Mentorship, Education, Empowerment & Support
Kinship care for children
being raised by relatives.
The Crisis
Over 7.6 million children in the U.S. live in households headed by relatives other than their parents, with nearly 6 million living with grandparents and 1.75 million with other relatives like aunts or uncles. Over 2.6 million children are raised by relatives or close family friends without a parent in the household. Of the children in foster care, 137,356 are with relatives, accounting for over one-third of all foster children, a percentage that increased from 26% in 2010 to 34% in 2020. For every child in foster care with a relative, 18 more are being raised by relatives outside the system.
"I was an adopted child by my grandparents, and I don't know how I can ever express my gratitude for that because my parents would have been a mess, you know"
James Earl Jones
The Pros of Kinship Care
Research shows that children raised by relatives or close family friends when they can't stay with their parents tend to thrive. Kinship care provides numerous benefits, including enhanced emotional well-being, as caregivers offer love and support, helping children build self-esteem and navigate challenges. These children often experience fewer behavioral problems and mental health issues compared to those in non-kinship care. Additionally, kinship care offers greater stability with fewer placement and school changes. Children can also maintain vital connections to their family, community, siblings, and cultural identity, fostering a sense of continuity and belonging.
Kinship Care Challenges for Children
Children in kinship care often face significant disruptions and challenges, including emotional and behavioral issues like anxiety, depression, and attachment disorders. These issues can lead to difficulties in forming healthy relationships, behavioral problems, and academic struggles such as concentration issues and frequent absences. Socially, they may experience isolation, peer relationship difficulties, and bullying. Additionally, many of these children deal with PTSD, identity issues, and low self-esteem, which are exacerbated by frequent adjustments to new environments. These challenges highlight the need for comprehensive support in schools, including counseling, social skills training, and academic assistance, to help them navigate their unique circumstances and achieve positive outcomes.
Our Approach to the Crisis
The expanded learning initiative was started because children in kinship care often lack the support they need due to limited resources and funding from their caregivers, schools, and the community. These children face challenges like emotional and behavioral issues, academic struggles, and social difficulties. Without adequate help, they can feel isolated and fall behind in school. The initiative aims to provide the extra support these kids need to overcome their challenges and succeed, filling the gap where caregivers and community resources fall short.
