An article in The Guardian highlights a new study that estimates that more than 140,000 children under the age of 18 lost their mother, father, or grandparent who served as their primary caregiver to the COVID-19 pandemic. Child Trends researcher and UNCG Faculty member Dr. Tyreasa Washington commented on how kinship care can support these children:
“When a child cannot live with their birth parent, almost always the preference would be to place the child with a relative. Children have better behavior and academic outcomes, and they are more likely to stay connected with their birth parents and siblings, as well as their culture.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/covid-hidden-pandemic-children-parents-caregiver