The laws dictating how adoption and guardianship are granted, by which court, and what those options entail are developed at the state and tribal levels, so the intricacies for obtaining these legal relationships differ.
The Brief
The brief provides general information about the two options, how they differ, and trends in state law as they impact these options. It is important that caseworkers, relative caregivers, older children, and their birth parents understand the two options and determine, based on all the information, what is best for their particular child and family.
Download the Brief
The National Comparison Chart
The chart is designed to help kinship foster parents compare adoption and guardianship as two options that you and the children in your care can pursue to exit foster care and create permanent families.
Download the National Comparison Chart
Download the User Guide on the Charts
State-Specific Charts
Alabama: Download the Alabama Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW California: Download the California Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Colorado: Download the Colorado Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Delaware: Delaware Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW District of Columbia: Download the District of Columbia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Florida: Download the Florida Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Hawaii: Download the Hawaii Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Idaho: Download the Idaho Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Illinois: Download the Illinois Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Indiana: Download the Indiana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Louisiana: Download the Louisiana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Maine: Download the Maine Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Massachusetts: Download the Massachusetts Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Michigan: Download the Michigan Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Minnesota: Download the Minnesota Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Missouri: Download the Missouri Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Montana: Download the Montana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Nevada: Download the Nevada Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW New Hampshire: Download the New Hampshire Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW New Jersey: Download the New Jersey Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
New Mexico: Download the New Mexico Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
New York: Download the New York Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW North Carolina: Download the North Carolina Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW North Dakota: Download the North Dakota Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Oklahoma: Download the Oklahoma Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Oregon: Download the Oregon Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Pennsylvania: Download the Pennsylvania Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Rhode Island: Download the Rhode Island Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Tennessee: Download the Tennessee Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Texas: Download the Texas Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Vermont: Download the Vermont Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Virginia: Download the Virginia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Washington: Download the Washington Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW West Virginia: Download the West Virginia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Wisconsin: Download the Wisconsin Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart