Exciting news, the KKRC is expanding! Beginning July 2024, the KKRC programs will be expanding to serve all of Kentucky’s kinship caregivers! Read below to find out more.

Featured in this newsletter...

The KKRC will now serve all caregivers, whether they have custody, are fostering, or are caretaking for a family member or friend’s child without state involvement or support. KKRC programs will now be offered to all kinship caregivers in Kentucky, regardless of custodial status, including kinship foster situations.

We are interested in your feedback about the KKRC Newsletter and what you want to see in future issues! Please fill out the form below (just four questions) and let us know how we can best support you as a kinship caregiver.

Check out what people are saying about KY-KINS! This word cloud was created using words shared in survey statements from previous kinship caregivers. See how kinship caregivers just like you have described being a part of the KY-KINS program!

Beginning in July 2024, the KY-KINS Peer Support program will be expanding to include kinship foster parents! As such, any kinship caregiver - whether they have custody of a child, are fostering a kinship child, or are the primary caretaker of a child (with or without legal custody/guardianship), KY-KINS is available to you for individualized, one-on-one, virtual support! 

KY-KINS (Kentucky Kinship, Information, Navigation, and Support) is an innovative program that allows kinship caregivers the opportunity to (virtually) talk with a certified, trained Peer Supporter, who is actively providing kinship care themselves. This mentoring relationship allows caregivers to connect with someone who can guide them to vital family resources, educate them on many issues related to kinship care, and offer support and encouragement to caregivers who have questions or are struggling. 

Do you or do you know a kinship caregiver that could use someone to connect with privately? Please click the button below to let us know how to get in touch so that we can connect you with support and a friendly ear.

New, short-time group offered just for the summer: Project School Readiness

This group is only scheduled to meet twice: July 22 at 11 a.m. ET and August 12 at 7 p.m. ET. This group is an opportunity to obtain some valuable information for getting your kinship child ready for the upcoming school year.

Facilitated by Merlin Jones Smalley, a retired FRYSC worker, come and ask any questions you might have regarding school. Do you think your child might need an IEP? Did your child struggle in school last year? Does your child need help academically or find it difficult to make friends? Come and join on us on July 22 and August 12 as we discuss issues many children have in school and offer helpful suggestions to help your child prepare.

Summer Group schedule is underway and we are so excited for all that KIN-VIP can offer for kinship families! As with all of the KKRC programs, the KIN-VIP Support Groups will also be welcoming kinship foster parents to our groups. All kinship caregivers (custodial, non-custodial, and fostering), please join us! 

Not sure which group is for you? Just call Sheila Rentfrow at 859-257-4785 or email sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu for assistance in getting connected.

Need help signing up for a Support Group? Use the Step-By-Step Guide to help you through the process!

Registration will be available soon, keep an eye on your emails!

The KINSHIP Catalogue is an online resource page where you can find an array of resources to help you in your kinship journey. From LIVE webinars, to On-Demand Webinars, and Training Modules, the Catalogue continues to expand with new resources, and offers participants a library of information that can be accessed at anytime. Check out what’s coming this month:

Navigating Tough Conversations - July 23 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. ET

Raising kids in today’s culture is difficult. Raising someone’s else’s child, even if it is a relative, can be even more challenging! When they start asking questions about touchy subjects such as drugs, alcohol, relationships, etc., what do you say or not say? Should you say anything at all? In this webinar, we’ll talk about how to navigate these tough conversations by developing trust and communication with your child.

Kentucky Youth Advocates: Navigating the Child Welfare System as a Kinship Family - July 24 from 12 – 1 p.m. ET

Last year, Kentucky Youth Advocates worked in collaboration with child welfare stakeholders, including relative and fictive caregivers, getting feedback on the common issues they faced when first involved in the system. To learn more about what we heard, see the compiled report here.

Throughout 2024, we are sharing this information with current and former child welfare-involved persons, as well as professionals who serve them, through informational and discussion sessions.

If you are a current or former kinship caregiver, run a support or advocacy group, or provide mentorship, then come and join us! We will explore the common themes we heard during the focus groups and provide action steps each of you can take to advocate for yourself and others and both find and share resources. 

Check out the new On-Demand Webinars that have been added to the Kinship Catalogue!

It’s time for the July Poll Question! We’ve had such fun reading your answers and hope you are having fun playing along. Be sure to click the link below, read the question and click your answer, and then check back to see the percentage of responses from everyone who has answered so far. Remember, this is completely anonymous and just for fun!

What is your family's favorite summer treat?

Happy summer! I hope this finds each of you enjoying the extra time with your kids and your families. Whether you are running through the sprinklers, swimming in the pool, traveling to new adventures near and far, or just relaxing and enjoying the slow pace of summer, I hope you are truly using this time to grow closer as a family, experience new activities or new foods, and most importantly, creating beautiful, wonderful memories with your kids.

It is so easy to get so busy throughout the year - running here and there, doing homework, that we forget the importance of spending time together and creating memories of laughing, silliness, adventure, and love. In our June Webinar workshop, we had such fun thinking about the activities we did as children during the summer. It was amazing how many we all had in common! Activities that we thought were fun and adventurous at the time, but looking back on it - we realize how silly and fun many of them were. I love thinking of memories as a beautiful tapestry that stays with us all our lives, that we look back on fondly. Experiences that taught us life lessons.

Think of your summers as a kid, what do you remember? Do you remember special friends, activities you shared, places you went? I hope this summer is an opportunity to create those same memories with your families, to be a part of something that becomes a life-long legacy for the children you care for.

It was so much fun hearing from many of you, requesting your KY-KINS tote bag! Those are heading out in the mail soon but in case you missed last month’s newsletter, we don’t want to leave you out. In celebration of all things summer, fun, and being with families, we would like to send you your very own canvas summer tote. All you have to do to get the tote, is send me an email at sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu with your name, address, and email address during the month of July and we’ll mail you your own tote bag! Just put summer tote in the subject line.

Whether you need support or you would like to offer support, please connect with us and share your kinship heart. As always, if I can help you in your kinship journey, please feel free to call me at 859-257-4785 or email me at sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu 

 

 

Sheila Rentfrow

 

Kinship Program Coordinator

University of Kentucky College of Social Work

Centers & Labs Training Resource Center

 

1648 McGrathiana Pkwy, Suite 400

Lexington, KY 40511

859-257-4785

sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu