K is for Kinship

Kinship placement or kinship adoption can be a bit more complicated than other avenues of adoption.

A kinship placement is when a family member - a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling etc.- receives a child that is related to them due to an unsafe environment.

This is usually not a “planned" foster or adoption situation. You not only have to manage the paperwork, caseworker meetings, trainings, court hearings, and visitations, you also carry the weight and stress of it being tied to someone you are related to.

It is a hard road to take, but it can be done in a healthy way. Knowing what your boundaries and limitations are toward the biological parent(s) is necessary when dealing with these types of family issues. Remembering that your main priority when fostering or adopting a relative is solely the child, not the child and the parents. This can help relieve the burden of taking on too much responsibility.

Care for the child first who is vulnerable and helpless. Understand that they are the main priority.

Family is meant to care for family, yes, but knowing when to say yes and when to say no to family can help the relationship be stable and healthy.

Watch your words, especially in kinship. When the child hears how his biological parent is perceived through the eyes of the adopted parent or other relative, it will either hinder or strengthen the biological relationship.

Sometimes kinship has the blessing of having a good relationship with their biological parent. In this case, the relatives around must always be attentive to how they are perceiving and describing the situation at hand to the child.

It is very easy to create drama, gossip, doubt, pride, or confusion amongst each other especially when it is with those we love and are vulnerable with most...family.