1. Forgotten Families? understanding the needs of kinship carers and the children in their care

2. “I am desperate for my granddaughter to grow up and become a beautiful, bright young woman with so many opportunities at her fingertips; she deserves it following the life she has had so far.” Carer - UK

3. The EU Kinship Carers Project Aim to improve the quality of prevention programmes targeting children and young people living with kinship carers, thus preventing vulnerable children and young people from experiencing harm as a consequence of alcohol or drug use.

4. Project Outline Interviews with carers to assess needs Literature review to assess promising approaches Develop and pilot national resources to support carers and children Create training materials to support professional practice Disseminate and evaluate

5. Findings Carers Needs

7. Duty

8. Guilt

9. Stress

12. Not everyone, but majority

13. Financial

14. Returning to work

15. Stopping work

16. Housing

17. Food

18. Making children feel normal

21. Isolation – loss of adult friends

22. Social stigma

23. Feeling unprepared

24. Relationships with family

25. Sometimes positive

28. Exhaustion

29. Depression

30. Physical health

33. Lack of consistency

34. Lack of empathy

35. Fear of authorities

37. Findings Children’s Needs

38. “I would never say to her that she is different ‘cause I have tried to bring her up in a normal and loving environment as much as possible. But the truth is, she is different; she doesn’t live in a happy home with her mum and dad, she lives with Gran. Her mum’s a junkie and her dad is a good for nothing loser who doesn’t care for her.” Carer - UK

40. Carers feel ill-equipped to support children’s education

43. Carers worried about children being vulnerable

44. Carers feel under-informed

47. Recognise the children have been damaged by parents

48. Children exhibiting risky behaviour

49. Forms of parenting not successful

51. "I cut her hair because I was so angry, maybe I was wrong. (....) But punishment does not work, she is not afraid of anything.“ Carer – Lithuania

53. Carers are often financially worse off as a result of the decision to become a carer

54. There often doesn't seem to be a choice in becoming a carer

55. Carers put their own health and wellbeing behind the needs of the children.

56. Professionals were sometimes seen as officious and uncaring

57. Children had deep emotional needs as a result of what they had experienced

58. Many carers were worried about the role that drugs and alcohol might play in the children's lives

60. The EU Kinship Carers Project has received funding from the European Union in the framework of the Public Health Programme. www.eukinshipcarers.eu