When a child cannot remain with their parents, kinship care — the placement of children with extended family or close community members — offers a path that maintains connection, cultural continuity and a sense of belonging. But while kinship care is widely recognized as a strength-based and culturally sensitive option within child welfare, many caregivers report feeling unsupported by the systems around them. 

Associate Professor in UNBC’s School of Social Work Dr. Susan Burke is leading a new study aimed at changing that. With support from a $52,920 Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Burke is examining how social workers facilitate kinship care placements in British Columbia’s child welfare system, and what more can be done to ensure families and caregivers are meaningfully supported. 

“It takes a village to raise a child, but are we meaningfully supporting that village?” said Burke. “Kinship care holds so much potential, but we need to make sure that the systems designed to help aren’t unintentionally creating new barriers.” 

The research is grounded in a time of transformation for child and family services in Canada. Recent federal and provincial legislation has affirmed the rights of Indigenous peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child welfare. These changes, along with a broader cultural shift toward community-led and trauma-informed practice, have contributed to the increased use of kinship care placements across the province and beyond. 

Countries including Spain, Italy, Botswana and Ghana have also seen rising reliance on kinship care. Yet research continues to show that many caregivers struggle with limited access to resources, inconsistent support, and systemic gaps that make it difficult to provide optimal care. Burke’s project will gather the perspectives of social workers working on the front lines to better understand what is needed to close those gaps and improve outcomes for children, families and communities. 

The study will also include collaborative partnerships with a Métis Elder and a community-based practitioner. Their guidance will help ensure the research reflects community knowledge and lived experience. In addition, the project will offer valuable opportunities for up to four undergraduate and graduate research assistants to gain hands-on training and experience in applied social research. 

“Support from SSHRC enables faculty at UNBC to pursue research that fosters local solutions with the potential for global impact,” said Dr. Paula Wood-Adams, UNBC’s Vice-President Research and Innovation. “Dr. Burke’s project reflects our commitment to advancing community-engaged scholarship and empowering northern communities through research that is informed, inclusive and responsive to real-world needs.” 

SSHRC Insight Grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities by funding projects that deepen understanding of individuals and societies and contribute to solving real-world challenges. 

“As more children are placed in kinship care, it’s crucial to understand how systems can evolve to truly support the people at the heart of it,” says Burke.