The Extended Family: Reviewing an Invaluable Resource

During the last two decades, the extended family has been rediscovered as a viable and meaningful resource for nurturing and protecting children. The purpose of this article is to provide an historical context for involving the extended family in child welfare cases and to identify key factors influencing that involvement. Once seen as the primary source of support for children, the extended family lost favor during several decades of emphasis on individualism. However, since the 1980s, policymakers and child welfare workers have increasingly viewed the extended family as a viable option for the placement of children at risk, as an effective decision-making mechanism, and as a source of support for children. The purpose of this article is to chronicle the involvement of the extended family in providing child welfare services and to discuss the factors associated with effective use of the extended family in protecting children at risk of abuse or neglect.