Navigating the System: A How-To Guide for Implementing a Kinship Navigator Program

Abstract

This article describes key programmatic and evaluation elements that guided the implementation of the San Diego County YMCA Kinship Navigator Program. A 3-year demonstration project funded by the Administration on Children Youth and Families designed to build a regional navigator system in collaboration with the local child welfare agency to support kinship caregivers. Kinship caregivers (relatives and non-relatives) play a significant role in the well-being of the children in their care. The findings suggest that successfully implemented kinship navigator models are a viable preventive intervention for addressing the needs of kinship families.

KEYWORDS:

• relative/kinship care
• family engagement
• child welfare
• foster care
• permanency/concurrent planning
• research methodology

NOTES

Notes

1. The Handbook for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children was provided during Year 3 of the program.

2. The handbook is available electronically at http://www.211sandiego.org/sites/default/files/GrandparentsGuide_Final14May13(1).pdf

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liliana Hernandez

Liliana Hernandez, MSW/MPP, is a Child Welfare Program Specialist for the Children's Bureau in Washington, DC.

Cristina Magaña

Cristina Magaña is a Senior Research Associate at Harder+Company Community Research in San Diego, CA.

Danielle Zuñiga

Danielle Zuñiga, MS, is the Kinship & Families United Program Director for YMCA Youth & Family Services in San Diego, CA.

Jennifer James

Jennifer James is Vice President at Harder+Company Community Research in San Diego, CA.

Sophia Lee

Sophia Lee is a Research Associate at Harder+Company Community Research in San Diego, CA.