Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Children and Kinship Care

ABSTRACT Racial disproportionality in the child welfare system is of major concern. This is particularly evident for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations, who are overrepresented in foster care. To address this disparity, this study examined kinship placement stability and factors contributing to successful placements among NHPI children. The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System 2020 dataset was used to (1) examine the impact of kinship care on placement stability (NHPI) in the foster care system and (2) identify and examine the extent to which relevant factors contribute to placement stability for NHPI children. Results showed that, when controlling for all factors in the model, kinship placements were almost 2 times more likely to have placement stability compared to other types of foster care placements for NHPI children. Additionally, having an NHPI foster parent increased the likelihood of placement stability by 1.5 times. These findings underscore the importance of culturally responsive child welfare services that resonate with cultural values and systems of the children and families in the child welfare system.