Welcome to the May Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC) Newsletter!

We are excited to bring you the May edition of this newsletter, highlighting all of the programs and events designed to support YOU as a kinship caregiver.

Featured in this newsletter...

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 and let us know how we can best support you as a kinship caregiver.

We are starting a new, interactive portion of the newsletter designed to hear directly from you! Starting with this newsletter, we will offer a poll question regarding kinship care and will offer answers from the group (anonymously), as they are entered in real time! 

This will be a fun, interactive way to hear from kinship caregivers across the state and hope that you will share your answers each month. Remember, these are anonymous poll questions and we are not capturing names or email addresses. Let’s get started!

Just read the question below, click the link to select your answer and submit. Following your submission, check out others' responses!

What does your family enjoy doing during the summer break (from school)?

KY-KINS (Kentucky Kinship, Information, Navigation, and Support) is an individualized, one-on-one support program that matches kinship caregivers with trained Peer Supporters who have personal experience in caring for a kinship child.

Connect with a Peer Supporter virtually every week to receive support, guidance, education, and resources relevant to your situation as a kinship caregiver. 

The end of the school year is quickly approaching which means many caregivers will be receiving ARC meeting notifications to update their child’s IEP. Have you recently had a child placed with you that needs to be registered for school/early educational services or may require an IEP?

No matter your situation, navigating the educational scene as a kinship caregiver can be challenging but we’re here to help! Check out our On-Demand Webinar “Educational Rights and Resources for Kinship Children” to help you identify the programs and supports that schools offer, including understanding how to request and advocate for these services. 

One participant shared: “I was lost trying to get my child’s needs met at school, but this webinar helped me understand the process and advocate for my child."

The KIN-VIP Support Group Program is a great place to meet other kinship caregivers through an online zoom meeting and find support on a schedule that works for you! Led by caring, compassionate leaders with kinship experience, KIN-VIP provides kinship caregivers with a place to find support and connection.

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!

Judy Russell has been working with the KIN-VIP Support Group program since April 2023 and is a wealth of knowledge and support for kinship families. As a Mental Health Specialist for the Fayette County Public School system, Judy has a tremendous amount of resources to share with kinship families.

Judy grew up in Richmond, Ky., and was raised by her great-grandmother when she was 70 and Judy was an infant. In her adult years, Judy became a kinship caregiver to her sister’s three children, who she eventually adopted. In her career, she has worked for the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) for 12 years in child welfare/adult protection, at a high school as a school social worker, and at an elementary school providing mental health counseling supports to children.

The Raising Special Needs Group meets weekly on Thursday evenings from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm ET by zoom through May 23, and is a great source of support for families caring for children with diagnoses related to autism, learning disorders, behavioral disorders, etc.

Check out all of our May Support Groups by clicking the button below!

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:

Autism Series, Part II: The Basics of Behavior and Parenting Children with Autism - May 7 at 12:00 PM - 1:30 p.m. ET.

In part II of our Autism series, we’ll take a more in-depth dive into understanding behavior and learn some tools for parenting autistic youth. Parenting a youth with autism or a spectrum-related diagnosis often looks very different from more traditional parenting styles used when raising children. In this session, we’ll discuss behaviors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in children while discussing some practical tips and strategies for parenting autistic spectrum children

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

At the KKRC, we strive to provide a community of support and resources that can meet you where you are in your kinship journey. Since the KKRC opened in 2020 and programming launched in 2021, we have designed innovative programs that can offer you support, encouragement, and resources. Hopefully, you can see this design in many of our programs highlighted in this newsletter.  I wanted to take a moment to share some feedback we’ve received regarding our kinship programs and encourage you to try a program at the KKRC and see for yourself!

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