["Family Relations, EarlyView. ", "\nAbstract\n\nObjective\nThis study offers a preliminary exploration into the meaning of success in statutory kinship care, with a focus on critically analyzing the conceptualization of kinship care as a complex form of family care, extending beyond child protection service provision.\n\n\nBackground\nKinship care in Australia is increasingly considered the preferred option for children within the out‐of‐home care system. Although the capacity of kinship care to support successful outcomes for children is acknowledged, limited attention has been paid to understanding the lived meaning of success in these care arrangements.\n\n\nMethod\nData were collected through semistructured interviews with 34 kinship carers connected to the South Australian child protection system using a multimethod recruitment process. All interviews were analyzed using an iterative process of thematic analysis, grounded in narrative inquiry.\n\n\nResults\nKinship carers described success through the lens of everyday life, prioritizing emotional connections and familial relational bonds as fundamental elements of understanding and measuring positive outcomes in children's lives. This understanding prioritizes a child‐in‐context perspective with an emphasis on recognizing care qualities that foster belonging, happiness, routine, and growth.\n\n\nConclusion\nReconceptualizing kinship care beyond the confines of child protection service allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the support structures required to facilitate and maintain success within this system of care.\n\n\nImplications\nResponds to the needs of children and kinship carers should begin with centering their voices and lived experiences, employing a family‐centered model of support that focuses on strengthening and resourcing family connections and networks that support children's development and well‐being.\n\n"]