About this recommendation

Using an expansive legal definition of kin allows staff to find more placement options for youth more quickly, and can mean more adults qualify to be emergency placements.
Even if a connection cannot serve as a placement, youth need as many supportive adults around them as possible. Maintaining an expansive legal definition of kin will allow you to create a broader support system for youth.

How to do this

The recommended definition of kin is: “Individuals related to a child by blood, marriage, tribal custom, and/or adoption and other individuals who have an emotionally significant relationship with the child or the child’s parents or other family members (often referred to as ‘fictive kin’).”
Multiple child welfare advocates came together to unanimously recommend the above definition of kin to the federal government as part of the comment period on the kin-specific licensing rule.
Adopt this definition verbatim, or adjust your existing legal definition to encompass all of these categories of kin, for purposes of who qualifies for emergency placement, for kin-specific licensing waivers/exemptions, and for the upcoming kin-specific licensing process.

Anticipated costs and benefits

Costs

Benefits

Potential legislative change, although in some agencies, the definition of kin is in policy.
Significant time updating policies, forms, training, and other collateral to adapt to an expanded definition.

More supportive adults found and engaged in a youth’s life
Kinship care can be a more stable placement option for youth
Avoids placement in group homes or foster homes with other unrelated youth

Who's doing this

42 of 54 states and territories have implemented this recommendation.