Perceptions of Relationships with Kinship Caregivers Among Parents Following State-Detected Psychoactive Substance Use

<b><i>Objective.</i></b> This study sought to better understand parent relationships with kinship caregivers, with an eye toward parents’ perceptions of how kinship caregiver mindsets and behaviors surrounding substance use may have impacted parents. <i><b>Design.</b></i> Data came from transcripts of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 16 parents in the United States, who had substantiated child welfare cases related to substance use. Transcripts were dual-coded, and analysis was guided by the reflexive thematic analysis framework. <i><b>Results.</b></i> Parents described two different experiences with kinship caregivers. For some families, parents reported fragmentation of their support system; parents described caregivers as undermining their parental authority, disrupting attachment bonds, and communicating with children in ways that perpetuated stigma around substance use. Other parents reported increased cohesion among family members; parents described caregivers as supportive and empowering, particularly as they navigated mandated “recovery.” <i><b>Conclusions.</b></i> Findings offer insights to help inform decision-making by both practitioners and policymakers by giving a voice to parents as they navigate the complex systems of child welfare services and drug court programming.