The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network has partnered with its Subject Matter Expert, Marina Nitze of the Child Welfare Playbook, to host a learning collaborative on kin mobilization, which include kin search and engagement. Each session focuses on one practice from the Network’s/Child Welfare Playbook’s Kin-finding Toolkit, and guest speakers share how they have implemented these strategies at their own agencies around the country. Please view our past sessions. If you need assistance with implementing these kin mobilization strategies in your agency, please contact our technical assistance team for help.
Session #12: November 7, 2024
Shared Voices, Shared Solutions: Engaging Families for Better Outcomes
Session #11: October 24, 2024
Engaging Youth for Better Outcomes
- Video
- Engaging Youth in Better Outcomes
- 10 Things I Want You to Know About Me
- “I Want to Say Something” About My Life, My Family, My Plan
Session #10: October 10, 2024
30 Days to Family®
Session #9: September 26, 2024
Never Stop Looking for Kin
Session #8: September 12, 2024
Bridging the Gap-Helping Kinship Foster Parents Collaborate with Children’s Parents
Session #7: August 29, 2024
Implementing Firewall Policies and Blind Removal Processes
Session #6: August 15, 2024
Using the Snowball and Gentle Commitment Escalation Methods
- Video
- Chosen Affirming Family Overview
- A Guide for Finding & Engaging Relative and Non-Relative Caregivers
- Hawaii’s Relative Response Form
- Michigan’s Relative Response Form
Session #5: August 1, 2024
Involving Kin Prior to Removal and Ensuring Kin Have a Robust Presence at Meetings
- Video
- Kinnect: Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables Overview
- Washington DC’s policy on engaging kin without parental consent, which includes imminent/pending removal (not only after removal).
- Pennsylvania law requires family finding begins when a case is referred for service.
- The National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness has a dignity and justice driven approach that centers on family engagement and involvement to build family networks of support that can guide the youth long after they exit the system. Training includes experiential activities to help those learning the approach to appreciate the experience of the people they are engaging with the learned tools/activities, and to provide feedback and coaching to them as they test out these tools/activities with the families they serve.
Session #4: July 18, 2024
Kin Mobilization Success in Los Angeles
Session #3: June 20, 2024
Asking Youth About Their Kin
- Video
- Asking Youth about their Kin
- Scripts & Questions for Modeled Conversations with Youth about Kin
- Broward County’s Guide to Engaging Relative & Non-Relative Caregivers
- Additional kin-focused tools and resources from the Government Performance Lab
