Societal Value and the Funding of Kinship Care

Because growing numbers of children are living with relative caregivers, researchers and policy makers are paying greater attention to the way in which public policies address caregiver funding. Federal and state policies do little to recognize these funding issues and often provide kin caregivers less public financial support than nonkin caregivers. This undervaluing of caregivers and children from the most vulnerable social categories leads to concerns about societal commitment to child well‐being in general.