Inside Kinship Care ― Understanding Family Dynamics and Providing Effective Support

Editor David Pitcher (Children's Guardian and Family Court Advisor for Cafcass) explores the rise of "kinship care" within the modern family dynamic, investigating the complexities of this new familial relationship and the ways in which both child and caregiver(s) can adapt to their roles, what type of support and training is necessary for both families and those in the field of social work and family mediation, and how all parties are affected in the long run. The book brings together a variety of perspectives across a range of disciplines in an effort to provide a "cross-fertilization" of information. Included are personal stories from those with direct experience with kinship care as well as an assessment of kinship care in three international contexts: Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The book is considered essential reading for all of those working in the kinship care field. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

David Pitcher is a Children's Guardian and Family Court Advisor for Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), UK. He is a qualified social worker, teacher and family mediator, Honorary Social Work Advisor to the Grandparents' Association and a founding member of Grandparents Plus. In 1999 he set up Parents again, a support group for grandparent carers.