Extending Home Visiting to Kinship Caregivers and Family, Friend and Neighbor Categories

Many children experience challenges that put their health and development at risk. For example, economic hardship, child abuse and neglect, and parental substance abuse can all negatively impact a child’s well-being. Home visiting may be an important support for children and families that can improve outcomes, including healthy and safe development, family functioning, and school readiness.

A report from Center for Law and Social Policy explores how home visiting can be responsive to the realities of children's daily lives when they spend significant time in the care of someone other than a parent. The report focuses on two populations of caregivers: kinship caregivers who are raising related children when the child's parents are unable to do so; and family, friend and neighbor caregivers who provide child care for children, in order for parents to pursue work, educational or training opportunities.