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 Alaska: Download the Alaska Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Arizona: Download the Arizona Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Arkansas: Download the Arkansas Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
California: Download the California Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Colorado: Download the Colorado Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Connecticut: Download the Connecticut Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Delaware: Download the Delaware Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
District of Columbia: Download the District of Columbia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Florida: Download the Florida Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Georgia: Download the Georgia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Hawaii: Download the Hawaii Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Idaho: Download the Idaho Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Illinois: Download the Illinois Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Indiana: Download the Indiana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Iowa: Download the Iowa Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Kansas: Download the Kansas Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Kentucky: Download the Kentucky Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Louisiana: Download the Louisiana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Maine: Download the Maine Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Maryland: Download the Maryland Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Massachusetts: Download the Massachusetts Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Michigan: Download the Michigan Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Minnesota: Download the Minnesota Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Mississippi: Download the Mississippi Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Missouri: Download the Missouri Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Montana: Download the Montana Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Nebraska: Download the Nebraska 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 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
North Carolina: Download the North Carolina Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
North Dakota: Download the North Dakota Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Ohio: Download the Ohio 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
Rhode Island: Download the Rhode Island Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW South Carolina: Download the South Carolina Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW South Dakota: Download the South Dakota Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Tennessee: Download the Tennessee Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Texas: Download the Texas Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Utah: Download the Utah 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
West Virginia: Download the West Virginia Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
Wisconsin: Download the Wisconsin Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart
NEW Wyoming: Download the Wyoming Grandfamilies Adoption Guardianship State Chart