Prevention Strategy for Kinship Caregivers

Prevention strategy for Kinship Caregivers

Primary prevention is crucial to Kinship Caregivers, with primary prevention they will learn how to build upon their strengths and resources. Caregivers will be able to acquire new ways of parenting while adjusting to their new family dynamics. Learning new skills on how to advocate their new family within the different social service agency will be of great help to them.

One solution for improving the problem caregivers face is getting the information out to the public about the services for Kinship Caregivers. There is not enough information out in the community about kinship caregivers. Most caregiver thinks they are alone and that they are the only ones who have family problems like this. That maybe because they are embarrassed about having a dysfunctional family and do not know where to go for help or get information of resources. Even though social workers are becoming more aware of kinship caregivers, there still needs to be more awareness about how the role these caregivers have on the lives of these children to the general public.

One of the policies that affect kinship care is the Fostering Connections Act (Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008). This Act requires agencies to notify relatives when children are in out-of-home care. This Act is to inform kinship caregivers that there are different options for the placement of the children. The Fostering Connections Act provides states with the resources and strategies that are needed to take kinship care to the next level and further promote family connections for all children involved in the child welfare system. The Act contains kinship provisions aimed at three primary outcomes.

1. Ensuring family connections for the children at risk of entering or in foster care;

2. Encouraging support for kinship families to meet the needs of children; and

3. Promoting permanent homes with kin for children in kinship foster care....