INDIANA — In recognition of Kinship Care Awareness Month this September, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) is spotlighting the vital role relative caregivers and close family friends play in providing stability, continuity, and familiar surroundings for children who must be removed from their primary homes.
Kinship care includes formal and informal arrangements where grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, or trusted community members—often referred to as “fictive kin”—step forward to care for children during times of family crisis.
Statewide Data Highlights Preference for Relative Placements
Recent data underscores the state’s ongoing efforts to prioritize family connections whenever out-of-home care is necessary:
- Statewide Average: Across Indiana, 56.72% of out-of-home Children in Need of Services (CHINS) placements are in kinship homes, with over 5,320 children statewide residing with relative caregivers.
- Statewide Goal: The Indiana Department of Child Services aims for 60% of removed children statewide to be placed in kinship care.
Research consistently demonstrates that children experience lower rates of trauma, higher placement stability, better educational outcomes, and preserved cultural identity when placed with familiar caregivers compared to traditional foster care settings.
To support families who take on unexpected caregiving duties, Indiana provides specialized resources designed to minimize financial and emotional strain.
Caregivers or community members seeking additional information regarding kinship resources, support groups, or eligibility requirements can call Indiana 2-1-1 or visit Indiana Foster Care.
