Wayfinder Kinnections Kinship Navigator Evaluation: Final Report – Child Trends

Evaluation of the Kinnections Program: A Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Perspective

Methodological Overview

An outcome and process study was conducted to evaluate the Kinnections program for kinship caregivers. The methodology involved a multi-faceted approach to data collection, aligning with principles of inclusive and participatory research.

• Outcome Study: Surveys were administered at baseline and at a 4- to 12-month follow-up. The survey instruments included previously validated measures and new tools co-created with kinship caregivers and youth, ensuring relevance and stakeholder engagement.
• Process Study: A comprehensive examination included analysis of agency service data, focus groups, interviews, a staff time study, and a review of peer review data.

Key Findings in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

The evaluation identified several key outcomes that directly contribute to the advancement of multiple SDGs. The findings are categorized based on their statistical significance and adherence to Title IV-E Clearinghouse baseline equivalence standards.

Statistically Significant Findings Meeting Baseline Equivalence

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Kinship caregivers participating in the Kinnections program (treatment group) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in social support compared to the comparison group. This enhancement of social protective factors is crucial for improving mental health and overall well-being.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The treatment group reported significantly higher satisfaction with the services received. This indicates the program’s effectiveness in building responsive and effective institutions that cater to the needs of vulnerable families, a core target of SDG 16.

Statistically Significant Findings Not Meeting Baseline Equivalence

1. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Caregivers in the treatment group were substantially more likely to access necessary services. By facilitating access to support systems, the program helps reduce inequalities faced by kinship families.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The treatment group also showed a significantly greater increase in receiving referrals to services. These referrals often connect families to financial, legal, and health resources, contributing to poverty reduction and greater equity.

Additional Findings Supporting SDG Advancement

• Fidelity and Institutional Strength (SDG 16): The evaluation confirmed a high level of fidelity to the Kinnections model. Staff effectively served the target population and adhered to prescribed services, demonstrating the program’s institutional capacity and reliability.
• Access to Specific Services (SDG 1 & SDG 3): The treatment group showed a marked increase in accessing counseling (contributing to SDG 3) and financial services (contributing to SDG 1). Access to counseling services increased by 79 percent, and financial services by 118 percent, from baseline to follow-up.
• Disparities in Informal Care (SDG 10): A critical finding highlighted that caregivers in informal arrangements, regardless of group, experienced poorer outcomes, including higher stress and lower family functioning. This points to a significant inequality that requires targeted intervention to ensure no one is left behind.
• Unmet Needs (SDG 3, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): A high level of unmet need for respite and childcare was reported across both groups. Addressing this gap is essential for caregiver well-being (SDG 3), enabling caregivers, who are predominantly women, to participate in the workforce (SDG 5, SDG 8).

Recommendations for Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

The findings lead to several recommendations aimed at strengthening support for kinship families and accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

1. Ensure Universal Access to Support Services (SDG 10, SDG 16): Expand access to customized referral and case management programs like Kinnections for all kinship caregivers. This will reduce inequalities and build more inclusive and effective support systems.
2. Secure Sustainable Funding (SDG 16): Dedicate adequate and sustainable funding for kinship navigator programs to ensure full staffing and long-term viability, thereby strengthening the institutions that support vulnerable children and families.
3. Build Professional Capacity (SDG 3, SDG 16): Provide specialized training for mental health and legal professionals on the unique needs of kinship families to improve the quality of health, well-being, and justice services.
4. Promote Inclusive Service Delivery (SDG 10): Continue offering a mix of virtual and in-person services to overcome barriers related to transportation and scheduling, ensuring equitable access for all caregivers.
5. Target Support for Informal Caregivers (SDG 10, SDG 1): Increase child welfare services, including financial and concrete supports, for caregivers in informal arrangements to reduce their isolation and stress, thereby mitigating inequalities and preventing entries into state custody.
6. Foster Multi-Sectoral Partnerships (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals): Enhance collaboration between child welfare, public benefits, aging services, education, and mental health systems to create a comprehensive support network that addresses systemic needs like respite and childcare.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • The article addresses economic vulnerability among kinship caregivers, particularly those in informal arrangements who lack access to financial support. It highlights the increased access to “financial services” and recommends providing “financial and concrete assistance,” which directly relates to poverty alleviation and providing a social safety net for vulnerable families.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • This goal is central to the article. The study’s key findings focus on “adult well-being,” measured by increased “social support” and access to “counseling.” It also notes that informal caregivers experience “higher levels of stress,” linking the program’s support directly to improving mental health and well-being.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article explicitly identifies inequalities between different groups of caregivers. It finds that “kinship caregivers caring for children in informal arrangements experienced poorer outcomes on several indicators” compared to those with formal child welfare involvement. Recommendations to increase services and supports for this group aim to reduce these specific inequalities.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The program itself acts as an institutional support mechanism for protecting children. The article mentions “child permanency” and “child safety” as intended outcomes, which aligns with protecting children from harm. Furthermore, the high rate of access to “legal services” and the need for trained legal professionals point to the goal of ensuring access to justice for these families.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • A key recommendation is to “Increase collaboration among multiple systems serving kinship caregivers,” including public benefits, aging and disability services, early childhood education, and mental health services. This directly calls for the multi-stakeholder partnerships that are the foundation of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all.

   • The Kinnections program functions as a social protection system for the vulnerable population of kinship caregivers. The recommendation to provide “financial and concrete assistance” to informal caregivers is a direct call to expand this social protection floor.

2. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.

   • The article’s findings of “significantly higher increases in social support” and a 79% increase in access to “counseling” for the treatment group are direct contributions to promoting mental health and well-being among caregivers.

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

   • By providing access to services, referrals, and support, the program empowers kinship caregivers, a group that is often isolated. The focus on informal caregivers, who have “poorer outcomes,” is a specific effort to promote their social and economic inclusion.

4. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

   • Kinship care is a fundamental component of the child protection system. By supporting caregivers to create stable and safe homes, the program helps ensure “child permanency” and “child safety,” thereby contributing to the prevention of abuse and neglect.

5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   • The article’s final recommendation to foster “collaboration among multiple systems serving kinship caregivers” is a direct reflection of this target, advocating for an integrated approach to service delivery that involves various public and community agencies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Change in Social Support Score

   • The article explicitly mentions a quantitative indicator: “an increase of 0.2 points more than the comparison group on the Protective Factors Survey social support subscale.” This directly measures progress in adult well-being (SDG 3).

2. Rate of Access to Services

   • The study uses the rate of access to services as a key indicator. It states that caregivers in the treatment group were “25-percentage points more likely to access services” and specifies increased access to counseling (79% increase) and financial services (118% increase). This measures the effectiveness of the support system (SDGs 1, 3, 10).

3. Client Satisfaction Score

   • Progress is measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, where the treatment group “experienced an increase of 1.44 points more” than the comparison group. This indicates the quality and effectiveness of the institutional support provided (SDG 16).

4. Disparity in Outcomes Between Caregiver Groups

   • The article implies an indicator by comparing outcomes for formal versus informal caregivers across measures like “levels of stress,” “family functioning,” and “social support.” Measuring the reduction of this gap over time would be an indicator for SDG 10.

5. Rate of Placement Disruption

   • Although not successfully measured in this study due to its rarity, “disruption from kin placement” is identified as a key indicator for “child permanency.” This is a critical measure for child safety and well-being (SDG 16).

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Identified in the Article

Source: childtrends.org