Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-TECH™)

Kinship Navigator Supported

Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-TECH™) is a program designed to support kinship caregivers. Kinship caregivers are relatives who care for children that are not biologically their own, such as a grandparent caring for their grandchild. Kinship caregivers who participate in KIN-TECH can access resources through multiple channels. First, each kinship caregiver is connected to a kinship navigator. Kinship navigators are fellow kinship caregivers who have been hired to provide one-on-one peer support and encouragement. They also help to connect kinship caregivers to resources. Additionally, KIN-TECH offers a phone intake line where kinship caregivers can access and be referred to services. Support groups are also available to kinship caregivers, which cover topics such as how to budget family resources, navigate legal issues, and develop healthy relationships with the child. In the enhanced model of KIN-TECH, kinship caregivers have access to a web-based system (One-e-App). This system is designed to assist kinship caregivers with the benefit eligibility and application process. Kinship caregivers can also access supports from an interdisciplinary team who specialize in relevant topics such as legal matters, health services, education, and other social services.


KIN-TECH is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Sep 2024


Sources

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

 

Program/Service Description Updated: Aug 2020


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 download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0

Target Population

KIN-TECH is designed to serve relative caregivers (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, or any adult with a close kinship bond with the child) who are providing full time care of a child.

Dosage

Dosage varies based on length of caregiving. Support groups are typically offered on a monthly basis.

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

KIN-TECH offers services over a phone intake line and through a web-based system, "One-e-App". Kinship caregivers are also able to participate in one-on-one meetings with kinship navigators and support groups in community spaces.

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

  • Home
  • Community Center (e.g., religious or recreational facility)

Education, Certifications and Training

Kinship navigators are select peer kinship caregivers who have experience maneuvering the challenges that many kinship families face. They receive training so that they are familiar with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) application and can help kinship caregivers use the "One-e-App". The interdisciplinary team is made up of individuals who are professionals with expertise in legal matters, health services, education, and other social services.

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

Pandey, A., & Littlewood, K. (2018). Children’s Home Network kinship navigator: Program manual. Children’s Home Network.

Available languages

Materials are available in English.

Other supporting materials

Kinship Care Factsheet

For More Information

Website: https://mykinship.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 Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-TECH™)
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 safety: Child welfare administrative reports 0.76
27 		1 (3) 120 Favorable: 3
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.44
17 		1 (3) 120 Favorable: 2
No Effect: 1
Unfavorable: 0
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.26
10 		1 (3) 437 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 2
Unfavorable: 0
Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health 0.22
8 		1 (1) 437 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
Adult well-being: Family functioning 0.88
31 		1 (4) 437 Favorable: 4
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
Access to services 0.51
19 		1 (1) 120 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 1
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 safety: Child welfare administrative reports 0.76
27 		1 (3) 120 Favorable: 3
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Administrative Data Sample) (Littlewood, 2020)
Child Maltreatment Substantiations 0.90 *
31 		- 120 - 12
Child Maltreatment Substantiations 0.64 *
23 		- 120 - 24
Child Maltreatment Substantiations 0.73 *
26 		- 120 - 36
Child permanency: Placement stability 0.44
17 		1 (3) 120 Favorable: 2
No Effect: 1
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Administrative Data Sample) (Littlewood, 2020)
Number of Placement Disruptions 0.37 *
14 		- 120 - 12
Number of Placement Disruptions 0.25
9 		- 120 - 24
Number of Placement Disruptions 0.71 *
26 		- 120 - 36
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.26
10 		1 (3) 437 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 2
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Survey Data Sample) (The Children's Home, Inc., 2016)
Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17: Internalizing 0.11
4 		- 437 - 0
Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17: Internalizing 0.49 *
18 		- 416 - 12
Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17: Attention 0.17
6 		- 416 - 12
Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health 0.22
8 		1 (1) 437 Favorable: 1
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Survey Data Sample) (The Children's Home, Inc., 2016)
Protective Factors Survey: Social Emotional Support 0.22 *
8 		- 437 - 0
Adult well-being: Family functioning 0.88
31 		1 (4) 437 Favorable: 4
No Effect: 0
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Survey Data Sample) (The Children's Home, Inc., 2016)
Protective Factors Survey: Family Functioning/Resiliency 0.24 *
9 		- 437 - 0
Protective Factors Survey: Family Functioning/Resiliency 0.75 *
27 		- 416 - 12
Family Resource Scale 0.67 *
24 		- 437 - 0
Family Resource Scale 1.86 *
46 		- 416 - 12
Access to services 0.51
19 		1 (1) 120 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 1
Unfavorable: 0
 -
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Administrative Data Sample) (Littlewood, 2023)
TANF Child Only Enrollment 0.51
19 		- 120 - 12

