KEEP Connecting Kin

The KEEP-CK model focuses on optimizing the role of kinship parents as the agents of positive change for children and youth. KEEP-CK groups for kinship parents are delivered by two co-group leaders for 16 weeks. Sessions are 90 minutes each week. The same group of 8-12 kinship parents attends each week. Each KEEP-CK group follows a manualized curriculum that emphasizes tailoring the content to the unique needs and cultures of the parent in the group and the youth in their care. The key parenting principles of the model include: (a) reinforce normative and prosocial behavior, (b) incentivize the behavior that parents want to promote, (c) build cooperation, (d) teach new behaviors, (e) use non-harsh effective limit setting, and (f) manage emotions while parenting. The key services connection elements of the model include: (a) parent discussions of services they are using or have used and (b) KEEP-CK group leaders share examples from a list of statewide and national services.