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

Be sure to read all the way through this month’s newsletter for fun and prizes! We want to include you in all we are doing this month at the KKRC.

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 (just four questions) and let us know how we can best support you as a kinship caregiver.

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.

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.

I wanted to let you know about a great resource we offer through the KKRC program, our Live Webinars. These webinars are held once a month and are a great way to learn information regarding kinship care in Kentucky. There is a different topic each month and they cover everything from IEPs in school, to children who have had trauma. I personally love these webinars and try to attend whenever I can because they are very informative. With summer here, the webinars are a great learning experience for everyone, and we’ll kick off the summer with a workshop on activities to do with kids without screens! 

Be sure to check the Kinship Catalogue section of this newsletter for upcoming webinars in July and August, or click the link below to sign up!

School’s out and it is important to take care of yourself while taking care of the children. Take a look at our Summer Group schedule for KIN-VIP below and plan some time to join. It is a great way to get connected with other kinship caregivers in the state, find answers to your questions, and have support for the journey! 

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!

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:

SCHOOL’S OUT! Keeping Kids Busy While Reducing Screen Time! - June 4 at 12:00 PM - 1:30 p.m. ET.

School’s out and now the kids are home all day! What do you do with them to keep them learning, growing, and forming relationships, all while having fun? Come join us in this webinar as we explore activities, and maybe try one ourselves, that caregivers can do with their kids to enjoy being together and without screen time. You’ll come away with ideas for a fun-filled summer!

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

In May, we started a new interactive portion of the newsletter designed to hear from you through an interactive poll. We have really enjoyed seeing the responses come in!

Continuing on with the fun, below is the poll question for June. How this works is that you’ll click the link below, read the question and click your answer, and then see the percentage of responses from everyone who has answered so far. This is a fun way to interact and is completely anonymous. So take a minute to answer this month’s question!

How does your family relax and have fun during the summer?

School’s out and kids are excited for all the promises of summer! From sleeping in, to playing with friends, to having fun in the water and in the sun, summer promises a carefree life spent in lazy, hazy, crazy kinds of ways. I love this attitude toward summer - it always makes me smile!

Summertime does come with its unique challenges though, especially for kinship caregivers. Locating childcare, finding extra money for extra activities, still keeping up with household chores while kids are home throughout the day, while also planning time for yourself, can make your summer more challenging and less relaxing. Finding ways to make time for yourself and for your family becomes your key to a fun summer. My encouragement for you this summer is to check out our On-Demand webinar resource “Self-Care for Super Parents - Taking Care of You While Taking Care of your Kinship Child.” This is a great resource that may give you some ideas on how to find some ways to really enjoy your summer. Remember, make time (even if you have to schedule it) for you!

To help with this, we at the KKRC want to send you a KY-KINS canvas tote bag so that you can carry all the things you need for your summer activities! If you would like your very own canvas bag, just send me an email at sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu with your name, address, and email address during the first two weeks in June and we’ll mail you your own tote bag with more self-care ideas packed in it. Just put Summer Tote in the subject line. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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