Child kinship care: An exploratory mixed methods study of social support, resources, and health issues of Nebraska child kinship caregivers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between both the social support and resources of child kinship caregivers and the caregivers’ health. An exploratory sequential three phase mixed methods design was used. Phase I encompassed a single case study of a Nebraska program serving largely grandparents raising grandchildren. Phase II consisted of multiple individual caregiver case studies, and Phase III consisted of a survey of all caregivers affiliated with the program. Qualitative findings from the first two phases yielded similar caregiver information regarding social support and resources issues. Differing information was received regarding health issues. Quantitative analysis in the third phase found that there was a relationship between a caregiver’s social support and health and a caregiver’s resources and health