Our cultural norm of relatives and kin stepping in to help struggling families is ingrained in our history and tradition. The U.S. Supreme Court has conferred constitutional protections on the sanctity of the extended family [See Moore v. City of East Cleveland, 1977]. Federal law encourages states to “consider giving preference to an adult relative over a non-related caregiver when determining placement for a child.”
Placements with relatives and kin provide children with greater stability, which results in fewer behavioral problems and greater ties to communities. Yet our formal child protection systems continue to undervalue and underutilize relatives and kin.
The Family First Prevention Services Act, the new law of the land, is our golden opportunity to rethink our child protection options, move beyond our heavy reliance on foster care, correct our metrics, and make our reliance on relatives and kin great – and meaningful – again.
[For more on this story by Andy Barclay and Melissa Carter, go to https://chronicleofsocialchang...s-measure-that/32667]
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