PlacementAdaptive Skills, Children in OOH PlacementAdaptive Skills, Children in OOH Placement
PPPP----valuevaluevaluevalueOR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)
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Demographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe ScoresDemographic Predictors of Severe Scores
.02948.28 (1.24; 55.18)SevereWave 1 Scores
Child Age
.00215.99 (1.95; 18.37)0-4 years
Developmental/Educational, Children in OOH PlacementDevelopmental/Educational, Children in OOH PlacementDevelopmental/Educational, Children in OOH PlacementDevelopmental/Educational, Children in OOH Placement
PPPP----valuevaluevaluevalueOR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)OR (90% CI)
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Funding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship Placements
2005 American Community Survey identified 6.7million children residing in grandparent or other
relative headed households
About 20% of relative caregivers live in poverty.
With only about 25% of children in kinshipplacements receive a payment.
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Funding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship Placements
In 2004 of the 509,662 children in out of homecare, 23.5% were living with relatives.
One in four children living with relatives are in longterm foster care
Subsidized guardianships are a relatively newemphasis.
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Funding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship PlacementsFunding Facts for Kinship Placements
Massachusetts had the first program in 1983
By 2004, 35 states and the District of Columbia hadsubsidized guardianship programs.
In 2005,7 states had demonstration waiverprograms using Title IV-E Foster Care and AdoptionAssistance to support guardianship programs.
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Funding for Kinship PlacementsFunding for Kinship PlacementsFunding for Kinship PlacementsFunding for Kinship Placements
TANF Child Only Grants
TANF Kinship Placements Title IV-E Relative Foster Home
Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP)
Title IV-E Adoption Assistance
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TANF Child OnlyTANF Child OnlyTANF Child OnlyTANF Child Only
Grandparents and other relatives may receive thepayment allowed for one child in the home.
No income/resources of relative caregiver are takeninto consideration.
Child only payments range from $89 to $350
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TANFTANFTANFTANF ---- Kinship Care ProgramsKinship Care ProgramsKinship Care ProgramsKinship Care Programs
Nationally about a half of states have some versionof a TANF funded kinship care program
Special requirements often accompany a childwelfare program funded by TANF such as anadjudication of dependency, home study/approvalprocess, custody and control of the state agency.
Payments higher than child only but lower than foster
care payments
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Title IVTitle IVTitle IVTitle IV----E Relative Foster CareE Relative Foster CareE Relative Foster CareE Relative Foster Care
Relatives entitled to foster care board rate, childMedicaid, support services
Payments equal to state board rates
Licensing requirements may be more lenient thannon relative foster care licensing
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Title IVTitle IVTitle IVTitle IV----E Guardianship Assistance Payments (GAP)E Guardianship Assistance Payments (GAP)E Guardianship Assistance Payments (GAP)E Guardianship Assistance Payments (GAP)
Fostering Successful Connections and IncreaseAdoption Assistance Act of 2008 created a new
category of children eligible for Title IV-Ereimbursement.
Provides support to relative caregivers for childrenwho have been in foster care for the last 6 monthsand who are eligible for Title IV -E Foster Care
funds.
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Title IVTitle IVTitle IVTitle IV----E Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (Contd)d)d)d)
The childs reunification with his/her birthparents hasbeen ruled out as viable option.
Licensing for relative to receive Title IV-E foster caremaintenance payments and therefore, qualify for
guardianship assistance.
Payments must not exceed the foster care board
payment but states have latitude to set the rate.
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Title IVTitle IVTitle IVTitle IV----E Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (ContE Guardianship Assistance Payments (Contd)d)d)d)
States may pay nonrecurring costs up to $2,000associated with obtaining legal guardianship
State must provide supported guardianshipassistance payments until the age of 18, unless the
state determines the guardian in no longer eligible.
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Title IVTitle IVTitle IVTitle IV----E Adoption Assistance SubsidyE Adoption Assistance SubsidyE Adoption Assistance SubsidyE Adoption Assistance Subsidy
Relatives who adopt may receive a subsidy that is nohigher than the foster care board payment.
Relatives must meet all the requirements for anapproved home study, criminal background checks
and training for prospective adoptive parents
Eligible for up to $2,000 nonrecurring expense
reimbursement
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Additional Funding Sources for Kinship PlacementsAdditional Funding Sources for Kinship PlacementsAdditional Funding Sources for Kinship PlacementsAdditional Funding Sources for Kinship Placements
Medicaid
Eligible for Chafee Program services and Educationand Training Vouchers (ETV)
Promoting Safe and Stable Families Older Americans Act, National Family Caregiver
Support Program Child Care and Development Fund
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Support Services of Kinship CareSupport Services of Kinship CareSupport Services of Kinship CareSupport Services of Kinship Care
Legal Services
Wraparound Services
Respite Care
Mentoring (i.e Big Brother/Big Sister)
Mental health services for relative caregiver and the
child
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Funding Strategy for Kinship CareFunding Strategy for Kinship CareFunding Strategy for Kinship CareFunding Strategy for Kinship Care
Enhance Title IV-E administrative and trainingclaiming mechanisms to provide ongoing funding
Consider TANF Kinship Care for non Title IV-Echildren in kinship placements
Identify TANF non-assistance for kinship placementsthat will provide support services
Collaboration with federal and state agenciesregarding available funding and services.