FROM FAMILY DUTY TO FAMILY POLICY - THE EVOLUTION OF KINSHIP CARE

The proportion of children in out-of-home care who are placed in the h omes of relatives has increased rapidly and substantially. This articl e presents a range of definitions and ways of conceptualizing kinship care, and traces how care by relatives has evolved from a matter of fa mily duty to one of social policy. Within the broader context of kinsh ip care, the article emphasizes the experiences of children and famili es of color.