LEXINGTON, Ky. – Family connections, both biological and connections that are created through love, have guided Rachael Petrey’s kinship journey, ultimately leading her to the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC) at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW).
Petrey, KKRC Program Coordinator, has cared for five different kinship children over the course of her adult life, both relative and fictive kin. This care arrangement, referred to as kinship care, is necessary when parents are unable to safely care for children in their home.
“I’ve always viewed kinship care as not only something we do but something that’s an integral part of our everyday life,” Petrey said.
Beginning as a Peer Support Specialist with the KKRC, Petrey was able to see families grow and thrive through the KKRC programs and have their needs met in many different ways. That inspired her to take on a bigger role in the program and become a program coordinator in July 2024.
Now, Petrey is able to support kinship families at a programmatic level, making sure the needs of families take precedent, and constantly working to make the programs at the KKRC more personalized to kinship families.
“A big reason that the kinship program is so successful is that it was specifically designed to support kinship families in Kentucky,” Petrey said. “We really looked to design the program specific to the needs of the families. It’s very personalized.”
The KKRC provides a continuum of services to meet the unique needs of kinship providers across the Commonwealth, including one-on-one peer support, support groups, and online webinars and trainings. Recently, the KKRC expanded and will now serve all caregivers, whether they have custody, are fostering, or are caretaking for a family member or friend’s child.
A large part of Petrey’s position is not only connecting families with these resources, but also empowering them in their kinship journey and equipping families with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in their community.
“The biggest things I hope families take away from the programs at the KKRC are support, education and connection,” Petrey said. “It’s not just providing resources, it’s providing support for families, while also empowering them to feel confident and comfortable enough to continue to reach out and continue to seek support to have their needs met.”
As a kinship provider herself, Petrey’s biggest advice for new kinship families is to not be afraid to ask for help. She emphasizes the importance of reaching out for support and seeking assistance, highlighting that the KKRC is available to offer an array of supportive services.
“If we utilize the access we have for support and resources from the very beginning, rather than waiting until challenges become overwhelming, it will make that journey much easier for everyone involved,” Petrey shared.
To learn more about the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center and its programs, please visit the KKRC website.
