ABSTRACT
The United Nations (UN) defines kinship care as family-based care within the child’s extended family or with close friends of the family known to the child, whether formal or informal in nature (United Nations 2010). Kinship care is thus very diverse in nature. This chapter discusses its role in providing care for children informally and its increasing use as a formal part of child protection systems. It outlines the benefits for children, early policy developments, the challenges for carers and the lack of recognition and help provided to children and carers. We also consider drivers of the growth of statutory kinship care, the nexus with permanency planning and issues for practice. We will contend that, as kinship care has grown, traditionally held beliefs about kinship care have been replaced by new myths – or partial truths. These will be considered as they impact on current practice.
