“Now I am calm because they guide you:” A mixed-method exploratory study of the service needs and experiences of Latine kinship caregivers in Washington State

•This study examined the service needs and experiences of Latinx kinship caregivers.•Latinx kinship caregivers had a greater number of children in their homes and had lower incomes.•Language barriers and immigration issues distinguished the experiences of Latinx caregivers.•Kinship navigator programs that blend internal and external services may be well-suited to meet the needs of this population. Although kinship care is a mainstay across many Latine cultures, few studies have examined the experiences of Latine kinship caregivers, a group of caregivers who may be subject to a unique combination of stressors including language barriers, immigration, and racism. Using a sample of 736 kinship caregivers (Mage = 58.9, 89.8 % women) who participated in a statewide survey of kinship caregiver needs and navigator services in Washington State, this mixed method, exploratory study compares the challenges and unmet needs of Latine (n = 60) and non-Latine (n = 676) kinship caregivers and examines how kinship navigator programs address the unique needs of Latine kinship families. While bivariate analyses suggested Latine and non-Latine caregivers experience similar challenges and unmet needs, a series of linear and logistic regression models indicated that, compared to non-Latine caregivers, Latine caregivers (1) were more likely to report parent deportation as a circumstance leading to kinship care, (2) had lower annual incomes, (3) were more likely to report an unmet medical need for their child, and (4) had a greater number of children under age 18 living in their home, on average. A content analysis of two focus groups (total n = 7) consisting of Spanish-speaking, Latine kinship caregivers suggested that while navigator programs adeptly addressed their legal and mental health issues, these kinship families still experienced economic hardship and struggled to navigate immigration issues. Altogether, findings highlight the need for services that accurately reflect the unique challenges and needs experienced by Latine kinship families.