Factors affecting placement of children in kinship and nonkinship foster care

A growing body of research describes the characteristics of children in kinship foster care, the provision of services to these children and their foster parents, and the outcomes for children placed in kinship foster care. Very little is known about the characteristics that may influence the decision to place a child in kinship versus nonkinship foster care. Past research on the decision to place children in out-of-home care focuses on child and maltreatment characteristics that are associated with the decision. Using logistic regression, this study examines the relationship of child and case characteristics to the placement in kinship and nonkinship foster care of over 2,000 children in a Midwestern urban county. The analysis indicates that older children, children without disabilities, children of color, children-courtordered into placement, and children whose reason for placement was parental substance abuse are more likely to be placed in kinship foster care. Recommendations are made for future research on the decision to place children in kinship foster care.