Foster Kinship Navigator Program

Kinship Navigator Promising

Foster Kinship Navigator Program is designed to serve kinship caregivers, both relatives and non-relative kin who are raising children in nonparental care. Foster Kinship Navigator Program aims to strengthen kinship caregivers’ capacity to provide safe, stable, nurturing homes for children who cannot live with their parents. The program’s targeted support focuses on reducing uncertainty for new caregivers and enabling them to understand and access available resources. Program services focus on four service areas: (1) legal capacity, (2) financial sustainability, (3) parenting and child community connection, and (4) caregiver emotional support. 

 

Foster Kinship Navigator Program includes an information, referrals, and support component and a case management component. The first component is available to any kinship caregiver raising children in nonparental care. It includes an online kinship resource locator, a telephone helpline, an intake assessment, community referrals, educational classes, family events, and access to both online and in-person support groups. The second component, case management, is available to eligible kinship caregivers. Eligible kinship caregivers complete a family evaluation with a Family Advocate, have demonstrated need, and agree to actively participate in the program. Case management services include a needs assessment and a case plan to determine community, legal, financial, and emotional goals for the kinship family. A Family Advocate connects the family with services as needed, including benefit application support, financial assistance, notary services, and emergency goods. The Family Advocate conducts regular follow up with the family. 


Foster Kinship Navigator Program is rated as a promising practice because at least one study achieved a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution and demonstrated a favorable effect on a target outcome.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Apr 2023


Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the studies reviewed. 


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.

Target Population

Foster Kinship Navigator Program is designed to serve kinship caregivers, both relatives and non-relative kin raising children in nonparental care. 

Dosage

The information, referral, and support services component varies in frequency and duration depending on kinship caregiver needs and the services selected. Family Advocates deliver the case management services component for eligible caregivers for up to 6 months. 

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

Foster Kinship Navigator Program is delivered in community settings and in participants’ homes. 

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

  • Home

Education, Certifications and Training

Family Advocates must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, and preferably have a bachelor’s degree or higher in social work and be a licensed social worker. Family Advocate Supervisors must have at least a bachelor’s degree, and preferably have a master’s degree in social work or a related field, be a licensed social worker, and have 5 or more years of experience as a Family Advocate. 

Family Advocates complete required trainings during a 12-week onboarding process, which includes readings, videos, meetings with trainers, job shadowing, and department-specific training. 

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

Foster Kinship. (2021). Foster Kinship: Kinship Navigator Program Manual. 

Available languages

Foster Kinship Navigator Program materials are available in English and Spanish. 

Other supporting materials

Foster Kinship Navigator Program Model 

Foster Kinship Navigator Program Online Manual 

For More Information

Website: https://www.fosterkinship.org/kinship-navigator-program/ 

Phone: (844) 810-1667 

Email: FamilyAdvocate@FosterKinship.org  


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Foster Kinship Navigator Program
Identified in Search 1
Eligible for Review 1
Rated High 0
Rated Moderate 1
Rated Low 0
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0

Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info 		N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.63
23 		1 (1) 1116 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.

Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info 		N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings Months after treatment
when outcome measured Months after treatment when outcome measured more info
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.63
23 		1 (1) 1116 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 14734 - Foster Kinship Navigator Program vs. Treatment as Usual Matched Comparison Group (Preston, 2021a)
No Placement Disruption During Kinship Caregiver Placement (%) 0.63 *
23 		- 1116 - 0

*p <.05

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.

Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.

Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.

Studies Rated Moderate

Study 14734

Preston, M. S. (2021a). Foster Kinship Navigator Program: A two-study mixed-method evaluation project. Preston Management and Organizational Consulting. https://dcfs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dcfsnvgov/content/Programs/CWS/Foster_Care/Last_Revised_Study_2_-_Report_2-2021_Updated_12-2022.pdf

Preston, M. S. (2021b). Foster Kinship Navigator Program: An outcome evaluation. Preston Management and Organizational Consulting. https://dcfs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dcfsnvgov/content/Programs/CWS/Foster_Care/Last_Revised_Draft_Study_3_Report_9-2021_Updated_12-2022.pdf