Benefits of Kinship Placement

A Tool for Lawyers

Full Memo—PDF and Word

• Executive Summary
• How to Use this Tool 
• Talking Points for Trial Counsel
• Federal and State Law and Policy Resources Regarding Kinship Placements
• Social Science Research
  • Social science research that shows that children removed from their parents generally experience better outcomes when placed with kin, including:
    • Reduced trauma upon removal 
    • Better mental health outcomes 
    • Better behavioral and social outcomes 
    • Better educational outcomes and educational stability 
    • Increased levels of stability and permanency 
    • Better cultural, ethnic, racial, and traditional connections 
    • Stronger connections to child’s biological family 
    • Improved placement satisfaction for children and youth
  • To Support Successful Kinship Placements, Lawyers Must Advocate for Appropriate Services and Resources to Support the Kinship Caregivers
    • General Recommendations for Creating a Kin-First Culture 
    • Kinship Caregivers Need Supports to Be Successful, Including: Financial Support, Support Groups, and Parenting Skills Support and Knowledge of, Access to, and Availability of Individually Tailored Resources 
    • Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Considerations 
    • Additional Resources on Kinship Care 

This tool was created by the Children’s Rights Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this document including Andrew Cohen, Dir. of Appellate Panel, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children & Family Law Division; Cathy Krebs, Committee Director, ABA Litigation Section Children’s Rights Litigation Committee; Corey Jacobson and Kylah Clay, Legal Interns, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children & Family Law Division; and DLA Piper LLP (US).  Special thanks to Heidi Redlich Epstein, JD, MSW, Director of Kinship Policy and Director of State Projects, ABA Center on Children and the Law and her legal and social work interns for their assistance with the research summaries and input.

Information is up to date as of January 2022.  To share information to be added to this tool or to provide feedback, please  email Cathy Krebs.

_{The materials contained herein should not be construed to be the opinions of the American Bar Association unless adopted pursuant to the bylaws of the Association. Nothing contained herein is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice, and the users of this website are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. These materials and any forms and agreements herein are intended for educational and informational purposes only.}