Abstract
Over the last two decades there has been a significant increase in the amount of children in our child welfare system (Schwartz, 2007). This increase has led to an increase in the amount of children in kinship care. According to several studies kinship care results in more positive outcomes for the child than non-kinship care. In the past two decades federal and state policy has leaned towards kinship care (Park & Helton, 2010). This researcher conducted an exploratory quantitative study that surveyed professional child welfare employees and interns at Lilliput Children’s Services about their attitudes and beliefs about kinship care versus non-kinship care and the positive outcomes. This study investigated their attitudes and beliefs and how factors such as academic degree, years worked in a child welfare agency and age may contribute to the individual attitudes and beliefs of the participants. The study also examined whether or not employees attitudes and beliefs about kinship versus non-kinship care were in accordance with federal and state policy as well as the current literature. The study revealed that all Lilliput Children’s Services employees and interns attitudes and beliefs supported current federal and state policy.