IG10016 — Kinship Care

/ 2.8 Million Children in theUnited States Live in Kinship Care What is kinship care? Children who do not live with their parents but whose grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends provide them with a home are said to be in “kinship care.”How do children enter kinship care? Why are children in kinship care? There are multiple reasons that children’s parents may be unable to offer care or support, including military service, mental health issues, substance use disorder, or incarceration.Most children enter kinship care informally. Families make the arrangement on their own, or, in a process sometimes referred to as kinship diversion or hidden foster care, a child welfare agency facilitates direct placement with kin. Less often responsibility for children’s care and placement is formally given to the child welfare agency, usually by a court. These children are counted as in foster care and, when they are placed with kin, are counted as in both kin care and foster care. In addition, children may leave foster care to live informally with kin, or to do so formally via court-approved legal guardianship or adoption. Information as of February 11, 2025. Prepared by Emilie Stoltzfus, Specialist in Social Policy; Joe Angert, Research Assistant; and Amber Wilhelm, Visual Information Specialist. Sources: Demographics: CRS analysis of Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) data, 3-year average estimates (2022-2024). Public assistance receipt: Estimated using the TRIM3 microsimulation model. Number of children in foster care: HHS, ACF, AFCARS Report #30; number receiving guardianship assistance (with and without Title IV-E support): FY2023 Title IV-E expenditure claims. Note: Children include individuals under age 18 and for foster care and guardianship, may include youth ages 18 through 20.

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