LEXINGTON, Ky. – One year ago, the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC) at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) broadened its mission to support all types of kinship caregivers across the Commonwealth — from those with legal custody to foster parents and relatives or friends stepping in to raise a child.
Across the nation, nearly 2.7 million young people are being raised by a relative. This care arrangement, referred to as kinship care, is necessary when parents are unable to safely care for children in their home. It is estimated that Kentucky has one of the highest rates of kinship care in the country. Over the course of the last year, the KKRC has seen an influx of referrals for kinship caregivers throughout Kentucky.
“The expansion of the KKRC allowed us to broaden our reach to include all types of kinship caregivers,” Sheila Rentfrow, KKRC Program Manager, said. “The very nature of kinship care is that it poses emotional challenges and family dynamics that are difficult to navigate without assistance and support from those who have also walked this journey, which is where the KKRC comes in.”
The CoSW launched the KKRC in March of 2020 to provide 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.
With the expansion of the KKRC, the center also launched the Kinship Navigator Program, designed to reach caregivers early in their caregiving journey, once they have been identified as a potential placement for a child. The Kinship Navigator Program seeks to alleviate challenges during the kinship experience and help caregivers understand the resources available to them during their kinship journey.
Throughout the last year, Navigators have been hired in every service region of the Commonwealth. Among those Navigators is Melissa Dudley in the Cumberland Service Region, who shares that working with kinship caregivers has been one of the most profound and humbling experiences of her career.
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the depth of the caregivers’ compassion and sacrifices they make, often in silence,” Dudley shared. “I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to work alongside colleagues who are just as passionate and dedicated. Their integrity, teamwork, and willingness to show up day after day with empathy and resilience has been nothing short of inspiring.”
Reports have shown that the KKRC has increased caregiving capacity, reduced stress, and offered increased stability to Kentucky families. In 2023, the KKRC was nationally recognized and named “Parent Group of the Year” by the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC). The award is designed to honor parent associations and groups for their excellence in supporting adoptive, foster and kinship families.
More recently, KY-KINS was approved to certify kinship peer supporters, in accordance with Kentucky standards. The program is recognized as meeting state certification requirements — allowing the KKRC to address critical workforce and behavioral health needs in Kentucky.
A year after the expansion, the KKRC continues to seek new ways to innovate and support caregivers as they care for their families.
“Although this journey can be challenging in many ways, at the KKRC, we understand and are here to help,” Rentfrow said. “Our goal is to help families find the resources, support, and connections that are vital to kinship care so that they can focus on caring for their family.”
To learn more about KKRC, or if you are a kin caregiver in need of support, email kinship@uky.edu or visit the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center Website.