Inside Kinship Care: Understanding Family Dynamics and Providing Effective Support

By: Tom Hawkins and Andrew Turnell and Elaine Farmer and James Gleeson and Geraldine Crehan and Graham Music and Susie Essex and Jeanne Ziminski and Sarah Meakings and Amy O'Donohoe and Bob Broad and Anna Gough and Sadie Young and Caroline Kuo and Paula Hayden and Marilyn Mchugh and John Simmonds and Nick Banks and Lucie Cluver and Don Operario and David Pitcher and Jackie Wyke and Erica Flegg

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Synopsis: Kinship care - the care of children by grandparents, other relatives or friends - is a major part of foster care, yet there are distinct issues that arise in care involving family rather than 'stranger' foster carers. This book takes an in-depth look at what goes on 'inside' kinship care. It explores the dynamics and relationships between family members that are involved in kinship care, including mothers, grandparents, siblings and the wider family. Chapters also discuss issues such as safeguarding, assessment, therapy, encouraging permanence, placement breakdown, support groups, and cultural issues. The final part of the book looks at kinship care from an international perspective, with examples from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United States. Drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives and with contributions from different branches of kinship care, this book provides an invaluable overview of the issues involved and how to provide effective support. It will be essential reading for all those working in the kinship care field, including social workers, therapists, counsellors, psychologists and family lawyers.