Post by Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd

Lack of support for children in kinship and special guardianship families👇 Full story in the comments 👇 Children in kinship care are experiencing significant mental health challenges and behavioural difficulties from as young as four years old, a report from Cardiff University shows. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the study concludes these issues could significantly impact on their experiences in school and long-term outcomes. Despite this, there is a lack of support from authorities and awareness from teachers, experts and families say. The findings also show that kinship and special guardianship families in Wales are significantly more likely to be living in areas of deprivation, have a lower income, and have larger, more complex households than other families. Wales has some of the highest rates of children in care in the UK, and much of the developed world. Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs), often granted to kinship carers who have a pre-existing relationship with a child, are increasingly used in Wales as an option for children in care to leave the care system and live permanently with an alternative caregiver when there is no realistic chance that they can return home to their parents. They are now more commonly used as a route out of care than adoption, and give children the chance to remain connected to their family and community. However, once an SGO is granted, many children and their families are left without ongoing support. #CardiffUniversity #PrifysgolCaerdydd | Cardiff University School of Psychology Nuffield Foundation Katherine Shelton Lorna S. Nell Warner Amy Paine Ellie Mae Dorrans Georgia E.