Memo by the ABA Center on Children and the Law and Generations United examining the federal and state laws that prevent kinship caregivers from becoming licensed based on previous criminal convictions. The memo analyzes state laws and policies related to criminal licensing barriers and explores opportunities to change these policies based on the recent federal rule allowing kin-specific licensing standards.

Editable version of the crosswalk tool developed to allow states to compare their current foster care licensing standards with the Model National Family Foster Home Licensing Standards and the NARA Model Licensing Standards.  Updated 2019.

This link downloads an Excel crosswalk tool to help title IV-E agencies compare their current licensing or approval standards with the Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval: Recommended Standards of National Organizations in an effort to identify areas of alignment and identify areas for change to align with these standards.

Fact sheet created by the Congressional Research Service presenting data about kinship care and families in the U.S.

Summary and implications of a Kentucky case sent to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Since the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, the earlier ruling from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stands. The court ruled that the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services must pay relatives who take in foster children even if not fully licensed (2017).