Permanency outcomes in kinship care: a study of children placed in kinship care in Erie County, New York.

This article describes a longitudinal study of permanency planning for all of the 525 children placed in kinship foster care in Erie County, New York, in 1991. The study describes the length of time the children spent in care, the discharge destinations for the children discharged prior to October, 1995, and the discharge goal at the time of the study for the remaining children. The study showed that many children were adopted by their kin or were living with kin with the goal of adoption. This article also discusses a new approach, "Kinship Options," being developed by the Erie County Department of Social Services to assure permanent family connections for children who come into contact with the child welfare system.