Children’s Home Network’s Kinship Navigator Program: Connecting to Concrete Resources Through Peer-to-Peer Kinship Navigation Services

Abstract

Peer-to-Peer Kinship Navigation (P2PKN) employs someone with lived kinship caregiving experience in providing support to others experiencing similar challenges. This study examines if P2PKN improves concrete resource benefits application and enrollment and how it compares to other study groups (peer-to-peer plus innovations, formally trained kinship navigators, and usual child welfare services). Using data from the Children’s Home Network Kinship Navigator randomized control trial, this study compared the application and enrollment data for kinship caregivers in Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) Child Only Program for different types of kinship care program groups. Study findings revealed that P2PKN excelled at connecting caregivers to concrete resources and had significantly higher TANF application and enrollment rates than other groups.