Session: Transforming Social Work for Kinship Families: The Power of Community-Engaged Qualitative Research (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Background and Purpose: This symposium presents four studies that employ qualitative and community-engaged methods to amplify kinship caregivers' voices, inform policy, and strengthen support systems. The first study evaluates the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, a technical assistance (TA) initiative that aimed at enhancing cross-system collaboration and support for grandfamilies. The second study explores the efficacy of peer support groups among informal kinship caregivers in Washington. The third study highlights participatory action research with Ohio's Kinship Caregivers Connect (KCC), a peer-led online support group, by centering caregivers as co-researchers to assess the program's perceived impact. The fourth study applies role theory to examine grandfamilies' experiences before and after the pandemic, revealing schools as a critical support system for grandfamilies. Together, these studies demonstrate how qualitative inquiry can drive transformative changes in social work policy and practice for kinship families.

Methods: Each study utilized community-engaged qualitative methods. The first study employed document reviews, interviews, observations, and focus groups to assess implementation and impact. The second study conducted a thematic analysis of focus group interviews to assess the impact of a peer support group, whereas the third study explored the impact of an online support model by incorporating caregiver-led coding of survey data. The fourth study explored the role conflict and consensus among grandparent caregivers pre- and post-pandemic using phenomenological analysis of interviews.

Results: Key findings across these four studies highlight the transformative power of community-engaged and qualitative approaches. For instance, in evaluating the TA, the first study demonstrated that the current management structure was effective in providing TA but not in encouraging working relationships among partner agencies. Kinship caregivers from the second study reported peer support participation reduced isolation, increased resilience, and parenting strategies through shared lived experiences. Similarly, study three with virtual peer group kinship caregivers found a positive overall impact on their own well-being, their parenting approach, and their family's well-being. Grandparent caregivers interviewed for the fourth study expressed role conflict (e.g., stigma, family tensions) but also resilience, with schools emerging as a focal support for grandfamilies.

Conclusions and implications: These studies underscore the power of qualitative methods to (1) elevate lived expertise to aid in shaping interventions, (2) bridge policy-practice gaps by evaluating current programs/supports real-world limitations and strengths, and (3) advocate for systematic reforms (e.g., expanding informal caregiver access to resources and implementing supports for grandfamilies in schools). By centering kinship caregiver voices, social workers can foster transformative change in social work policy and practice while empowering kinship caregivers.