What type of care involves a child being raised by relatives?

The type of care that involves a child being raised by relatives is known as kinship care. This arrangement occurs when family members, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or older siblings, take on the caregiving responsibilities for a child due to various circumstances, such as the child’s parents being unable to provide proper care. Kinship care prioritizes maintaining familial relationships and offers a sense of stability and connection for the child, which can be beneficial for their emotional and psychological well-being.

This approach often allows children to remain within their family network, avoiding the disruptions that can come from placements in foster care or institutional settings. Kinship care is frequently viewed favorably by child welfare systems because it utilizes existing familial bonds to support the child’s needs, promoting a sense of identity and continuity.

In contrast, foster care typically involves temporary placements with non-relatives, while adoption is a permanent legal arrangement in which parental rights are transferred to adoptive parents. Independent living refers to situations where older youth transition out of care to live independently. These distinctions highlight why kinship care is specifically characterized by the involvement of relatives providing care.