DHS Program Resources Family First Prevention Services Act

Kinship navigation: developing an evidence-based program

Overview

Many relatives and kin care for children in Minnesota through informal family arrangements or through legally recognized processes as foster parents, legal custodians or adoptive parents. Children and their kinship caregivers need an array of services that are accessible and provided by community agencies, or tribal social service agencies. In 2018, the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) passed allowing states to claim federal Title IV-E reimbursement for a kinship navigator program that assists kinship caregivers in learning about, finding, and using programs and services to meet the needs of the children they are raising and their own needs. The Department of Human Services (department) is taking steps to develop a kinship program for Minnesota.

The federal Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Program Instructions ACYF-CB-PI-18-11 provides detailed requirements for kinship navigator programs.

Kinship Navigator FAQ (PDF)
Kinship Navigator Vision (PDF)
Kinship Navigator program update (October 2023) (PDF)

Clearinghouse roles

Federal financial support through Title IV-e depends on a kinship navigator program demonstrating it is at least “promising” when it comes to evidence displaying improvements on a range of outcomes. These outcomes include child safety, permanency, child well-being, adult well-being, and access to, referral to and/or satisfaction with services.

The determination of an evidence-based program for the purpose of FFPSA kinship navigator programs is made by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The Title IV-E Clearinghouse was established to conduct an objective and transparent review of research on programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements.

So far, the Clearinghouse has approved the following kinship navigator programs, as qualifying for reimbursement:

• Ohio’s Kinship Supports Intervention/ProtectOHIO
• Arizona Kinship Support Services
• Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program (hhs.gov)
• Foster Kinship Navigator Program (hhs.gov)

In Minnesota

• In the fall of 2022, Department staff conducted a survey of licensed foster parents to learn about the state, county and tribal supports they identified as helpful in meeting their needs or the needs of children in their care.
• In early 2023, the department convened work groups with representatives from county and tribal agencies, community leaders, relative foster parents, youth who have experienced foster care and other external stakeholders to analyze the needs of kin caregivers and discuss options for implementing a kinship navigator program in Minnesota. An analysis of approved kinship navigator models was conducted in these workgroups. Participants also provide feedback on what services and supports should be prioritized when selecting a Kinship Navigator model.
• Given the feedback from the workgroups, Foster Kinship is being explored as a possible option in Minnesota
• For more information see the linked FAQ, vision document, and Kinship Navigator program update above

Updates

Watch this page for ongoing updates on kinship navigator program development and implementation.