In coordination with the U.S. Children’s Bureau, the Center helped host a webinar on COVID-19 and Child Welfare Cases. The webinar highlights the federal government's recent guidance on emerging legal issues in child welfare cases and helps attorneys and judges apply that guidance in case-by-case decision making.

One of the most fundamental differences between kinship/grandfamilies and parent-headed families is the lack of an automatic legal relationship between the caregiver and child. Without such a relationship, access to services and supports for the child and their kinship/grandfamily can be challenging, if not impossible.

This webinar explores the various legal relationship options and the array of public benefits and tax credits that are available to these families. Presented by the Director of the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center, Ana Beltran, JD, and Network subject matter expert, Heidi Redlich Epstein, MSW, JD, Director of Kinship Policy and State Projects, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau

Strong Philosophy Extends Beyond Child Welfare System.

Casey Family Programs issue brief giving an overview of kinship navigator programs with several state examples. Updated July 2023.

Casey Family Programs strategy brief describing research and best practices for adoption of older youth.