Developing a network of support for relative caregivers

As kinship care arrangements become more common, providing services that address the needs of both relative caregivers and the children in their care is a growing concern for social workers and other family-service professionals. This study describes a sample of kinship caregivers who received computer training. The study presents quantitative and qualitative data regarding the effectiveness of the computer-training program which was designed to benefit kin caregivers by improving self-efficacy, enhancing career skills, augmenting social support and increasing confidence in their ability to help educate the children in their care. Forty-six kinship caregivers completed The Caregiver Computer Efficacy Scale (a 20-item instrument using a one-directional five-value Likert scale) before and after an 8-week computer-training course. Qualitative data was also collected during and after training sessions. The results indicate that this intervention was effective and can be used with kinship caregivers to increase self-efficacy, teach computer skills, enhance social support and build common ground between children and caregivers.