Evaluating Services for Kinship Care Families: A Systematic Review

• Thirteen studies examining services for kinship care families were reviewed.
• The Kinship Navigator Program was found with positive results for kinship families.
• The financial assistance was not evident to be effective for kinship families.
• Support groups and legal assistance were supportive for kinship caregivers.
• Studies evaluating education and training for caregivers were not rigorous.

Despite their needs, kinship care families receive less support and fewer resources than other foster care families. This study systematically reviews thirteen studies that evaluated services and programs for kinship caregivers and children. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of the Kinship Navigator Program, financial assistance, support services, and training/educational programs were identified and reviewed. The Levels of Evidence-Based Intervention Effectiveness (LEBIE) scale was used to evaluate the research designs. The findings indicate that although positive results are shown for enhanced well-being and permanency outcomes of children and kinship caregivers, the rigor of the research designs are low, making it difficult to draw any firm conclusions about the effectiveness of these programs. Recommendations for child welfare practice and future research include the need to develop services for informal caregivers and particular racial/ethnic groups. In addition, more rigorous research designs and qualitative research should be conducted to support the effectiveness or social validity of the services and to inform evidence-based practice.