*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@abtglobal.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 Location more info Study Year Study Year more info Age or Grade-level Age or Grade-level more info Race, Ethnicity, Nationality Race, Ethnicity, Nationality more info Gender Gender more info Populations of Interest* Populations of Interest more info Household Socioeconomic Status Household Socioeconomic Status more info
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Administrative Data Sample)
Characteristics of the Children and Youth
Pinellas County, FL, USA 2012 -- 47% Caucasian
40% African American/Black
10% Other
4% Two or More Races 		-- -- --
Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers
Pinellas County, FL, USA 2012 -- 55% African American/Black
38% Caucasian
8% Other 		-- -- 4% Household income over $60,000
16% Household income $40,000-$59,999
31% Household income $20,000-$39,999
23% Household income $10,000-$19,999
21% Household income under $10,000
Study 10012 - KIN-Tech vs. Usual Care Child Welfare (Survey Data Sample)
Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers
Pinellas and Hillsborough County, FL, USA 2012 Age: 11% <30, 5% 31-34, 5% 35-39, 17% 40-44, 13% 45-49, 14% 50-54, 17% 55-59, 9% 60-64, 4% 65-69, 2% 70-74, 2% 75-79, 1% 80+ 43% White
39% African American
8% Hispanic/Latino
2% Two or More
0.2% Native American
0.2% Hawaii/PI
0.2% Asian 		-- -- 29% Employed full time
9% Employed part time
10% Unemployed, looking for work
21% Unemployed, disabled
3% Unemployed, not looking for work
1% Unemployed, volunteer work;
7% Household income over $60,000
6% Household income $50,000-$59,999
5% Household income $40,000-$49,999
14% Household income $30,000-$39,999
17% Household income $20,000-$29,999
19% Household income $10,000-$19,999
16% Household income under $10,000

“--” 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.

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 10012

Pandey, A., Littlewood, K., Cooper, L., McCrae, J., Rosenthal, M., Day, A., & Hernandez, L. (2018). Connecting older grandmothers raising grandchildren with community resources improves family resiliency, social support, and caregiver self-efficacy. Journal of Women & Aging, 31(3), 269-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2018.1444940

The Children's Home, Inc. (2016). CHI CW/TANF Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-Tech) - Final Report (Grant 90CF0050). https://cwlibrary.childwelfare.gov/discovery/delivery/01CWIG_INST:01CWIG/1218543890007651

Littlewood, K., Cooper, L., & Pandey, A. (2020). Safety and placement stability for the Children’s Home Network kinship navigator program. Child Abuse and Neglect, 106, Article 104506. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHIABU.2020.104506

Littlewood, K., Cooper, L., Yelick, & A., Pandey, A. (2021). The Children’s Home Network Kinship Navigator Program improves family protective factors. Children and Youth Services Review, 126, Article 106046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106046

Littlewood, K. (2015). Kinship Services Network Program: Five year evaluation of family support and case management for informal kinship families. Children and Youth Services Review, 52, 184-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.10.008

Littlewood, K., Cooper, L., Rosenthal, M., Averett, P., Yelick, A., & Bennett, R. (2023). Children’s Home Network’s kinship navigator program: Connecting to concrete resources through peer-to-peer kinship navigation services. Families in Society, (Online Advance). https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231196283

This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)