This research-to-practice brief explores different types of guardianship arrangements as part of a kin-first continuum as well as the positive impact and benefits of kinship care for placement. The brief also covers Federal programs and policies that support guardianship and the challenges to using guardianship as a permanency option.

The Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD), Office of Child Care (OCC), and Office of Head Start (OHS) of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will host a webinar on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. This webinar will highlight resources and cross-sector partnership opportunities to maximize and leverage the increased investments for child care and Head Start programs through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The first part of the webinar will include a brief panel presentation on ARP Act early childhood (EC) priorities and guidance from ACF leaders Ms. Katie Hamm, OECD Deputy Assistant Secretary; Dr. Ruth Friedman, OCC Director; and Dr. Bernadine Futrell, OHS Director. During the second part of the webinar, invited participants will join small breakout discussion groups organized by region and state. The breakouts will include time for peer-to-peer networking with other regional and state EC leaders to share promising strategies, identify barriers and challenges, and explore partnership opportunities for ARP Act implementation.

The audience for this webinar includes ACF and Federal partner state lead agency grantees—including the Child Care and Development Fund program; Head Start Collaboration Office; Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five program; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; Community Services Block Grant; Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act; Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Learn the Signs. Act Early.—as well as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B and C coordinators, state refugee coordinators, and other state EC system leaders.

The Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare project is testing a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) methodology to improve placement stability and permanency outcomes for children by strengthening the engagement of fathers and paternal relatives. The pilot study described in this report documents the BSC implementation, as well as how designated Improvement Teams worked with system partners to plan, test, and adjust engagement strategies.

This journal article is the result of a qualitative study informed by Arditti’s Family Inequality Framework. The study features interviews with 19 fathers who were recently released from prison and data gathered through a brief background survey. Four main themes identified in the study were parenting from prison, committed fathering, outside influences on parenting, and recreating oneself. The fathers identified factors that created barriers in maintaining contact and communication with their children while being incarcerated, such as personal challenges, systemic barriers (such as housing, employment, and the criminal justice system), and parental challenges.

This infographic from the National Fatherhood Initiative shares that 18.3 million children in the United States are without their biological father in the home. It details how children are affected in father-absent homes, including teen pregnancy, as teens are seven times more likely to become pregnant; child abuse, as children are more likely to face abuse and neglect; and behavioral problems. Data used in the infographic was retrieved from the U.S. Census Bureau.

This report examines family treatment courts (FTCs) that address the needs of families affected by substance use disorders. FTCs coordinate service delivery from child protective services, treatment professionals, court personnel, and community partners; this coordination helps ensure that children have safe, nurturing, and permanent homes, parents achieve stable recovery, and each family member receives needed services and supports. The report covers key FTC components, including multisystemic collaborative approaches, governance structures, and integrated and parallel program models, and presents FTC examples in Jefferson County, Colorado; King County, Washington; and Sacramento County, California.

As grandfamily caregivers assume the role of caretaker for their grandchildren, these grandfamilies experience unique challenges and strengths. Challenges include legal issues, financial hardships, and housing concerns, while strengths include research that shows children placed with relatives often thrive compared to those placed in foster care.

The 2020 State of Grandfamilies in America annual report features information on connecting grandfamilies to critical supports during the COVID-19 crisis and creating systems to promote service continuity. The included infographic displays the percentage of grandparents responsible for grandchildren, racial overrepresentation in grandfamilies, and COVID-19 challenges facing grandfamilies. An accompanying webinar highlights factors that may contribute to the creation of grandfamilies and discusses their challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This organizations list from the Children’s Bureau’s Child Welfare Information Gateway provides contact information and website links to kinship care programs and services offered by State child welfare departments, subcontracted private nonprofit agencies, and some Tribes in applicable States and the District of Columbia.

This webinar discusses new federal investments in kinship navigator programs, grandfamilies housing, and relevant child welfare programs that can help grandfamilies. It highlights how funds can be utilized to assist families in critical areas during the pandemic, such as housing, lawyer fees, transportation, technology, food, and emergency support for older youth aging out of foster care.