Kinship Navigator

The Kinship Navigator program (KN) is a component of the Child and Family Services Department at A Second Chance Inc. (ASCI). As such, it provides a mechanism for Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families (the placing agency) to have our support from the onset of a case. This is accomplished through the Kinship Navigator team identifying and clearing appropriate kinship options.  

The Kinship Navigator program supports ACCYF in determining kinship supports for families during non-emergency and emergency cases. The Kinship Navigator program also supports ACCYF in identifying kinship options for children/youth who are currently in congregate care.  

The Kinship Navigator program not only identifies potential kinship caregivers, but also screens those located to determine their availability and appropriateness for caring for the child(ren) in need of placement.  

Why is a Kinship Navigator program needed? 

Our approach to kinship navigation is to facilitate a process where the family can accumulate knowledge, confidence and self-determination for the planning of out-of-home care for the child. It is a collaborative and multi-dynamic process that empowers the entire triad: the child/youth, caregiver and birth family—every voice is heard. 

Kinship Navigators not only facilitate improved location of family members, but also are essential in improving access, quality and advocacy for families coming into the system. The Kinship Navigator program creates synergy between the provider and family to offer a holistic approach to case management, and thus, can focus beyond locating kin. It also coordinates and oversees educational, physical and social aspects of kinship in the context of child welfare. 

How does the Kinship Navigator program operate? 

At its most functional level, the Kinship Navigator is using tools such as Family Finding and interviewing to provide a more intense and deliberate structure to value for family, through kinship placement. 

Communication facilitation is key for the Kinship Navigator position. The Navigator keeps three distinct feedback loops in motion in order to improve speed and quality of service. The Navigator automates the process of locating kin. 

The Kinship Navigator program is not meant to be an isolated or add-on program, but instead one that is part of a seamless continuum of care, which reduces the often-disruptive interventions of the child welfare process. 

From a systems perspective, our Kinship Navigator program is a tool that can reduce racial and economic disparities in child welfare, because it is a stabilizing factor for families. It is more reflective of a natural family response, rather than a prescribed antidote or imposed directive. 

Furthermore, Kinship Navigators are: 

  • The first line of customer service when kinship families enter the child welfare system. They can address the needs of and assist kinship families in real time. 
  • An important source of feedback, helping to identify how well programming, systems, policies and procedures are supporting a value for family. 

Program Philosophy 

  • The KN will begin to identify a child’s extended family network from the moment they come to the attention of ACCYF. The supportive individuals that are identified can potentially provide homes if needed for the child.  
  • The KN is in place to prevent the amount of disruptions children receive, thus increasing their overall well-being. The goal of this is to assist with increasing kinship care as the first placement for children. 
  • To place sibling groups together in the first placement. 
  • To improve the stability of placements. While the ultimate goal for a child that enters custody is to safely return home in a timely manner, there are times this may not happen. Having a caregiver that supports the goal of returning home, or providing a permanent home if reunification is not feasible, will increase the stability that a child experiences.  
  • The KN will identify appropriate kinship care options for children/youth in congregate care.  
  • To reduce the rate of re-entry of children in care by placing children in stable kinship placements.  
  • To decrease the burden of the ACCYF caseworker during emergency removals.  With the Kinship Navigators in place, the caseworker can focus on removing the child(ren) from the unsafe situation, transporting the child(ren) to the hospital for the intake physical, and transporting the child(ren) to the kinship caregiver’s home identified and cleared by the KN. By splitting these responsibilities with the Kinship Navigator, the removal process is made more seamless and the likelihood of placing a child with kin increases.  

Program Structure 

Criteria for Acceptance 

The basis for assigning clients to the Kinship Navigator program is when a child (ren) has been identified as having the potential to be removed from his/her birth home and needs placed with an emergency kinship caregiver by Allegheny County Children, Youth, and Families. In addition, the Kinship Navigator program will also be assigned clients by ACCYF when a child/youth in congregate care does not currently have any kinship supports and as such identification of a  kinship option is needed to determine placement.  

Procedures for Accepting Clients:  

  1. Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families refers a client to the Kinship Navigator working within the respective office. 
  2. The KN is invited by the referring ACCYF staff to participate in the pre-placement staffing meeting or congregate care workgroup, if either of these meetings are occurring. 
  3. The KN is provided the necessary case information to begin the kinship search, such as the KIDS face sheet, family summary report and family finding report.  
  4. The KN will then begin working to locate and screen kinship options. 

