LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 29, 2026) – National Kinship Care Month, recognized each September, celebrates the grandparents, relatives, and close family friends who provide care and support for children in their families and communities. Throughout the month, the UK College of Social Work (CoSW) is recognizing kinship caregivers across Kentucky and highlighting the resources and support available through the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC).
Rachael Petrey, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center program coordinator, sat down with the CoSW to discuss the importance of National Kinship Care Month, the unique experiences of kinship families and how the KKRC is working to ensure caregivers across the Commonwealth have access to the support they need.
What is your position with the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center and what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
I am a Program Coordinator with the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, where I oversee our KY-KINS Peer Support Program. On a day-to-day basis, I support and lead an exceptional team of Peer Support Specialists who help connect caregivers with individualized support and resources, collaborate with community partners, and work to strengthen our services so kinship families feel seen, supported, and less alone.
What inspired you to work with the KKRC?
As a former kinship caregiver and foster parent, this work is deeply personal to me. I understand how overwhelming it can be to step into the role of caregiver while trying to navigate unfamiliar systems, locate resources, and meet a child’s needs. My own experiences inspired me to help ensure other caregivers have the guidance, encouragement, and support they deserve throughout their journey.
What do you enjoy most about working with kinship families?
I most enjoy seeing caregivers recognize that they do not have to navigate this journey alone. Kinship caregivers make extraordinary sacrifices to provide children with safety, stability, and connection to family. It is incredibly rewarding to help them identify their strengths, overcome barriers, and feel more confident in the important role they have taken on.
How do the resources at the KKRC help kinship families as they are navigating challenges?
The KKRC provides caregivers with a place to turn for trustworthy information, practical resources, education, and meaningful support. All our programs help families better understand their options, available benefits and services, connect with community resources, build useful skills, and receive encouragement from people who understand the unique realities of kinship care. We help make complicated systems feel more manageable while ensuring caregivers know they have someone walking alongside them.
What advice would you share with kinship families as they are beginning their journey?
Give yourself grace, ask questions, and do not be afraid to accept support. You may feel like you need to have everything figured out immediately, but this journey is built one step at a time. Reach out early, connect with others who understand, celebrate the progress you make, and remember that caring for yourself is also an important part of caring for your family.
What does National Kinship Care Month mean to you?
National Kinship Care Month is an opportunity to honor the grandparents, relatives, and fictive kin who step forward, often unexpectedly, to provide children with love, safety, stability, and a continued connection to family. For me, it is also a time to make sure kinship caregivers feel recognized, valued, and supported not only during this month, but throughout the entire year. Their commitment changes the lives of children, strengthens families, and has a lasting impact on our communities for generations to come.