Navigating the landscape of caregiving can be challenging, especially when it involves family members stepping in to raise children. In Kentucky, the kinship care program offers vital support and resources for relatives and close family friends who are raising children outside of the traditional parent-child home. This guide serves as your starting point to understanding and accessing the essential services available to kinship caregivers throughout Kentucky.
Kentucky Kinship Support Hotline & Initial Assistance
One of the first and most crucial resources for anyone involved in kinship care in Kentucky is the Kentucky Kinship Support Hotline. If you’re seeking information about available programs or need to apply for benefits, connecting with your social worker or reaching out to the hotline directly is highly recommended.
Contact the Kinship Support Hotline at (877) 565-5608
You can also send inquiries via email to relative.supports@ky.gov. This hotline is designed to be a central point of contact, offering guidance and connecting you with the right support systems.
For additional insights and access to the Kentucky Foster Adoptive Caregiver Exchange System, you can visit the Department for Community Based Services website: Kentucky Foster Adoptive Caregiver Exchange System. This online portal provides further details on how Kentucky supports kinship families.
Essential Kentucky Kinship Care Resources and Programs
Kentucky offers a range of programs and guides specifically designed to aid kinship caregivers. These resources cover various aspects of caregiving, from practical advice to emotional support.
Kentucky Grandparent and Relative Caregiver Handbook
The Kentucky Grandparent and Relative Caregiver Handbook is an invaluable resource created through a collaboration between the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Office. This handbook is packed with information and guidance tailored to the unique needs of kinship caregivers.
For those who prefer a physical copy, you can also Order Print Copies.
PASTA, Parenting A Second Time Around Workshops
PASTA, or Parenting A Second Time Around, is a workshop series designed specifically for grandparents, relatives, and fictive kin who are raising children. Norma Hatfield, president of the Kinship Families Coalition, and Dr. David Weisenhorn from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Offices, lead these informative sessions. PASTA workshops offer a supportive environment and practical strategies for navigating the challenges of parenting again.
View Video Playlist & Learn More about PASTA
Quick Resilience Tips for Busy Kinship Caregivers Video Series
Recognizing the demanding nature of kinship care, the Quick Resilience Tips for Busy Kinship Caregivers video series offers easily digestible advice on building resilience into your daily routine. These short videos are designed to provide quick, actionable tips that can make a real difference in managing stress and promoting well-being.
View Video Playlist on YouTube
Kinship Caregiver: Facilitator Guide
For community leaders and organizers, the Kinship Caregiver: Facilitator Guide provides a framework for establishing and running kinship caregiver support groups. This guide outlines program components and offers flexibility in tailoring sessions to meet the specific needs of your community.
View the Kinship Caregiver Facilitator Guide
Local and Community Support for Kinship Families
Accessing local support is vital for kinship caregivers. Kentucky provides resources at both the state and community levels to ensure families receive the assistance they need.
Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Offices
Your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office is a key point of contact for inquiries about support services, child placement, and custody questions. Reaching out to your local office is a direct way to access specific assistance within your county.
Community Action Agencies
Community Action Kentucky (CAK) connects 23 Community Action Agencies across the state, offering outreach in all 120 Kentucky counties. These agencies provide a wide range of services, including food security, transportation, energy assistance, early childhood education, senior support, housing, and family advocacy. Community Action Agencies are dedicated to improving the lives of Kentuckians through diverse support programs.
Visit Community Action Kentucky (CAK)
Online Resources for Kentucky Kinship Caregivers
A wealth of online resources is available to Kentucky kinship caregivers, offering information, support networks, and legal assistance.
Kentucky-Specific Online Resources
- Kentucky Kinship Resource Center: Kentucky Kinship Resource Center – A comprehensive center offering resources and support.
- Grandparents as Parents- Northern Kentucky: Grandparents as Parents- Northern Kentucky – Focused support for grandparents in Northern Kentucky.
- Kentucky Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living: Kentucky Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living – Resources for older caregivers.
- Kentucky Access to Justice Foundation: Kentucky Access to Justice Foundation – Legal aid and resources.
- Legal Aid Network of Kentucky: Legal Aid Network of Kentucky – Legal assistance for low-income families.
- Kentucky AARP: Kentucky AARP – Resources and advocacy for older adults.
- Kentucky Youth Advocates: Kentucky Youth Advocates – Advocacy for children and families.
- Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children: Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children – Policy and advocacy for children’s well-being.
- Kentucky Resource for Substance Abuse: Kentucky Resource for Substance Abuse – Support for families affected by substance abuse.
National Kinship Care Resources
Beyond Kentucky-specific resources, national organizations offer broader support and information on kinship care.
National Online Sources for Kinship Caregivers
- Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use: Grand Resource – Specialized resources for families facing substance abuse challenges.
- Supporting Kinship Families – Child Welfare Information Gateway: Supporting Kinship Families – Comprehensive information on kinship care within the child welfare system.
- GrandFamilies.org: Grand Families – National resource for grandfamilies and kinship families.
- Children’s Defense Fund: Children’s Defense Fund – Advocacy and resources for children and families.
- Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System – Child Welfare Information Gateway: Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System – Detailed publication on kinship care within child welfare.
Help Guides for Kinship Caregivers
Practical guides and training materials are available to equip kinship caregivers with the knowledge and skills they need.
Essential Help Guides
- Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Training Project: Kinship Training Project Manual – Training manual for kinship caregivers.
- Grandparents As Parents Resource Guide: Northern KY 2018: Grandparents As Parents Resource Guide – Resource guide specific to Northern Kentucky.
- Various Publications from the Children’s Defense Fund: Children’s Defense Fund Publications – Collection of publications on kinship care.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren; Navigating Adolescence: Navigating Adolescence Guide – Guide focused on the unique challenges of raising adolescent grandchildren.
Kentucky’s kinship care program is supported by a robust network of resources designed to assist relatives and close family friends in providing stable and loving homes for children. By utilizing the hotline, handbooks, workshops, online resources, and local agencies detailed in this guide, kinship caregivers can access the vital support they need to thrive in their caregiving roles.