Program Components & Services

Crisis Intervention  

A crisis is defined as any situation that is compromising the integrity of a child’s physical well being, mental/emotional well being, or the kinship placement. In addition, any removal of a child in which a kinship option has not been identified will be deemed a crisis needing Kinship Navigator support.  

The Kinship Navigator program will be operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  There is an identified after hours Kinship Navigator to assist in locating kin-placements.  Additionally, the on call supervisory line of A Second Chance, Inc. will provide support to the afterhours Kinship Navigator and assist ACCYF with locating placements during nontraditional business hours. In all cases of emergency the Directors and Vice President of Program Service will be notified in order to provide direction and follow up.                       

Emergency Placement Process: 

  • A child(ren) is referred to the Kinship Navigator to assist in locating an immediate placement option and the case is accepted for service.  
  • The KN will immediately begin to research kinship options through completing Family Finding; which is inclusive of, but not limited to, reviewing the Accurint search, reviewing a diligent search and completing a UJS portal search.  
  • The KN will contact identified kin by phone to complete a screening assessment, begin completing the 399 form, and discuss the foster parent licensure process.  
  • The KN will document the findings associated with the Family Finding process and provide the information to the identified ACCYF staff.   
  • The KN will contact the Criminal Investigation Unit to request the processing of the 399.  
  • The KN will present to ACCYF staff the findings of their search, inclusive of clearance results for kin and review the potential recommendations with the ACCYF staff.  
  • The KN will visit the home of the identified kinship option to complete an assessment and notify the ACCYF staff of results and recommendations for placement.  
  • Once the ACCYF staff completes the placement of the child, the KN will be notified to complete MPER, refer the case to ASCI Point of Contact Program and submit any known transportation needs.  
  • The KN will then close their referral for navigation services. 

Non-Emergency Placement Process 

  • A child(ren) is referred to the Kinship Navigator to assist in locating a placement for a child(ren) that has the potential of being removed in the near future and the case is accepted for service.  
  • The KN will begin to research kinship options through completing Family Finding; which is inclusive of, but not limited to, reviewing the Accurint search, reviewing a diligent search and completing a UJS portal search.  
  • The KN will contact identified kin by phone to complete a screening assessment, begin completing the 399 form, and discuss the foster parent licensure process.  
  • The KN will document the findings associated with the Family Finding process and provided to the identified ACCYF staff.   
  • The KN will contact the Criminal Investigation unit to request the processing of the 399.  
  • The KN will present to ACCYF staff the findings of their search inclusive of clearance results for kin and review the potential recommendations with the ACCYF staff.  
  • The KN will visit the home of the identified kinship option to complete an assessment and notify the ACCYF staff of results and recommendations for placement.  
  • Once the ACCYF staff completes the placement of the child the KN will be notified to complete MPER, refer the case to ASCI Point of Contact Program and submit any known transportation needs.  
  • The KN will then close their referral for navigation services.  
  • If the placement does not end up being needed the KN will close the referral for navigation services once it is determined that placement is no longer imminent.  

Congregate Care Placement Process 

  • A child(ren) is referred to the Kinship Navigator to assist in locating a placement for a child(ren) that is currently residing in a congregate care placement and the case is accepted for service.  
  • The KN will begin to research kinship options through completing Family Finding; which is inclusive of, but not limited to, reviewing the Accurint search, reviewing a diligent search and completing a UJS portal search.  
  • The KN will visit the child(ren) youth in placement to obtain additional kin options for investigating.  
  • The KN will contact identified kin by phone to complete a screening assessment, begin completing the 399 form, and discuss the foster parent licensure process.  
  • The KN will document the findings associated with the Family Finding process and provided to the identified ACCYF staff.   
  • The KN will contact the Criminal Investigation unit to request the processing of the 399.  
  • The KN will present to ACCYF staff the findings of their search inclusive of clearance results for kin and review the potential recommendations with the ACCYF staff.  
  • The KN will visit the home of the identified kinship option to complete an assessment and notify the ACCYF staff of results and recommendations for placement.  
  • Once the ACCYF staff completes the placement of the child the KN will be notified to complete MPER, refer the case to ASCI Point of Contact Program and submit any known transportation needs.  
  • The KN will then close their referral for navigation services.  
  • If the placement does not end up being materializing the KN will continue working to locate additional kin options.  
  • The KN service will close if all potential options have been investigated and explored.  

For more information on Kinship Navigator, please contact Kennice Hudson-Wise at 412-526-0058.