Differences between kinship care and foster care

What is kinship care?  

You may have heard the terms “kinship care” or “fictive kin” before and wondered what they meant. Kinship care is when a child is placed in the care of a relative. Fictive kin is when a child is place in the care of a family friend.  

According to Every Texan, as of 2023, there were an estimated 263,013 children living in kinship households in Texas, informally, voluntarily, and formally. Of the 263,013 Texas children in kinship care, approximately 40% are living with a grandparent. Out of the total estimated number of children in kinship care, 3-in-10 live in a household below 150% of poverty level line. And according to grandfamilies.com, in Texas, for every one child raised by kin in foster care, there are 24 raised by kin outside of foster care.  

Finding families for children, not children for families 

Like most children in foster care, when a child has faced abuse or neglect, DFPS may remove them from their homes for immediate safety. The DFPS policies state that staff are required to have the family identify all relatives. The court is required to consider a temporary placement with a relative. The court may appoint a family or friend to care for the child based on their evidence on who they think is best fitted. 

What are the benefits of kinship care? 

We believe children thrive when they are placed in a setting that is familiar and with caregivers they already have a relationship with. By coming alongside a child’s kin we can help children experience less trauma. It can also help with reunification, enable children to remain connected to their birth families, and continue family traditions and culture.  

How does Buckner serve kinship families? 

Buckner believes in a holistic approach for all our programs. We know that by providing wrap-around services we can better serve the child. From job training, ESL classes, financial support, Christmas and back-to-school gifts, and more Buckner comes alongside to help strengthen the family. 

To find out more about our kinship care program, visit buckner.org/kinship and fill out the form provided.