Episode Details

If a child is being cared for by a grandparent, aunt, uncle or trusted family friend, why does the child welfare system still need to be involved? Surely keeping a child within their own family should be enough?

It's a reasonable question, and one that sits at the heart of this episode of The Kingswell Conversations.

Richard Kingswell, CEO of Extra Special Parents and FosterVA in Virginia, continues the conversation around kinship care, exploring why family connections are so important, but also why love and good intentions alone cannot replace the need for appropriate training, safeguards and professional support.

When a child cannot safely remain with their parents, finding a relative or trusted adult who can step in may offer an opportunity to preserve family relationships and provide stability. But becoming a kinship caregiver can happen almost overnight, often without the preparation that traditional foster parents receive before welcoming a child into their home.

Richard explains the important distinction between informal and formal kinship care, and why arrangements involving the child welfare system bring additional responsibilities for everyone involved.

From background checks and home assessments to understanding trauma, managing complex medical needs and maintaining appropriate boundaries with biological parents, there is often far more involved than simply providing a safe place to stay.

And while these processes can feel overwhelming, particularly for someone who has unexpectedly agreed to care for a child, Richard explains why their purpose is to protect children while helping caregivers succeed.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between informal and formal kinship care.
• Why professional oversight may be necessary when a child enters formal care.
• The importance of training and preparation for kinship caregivers.
• Why background checks and home assessments are part of the process.
• How children's medical, emotional and trauma-related needs influence care arrangements.
• The challenges of becoming a caregiver with very little notice.
• Why maintaining safe boundaries with biological parents matters.
• How professional support can help relatives navigate unfamiliar responsibilities.
• Why kinship care is becoming an increasingly important focus in child welfare.

One of the most important points Richard raises is the difference between choosing to become a foster parent and unexpectedly being asked to become a kinship caregiver.

Traditional foster parents generally have time to consider their decision, complete training and prepare their homes. Kinship caregivers may receive a telephone call and find themselves taking responsibility for a child within 24 or 48 hours.

That sudden transition can be enormous, particularly when children have experienced trauma or have additional healthcare needs.

Richard also discusses why the growing emphasis on kinship care should be accompanied by a commitment to supporting the relatives and trusted adults who step forward.

Because putting family first should never mean leaving families to manage alone.

Whether you're a kinship caregiver, foster parent, social worker or child welfare professional, this episode offers an important perspective on balancing family connections with the safeguards and support children deserve.

Explore Richard's free guide

Considering foster care or adoption in Virginia? Download Richard's free 45-page Comprehensive Guide to Foster Care and Adoption:

https://www.fosterva.org/freeguide

Connect with Richard Kingswell on LinkedIn and follow The Kingswell Conversations on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more conversations about kinship care, foster care and adoption.

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