Navigating Kinship Care: Understanding the Dynamics of Kinship Families 

This overview of kinship family dynamics is inspired by the foundational work of Dr. Joseph Crumbley, a leading expert in kinship care. His research and advocacy have shaped the way professionals understand and support kinship families across the country. 

In moments of crisis, kinship caregivers—grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or close family friends—step forward with open hearts to care for children who can no longer remain safely with their parents. While kinship care offers children a familiar and often more nurturing alternative to traditional foster care, it also introduces a unique set of dynamics that educators, service providers, and community members must understand in order to offer effective support.

Download the bookmark

View the Slide Show

The Benefits of Kinship Care: Stability Rooted in Familiarity

Kinship care provides a powerful foundation of love, familiarity, and cultural continuity. While these caregivers often face significant challenges, they also bring invaluable strengths to the caregiving role that have a profound impact on the children they support:

Reduced Trauma

Children are placed with people they know and trust, which minimizes the shock and fear associated with being removed from their parents' care.

Maintained Sibling Connections

Kinship placements are more likely to keep siblings together, preserving essential emotional bonds and reducing feelings of separation and isolation.

Educational Stability

Children in kinship care are more likely to remain in their original schools, helping them stay on track academically and maintain important friendships.

Cultural Preservation

By remaining within their extended family or cultural community, children retain their heritage, traditions, and sense of identity.

Increased Permanency Outcomes

Children in kinship care have a greater likelihood of being reunified with their parents or adopted by a relative, offering a stable, long-term solution.

Placement Stability

Kinship caregivers are less likely to disrupt placements, meaning children often stay in one home for the duration of their case, which enhances emotional security.

Relational Continuity

Even after permanency is achieved, kinship caregivers often remain part of the child’s life, offering ongoing support and connection.

The Hidden Struggles of Kinship Caregivers

While kinship care has many strengths, the journey is rarely easy for caregivers. They face a complex mix of emotional, legal, and logistical challenges—many of which arise without warning:

Grief and Loss

Children in kinship care have often endured trauma related to separation from their biological parents. Similarly, caregivers may grieve the disruption of their expected family roles and the loss of what "should have been" for the child.

Role Transition

Many kinship caregivers, particularly grandparents, must shift from being a supportive extended family member to a primary caregiver—giving up the traditional joys of grandparenting for the responsibilities of parenting all over again.

Outside Intrusions

The involvement of Child Protective Services (CPS), courts, and other state systems can feel intrusive and confusing, particularly for families who have never had experience with formal interventions.

Limited Preparation

Unlike foster parents who typically undergo training and have time to prepare, kinship caregivers are often thrust into their role quickly and under duress, with limited information and resources.

Unanticipated Requirements

The home becomes subject to regulations, safety inspections, and home studies, which may feel overwhelming or invasive, especially for caregivers who simply want to help a loved one in crisis.

Shame and Guilt

Many caregivers internalize the circumstances leading to the placement, questioning what they could have done differently to prevent the situation. This emotional burden is compounded by the stress of caregiving.

Why Understanding These Dynamics Matters

Supporting kinship families requires a trauma-informed, relationship-centered approach. Educators, health professionals, faith leaders, and community organizations must recognize that kinship caregivers are often navigating their own complex emotional landscape while trying to meet the needs of a child who has experienced trauma.

Offering support means more than acknowledging the child’s needs—it means recognizing and affirming the caregiver’s role, creating space for their experiences, and connecting them with the resources they need to succeed.

Conclusion: It Takes a Network

Kinship care embodies the resilience of families and communities. But no caregiver should have to walk this path alone. The San Angelo Family Network (SAFN) exists to uplift and empower kinship families by closing gaps, honoring their sacrifices, and ensuring they have the tools to thrive.

By understanding the dynamics of kinship families, we can all play a role in helping children feel safe, supported, and loved—right where they belong.