The Challenges Faced by
Children in Kinship Care
Lyn Browne
Margot Rooney
Child Protection Counselling Service
Hunter New England Local Health District
What do we mean by kinship care?
Who are our kinship carers?
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Often single
Often older
Often women
Often grandparents
Poorer health
Lower incomes
Lower levels of education
(Boetto 2010, Victorian DOHS 2000)
Themes / Challenges:
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A system undergoing reform
Access to Education/Parenting Skills
Access to Services
Economic Issues
Housing
Health Issues
(Yardley, Mason, Watson 2009, COTA 2012)
Themes / Challenges cont.
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Lack of Information
Isolation
Fears and Worries
Stigma
Family Friction
Grief and Loss
Contact/Access
(Yardley, Mason, Watson 2009)
Profile of Kinship Carers:
Grandmother and Grandfather caring for
daughters’ children
Jan
55
John
56
Sarah
32
13
12
11
9
Jane
30
8
4
3
2
?
Profile of Kinship Carers:
Grandparents caring for grandchildren
George
GRANDPARENTS
Olivia
89
Joanne
68
Sarah
34
John
69
Geoff
35
Jean
Richard
37
4
10
12
15
17
Children’s Voices in Relation to
Kinship Care:
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Positive experiences
- familiarity
- happiness
- safety, belonging
Disadvantages
- communication
- parenting styles
- ill-health
- less money, less energy
(Boetto, H. (2010))
Assisting Kinship Carers
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Respite care
Assistance with contact issues
Carer counselling around issues of loss and
guilt
access to support groups
Support, training re managing the
behaviours of traumatised children
Financial assistance
Support re carer’s health issues
(Paxman 2006)
Findings and Research
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More research around who is in
kinship care, the issues, factors and
outcomes for children
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Culturally sensitive research methods
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Comparative studies
(Paxman 2006)
References:
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AIHW 2010. Child protection Australia 2008-09. Cat. no.
CWS 35. Canberra: AIHW.
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Boetto, H. (2010) Kinship care: A Review of Issues Family
Matters No. 85, 60-67
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Council of the Aging Forum Report: Grandchildren with a
Second Chance
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FaHCSIA (2009) Grandparents Raising Grandchildren,
Australia Government
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Gibbons, L. Watson, E and Mason, J. Kinship Care as a
Challenge to Child Welfare Constructs
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McHugh, M. (2009) A framework of Practice for
Implementing a KK Program: Final Report Paddington
NSW The Benovalent Society
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Patton, N (2003) The Effects of Parental Drug UseChildren in Kinship Care, A review of the literature, The
Mirabel Foundation.
References
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Paxman, M (2006) An Issues Paper: Outcomes for
children and young people in kinship care, NSW Dept of
Community Services
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Uniting Care Burnside (2010) Grandparent Kinship Care in
NSW
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Victorian Department of Human Services Audit (2000)
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Yardley A, Mason J & Watson E. (2009) Kinship Care in
NSW: Finding a way forward, University of Western
Sydney.