[19980528]98-502_儿童亲属照顾：基本事实.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web98-502 EPWMay 28, 1998Kinship Care for Children: Basic FactsKaren SparEducation and Public Welfare DivisionWhat is Kinship Care?Kinship care is a generic term that is broadly used to include formal and informalarrangements where children are living with and being raised by relatives, or even closefamily friends, who are not their parents. In some cases, the childs parent may also livein the home, but is not necessarily the childs primary caretaker. However, kinship fostercare refers to a more specific practice, in which children who are in state custody areplaced by child welfare agencies into the homes of relatives, rather than in traditionalfoster care with strangers. This practice has grown in recent years, and is of ongoinginterest to child welfare policymakers and practitioners. This fact sheet provides basic information on kinship care, focusing on kinship fostercare, including a description of current federal policy in this area. Readers should notethat information is current as of the reports date, but the fact sheet will not be updated.How Many Children Are in Kinship C