Kinship care at the intersection of race, gender, and class

Cynthia Okpokiri

Chapter 24 in Handbook on Intersectionality and Social Work, 2026, pp 317-329 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter highlights some childrearing practices that are unique to the needs of Black children in racialised spaces, in which gender norms, poverty, and personal circumstances converge. How Black kinship carers and families attenuate such challenges is relevant for recognising their knowledge and strengths, and exploring ways for improving family practices where necessary, to ensure the wellbeing of the children. This chapter interrogates kinship care of Black children underpinned by four key dimensions: (1) carer's traits – parental qualities; (2) child's traits – wellbeing and developmental needs; (3) community (clan) traits – cultural value of the child; (4) structures – legal-socio-economic conditions (family's expectations versus structural realities). This chapter advances the FiveRs principles of direct work with Black parents – R espect, R esearch, R ecognise, R espond, and R epair – which are recommended to social workers and relevant professionals.

Keywords: Black Kinship Care; Mothering; Family Justice System; FiveRs Principle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035324453
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