Research shows that when children can’t remain with their parents, they have the best outcomes when placed with relatives or other kin. Yet kin caregivers often step in suddenly without a formal legal relationship and without automatic legal rights. Many also lack access to an attorney to help them understand and evaluate their options.
This session introduces the Kinship Legal Toolkit, designed to help judges and attorneys recognize the importance of kinship care and strengthen their role in supporting kin who open their hearts and homes. The session will offer practical strategies and real-life examples to help agency, children’s, and parent attorneys, as well as judges, honor and support kinship care not only as a placement option, but as a relationship grounded in love, resilience, and connection.
This virtual training will be facilitated by
- Emily Peeler, JD, MSW – ABA Center on Children and the Law
- Heidi Redlich Epstein, JD, MSW, – ABA Center on Children and the Law
Date and Time – Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
To register for the webinar click on the "register" button below.
Recorded Webinar – TBD
Materials
Kinship Legal Toolkit Summary
Kinship Legal Toolkit Homepage