STATE APPROACHES TO FORMAL KINSHIP CARE Some states and jurisdictions have adopted unique approaches to increasing connections between children and youth and their kin, especially as it relates to formal kinship through the child welfare system. The ability to adopt these different approaches can subsequently impact the rates of utilization of formal kinship care from state to state. In fact, it is worthwhile to note that comparatively, Pennsylvania’s rate of formal kinship placement fares better when looking at other county administered states, such as Virginia and Ohio. In that light, evaluating innovative solutions in other areas can be a method for our state to build on this rate and further maximize this placement option. Implementation of policies and practices also vary depending on the type of child welfare system used by the state. Pennsylvania is a county-administered, state-supervised system, which means that each of the 67 counties have independent child welfare agencies which are then overseen by the state Office of Children, Youth, and Families within the Department of Human Services. Not all states have this model, and in fact, most states are state-administered. Whether county or jurisdiction-specific, or state-administered, these unique and interesting approaches can be policies that Pennsylvania can consider in its efforts to further expand formal kinship care placement.
16
Kinship Care in Pennsylvania: Creating an Equitable System for Families – January 2021
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker