Staff perspectives on program functioning and fidelity of a kinship navigator program

Federal and state policies have prioritized kinship care as a preferred placement for children needing child welfare services as kinship care homes result in better outcomes related to safety, permanency, and well-being compared to traditional non-relative foster care. However, research has noted that many kinship caregivers experience hardships when assuming the role of primary caretaker, such as limited peer support, increased financial stress, and decreased mental health wellness. Kinship navigator programs were developed to mitigate the negative outcomes kinship caregivers experience while maintaining the benefits experienced by children. The purpose of this process evaluation was to determine the functionality of the Kinship Navigator Program at Kids Central, Inc., a community-based care lead agency operating in a central region of Floria from the staff perspectives. Staff perceptions regarding organizational structure, caseload and workload, roles and responsibilities, and congruence between leadership and staff were primary themesthat emerged throughout the qualitative interviews. Given the growing importance of kinship care within the child welfare system, continual evaluation and optimization of kinship care programs is critical to ensuring the benefit of these program for both caregivers and the children in their care.