What Is Kinship Care?

When a child who is unable to live with their birth parents lives full-time or semi-permanently with relatives or close family friends, this type of fostering arrangement is referred to as kinship care. The child doesn’t go into foster care with strangers, but rather goes to live with specific family members or friends who have a significant relationship with the child e.g. grandparents, aunties and uncles or even god parents

Why Is Kinship Care Important?

It benefits the child in terms of identity and continuance. Life is hard as it is and being with family can ease the trauma of separation. It is well established that children in kinship care are more likely to maintain cultural connections, which can include links to their own family traditions and community. For advice on Foster Care Barry, visit https://saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/barry/

Types of Kinship Care

Kinship care is either formal or informal. Carers are provided with support training and financial allowances, in a similar way to traditional foster carers through social services in formal arrangements. This type of care can occur without any official involvement, and generally is part of a private family arrangement.

Support for Kinship Carers

Kinship carers are also frequently supported by many local authorities and charities in terms of advice, training, finances ect. due to the importance a healthy family environment plays with kinship care arrangements.

In Summary:

Kinship care is when people children know and trust — even if not their parents, are the ones who look after them. It can help make a tough time feel less scary for kids because they’re with familiar family members instead of strangers outside of child welfare. That is a beautiful and sacred form of care that prioritises family relationships above all else.