Consortium Advisory |
Kith and Kin Committee Report |
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The Alabama Child Care Consortium is funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. Latest News about Kith
and Kin in Alabama Commitees Child Care Research and Evaluation
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Overview of Kith and Kin When people think of child care they usually think of child care centers. The fact is less than one-third of all children in child care attend child care centers. The vast majority of children receive care from family or group homes or ‘kith and kin’ care. Kith and kin, also referred to as relative care, is provided by a family member or friend, in the child’s home or the friend or relative’s home. Relative, or kith and kin care is the arrangement of choice for working parents of infants and toddlers. In spite of this, little is known in Alabama about the quality of care these children receive. For this reason, the Alabama Child Care Consortium, in partnership with Voices for Alabama’s Children, is sponsoring an initiative to gain a better understanding of perceptions and misconceptions regarding kith and kin child care and to determine and address the needs of the providers of this type of care. The three main goals of the Kith and Kin Initiative are:
The initiative will be administered by Voices for Alabama’s Children and will be supervised by Carolyn Bern (Project Director) of Voices. Beverly Mulvihill, (Initiative Coordinator) of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Civitan Center, will provide coordination and serve as the liaison between project activities, Voices and the Consortium. Kith and Kin Initiative: Work Scope and Plan In partnership with Voices for Alabama=s Children, the Alabama Child Care Consortium proposes to study a small population of relative care providers to meet the following purpose, goals, and objectives. PURPOSE: The broad purpose of the Kith and Kin initiative is to gain a better understanding of perceptions and misconceptions regarding relative child care and to determine and address providers= educational and emotional needs. GOALS: There are three main goals of this project: 1) determine the standard of care children receive in relative care; 2) identify and address types of information relative child care providers want and need; and 3) create a sustainable network for relative care providers. APPROACHES AND METHODS: The goals of the project will be addressed through specific, measurable objectives and activities. These objectives will be met through the development and implementation of a home visitation/intervention program in twelve Alabama counties, each representing one of the child care Management Agency districts. The project will be administered by Voices for Alabama=s Children and will be supervised by Carolyn Bern (Project Director) of Voices. Beverly Mulvihill (Initiative Coordinator) of UAB=s Civitan Center will provide coordination and will be the liaison between the project activities, Voices and the Consortium. Project goals and objectives will be achieved by putting into place the following staff and committees: one full-time project administrator, twelve full-time or twenty-four part-time home visitors, a statewide advisory committee, and a local steering committee in each CMA region. The local steering committees will be comprised, at a minimum, of representatives from the local public health department, department of human resources, CMA, child care facilities, parents, early intervention, private health care, and cooperative extension. Community assessments are expected to reveal other key stakeholders regarding relative child care to include on the local committee. TIMELINE: This proposal represents a 9-month work period: January 1, 2000-September 30, 2000. This is considered to be the start-up period for this initiative which will continue over the life of the Consortium. Updated account of recent activities and accomplishments of Kith and Kin Advisory committee 8/3/2000:
National Center for Children in Poverty Kith and Kin Child Care Issue Brief Summary This issue brief from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) documents important strategies that states and communities can use to reach out directly to children and their caregivers. Many children are in the care of family, friends, and neighbors while their parents work. The caregivers, referred to as kith (friends) and kin (family) and sometimes informal or relative care providers, serve as a cornerstone to support families and are chosen by families for a variety of reasons. More information is available on the NCCP web site. Original Advisory Committee Overview 12/99 Kith and Kin, or relative care, refer to informal child care arrangements in which friends or family care for a child in either the child’s home or the friend or relative’s home. It is the form of child care about which the least is known, and is, predictably, the least regulated. The Kith and Kin advisory committee discussed the issues surrounding this form of care, as well as a proposed initiative to institute a home visitation and mentor program for these providers. What do we currently know about kith and kin care?
What obstacles or barriers will be encountered as we seek to improve kith and kin care?
What are some innovative solutions to these barriers?
Look for places to obtain information regarding these care arrangements:
What are some possible funding sources for kith and kin programs?
What type of training is needed to make this a success?
KITH & KIN MAIN POINTS
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