Foster Kinship Navigator Program
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
 and Implied Percentile Effect
|
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
and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtassoc.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Age or Grade-level
|
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
|
Gender
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
| Study 14734 - Foster Kinship Navigator Program vs. Treatment as Usual Matched Comparison Group | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| Clark County, NV, USA | 2019 | Average age: 5.4 years |
39% African American 33% White (Non-Latino) 27% Latino 0.6% Asian 0.5% Pacific Islander |
-- | 100% in out-of-home kinship care | -- |
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Clark County, NV, USA | 2019 | Average age: 47 years | -- | -- | -- | 18% Monthly household income - no income |
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated Moderate
Study 14734Preston, 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
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)