The Gathering Spot
2027-02-09 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-02-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-02-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-09 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) and 1 more date
The Gathering Spot is a great NEW way to meet other kinship caregivers from the comfort of your own home and has been designed to be a spot where you can come for as long as you have time to meet other kinship caregivers, make a friend or two and gain valuable information to help you in your kinship journey.
This is not a support group, this is a virtual meeting space designed to connect caregivers together and create a kinship community, so that you can learn about important resources or information essential in your kinship journey.
Facilitator: Meet Lory Scarberry, your Gathering Spot facilitator! She and her husband have been kinship caregivers for more than six years. They received custody of their granddaughter and a year later, their grandson. Caring for two children who are medically fragile brought about many unexpected challenges but mostly joy. After the death of the children’s mother, their daughter, in 2021, the placement became permanent. While this brought on another level of challenges, they have navigated each new day as a family through love. Lory is also KY-KINS Peer Support Specialist.
Lory believes her virtual kinship support community was an integral part of navigating her journey and shared that “The friendships I forged through my kinship community not only helped me in my time of need but some of them became lifelong friends that are still an active part of my life.”
Register on the CoSW LMS website.

This connection meeting is offered every week on Tuesday at 12 pm EST. Come and get connected!!

Kinship Connections: Kin Raising Kin
2027-02-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-02-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-02-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-31 12:00 - 13:00
Are you an aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, or brother raising a relative?
You’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate this journey by yourself. Raising children as a relative (other than a grandparent) comes with its own unique challenges. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings often face different struggles than grandparents—whether it’s juggling work and parenting at various stages of life, blending kinship children with your own kids, or adjusting to the sudden changes in your family dynamic.
That’s why we created Kinship Connections: Kin Raising Kin Group—a welcoming space designed specifically for relatives who are not grandparents. This group focuses on the needs, challenges, and strengths that matter most to you, offering a place to share experiences, find encouragement, and connect with others who truly understand your perspective.
This group is led by Janie Murphy, a seasoned Kinship Care provider with over two decades of lived and professional experience supporting children and families through complex transitions. Janie is concerned in helping children by understanding their behaviors and practicing restorative care. As a caregiver, Janie facilitates compassionate guidance when things can feel very uncertain—offering stability, affirmation, and support. Janie believes the kinship caregiver needs to be supported and encouraged to be their own family advocate.
REGISTER HERE
This group meets every Wednesday at 12 PM EST through zoom and is a great time to meet other caregivers raising relative children. Join us for supportive time to talk and bring your lunch! We are excited to meet you!

The Gathering Spot – Thursday Meeting
2027-02-11 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-02-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-02-25 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-03-04 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-03-11 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-03-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-03-25 18:30 - 19:30, 2027-04-01 18:30 - 19:30
The Gathering Spot is a great NEW way to meet other kinship caregivers from the comfort of your own home and has been designed to be a spot where you can come for as long as you would like to meet other kinship caregivers, make a friend or two, and gain valuable information to help you in your kinship journey!
This is not strictly a support group, this is a virtual meeting space designed to connect caregivers together and create a kinship community, so that you can learn about important resources or information essential in your kinship journey.
Facilitator: Meet Christy Vincent, your Gathering Spot facilitator! Christy has been a kinship caregiver since 2017, when she began caring for her grandson. Christy reports this journey has been both the “most challenging and most rewarding experience” she has had in her life. Christy is passionate about kinship care and wants all kinship caregivers to know they are not alone in this journey and, even though it can be stressful, can walk this journey with joy, excitement, and love. Christy is a certified KY-KINS Peer Support Specialist and her goal is to ensure kinship caregivers have all the resources they need to feel supported and empowered!
This connection meeting is offered every week on Thursdays at 6:30 pm EST. Come and get connected!!
Register on the CoSW LMS website

Mary Jo Dendy’s Kinship Group
2027-02-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2027-03-11 19:00 - 20:00
This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. This Group is open to any kinship caregiver and we welcome you to attend! This Support Group will meet monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm .
If you have any questions about this event, please email sheila.rentfrow@uky.edu or KINmaryjodendy@gmail.com or call 859-257-4785.
Register on the CoSW LMS website.

Grandparent’s Connection
2027-02-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-08 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-03-22 12:00 - 13:00
Grandparent’s Connection is a supportive gathering created just for grandparents raising grandchildren. This group offers a welcoming space to share experiences, find encouragement, and connect with others who understand the joys and challenges of kinship care. Together, we’ll celebrate successes, explore helpful resources, and build a strong circle of support so no one feels alone on this journey. Whether you’re seeking guidance, support, community, or simply a listening ear, Grandparent’s Connection is here for you.
This group will meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month at 12:00 PM EST (noon). We look forward to meeting you!!
Facilitator Angel Hayes is a grandmother raising her teenage grandson who enjoys creative projects such as painting, scrapbooking, drawing, etc. and loves to meet and support others walking the kinship journey.
Register on the CoSW LMS website
