Founding KIN
On 2nd-4th of October 2014, thirteen delegates drawn from five countries met in London to discuss kinship family care. The meeting was called to identify matters related to kinship care across countries and which should be addressed on an international basis.
Delegates confirmed their commitment to several shared beliefs about kinship care. First, that it is beneficial to children if, wherever possible, they are raised by a member of their extended family or friends, if their birth parents are unable to do so. Secondly, that agencies and governments across the world should work to provide programs and policy that empower and enable kinship carers to fulfil their role.
The Role of KIN
KIN will work with other organisations to:
- Promote kinfamily care since it has been very good outcomes for the children and is the only form of out –of- home- care that keeps the child within its biological family
- Highlight programs and research that document the outcomes of kinfamily care
- Advocate on behalf of kinfamily carers to ensure that their views are central in any discourse about Kinfamily care
- Support KIN members in their endeavours related to Kinship family care
Founding members
Australia
- Anne McLeish - Director, Grandparents Australia and Kinship Carers Victoria
- Brian Babington - CEO, Families Australia
- Naomi Whyley- Admin. Officer, Kinship Carers Victoria
- Juliet Williams – Consultant, Kinship Carers Victoria
Ireland
- Valerie O’Brien-Lecturer/Researcher, University College Dublin
Netherlands
- Rob Van Pagee - Director, Director Eigen Kracht Centrale
United Kingdom
- Andy Couldrick - CEO, Wokingham,
- Cathy Ashley - CEO, Kinship Care Alliance
- Elaine Farmer - Prof, Child/Family Welfare, Bristol University
- Shelly James - Kinship carer
United States of America
- Cate Newbanks - Director, National Kinship Alliance for Children
- Gale Burford – Director, Child Welfare Training, University of Vermont
- Joan Vance – KIN Care Specialist, University of Vermont
Secretariat and Steering committee
Delegates marked in bold type form the KIN Steering Committee and the KIN Secretariat at Grandparents Australia.
Contact: Anne McLeish: director@grandparents.com.auThe working declaration of Kinship Care
To downlaod our working declaration please click here
Senate Enquiry Report
Please click here to download report