This year, the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky in partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), through the support of Casey Family Programs, is hosting a series of free Kinship Connections events to increase awareness and support for kinship caregivers – grandparents, relatives, or close family friends raising children. The event in Shelby County on July 14th was one in a series: the first event took place on May 27th in Laurel County, and we will be hosting one more this year in Logan County, with more to come in 2027 (follow our Facebook page for locations and registration updates).

On July 14th, kinship caregivers and advocates gathered at the Shelby County Extension Office to learn about pathways to permanency, options for benefits, resources, and more. Kinship caregiver experiences and situations are diverse, and the event served as a tool for deciphering how decisions made along the way can affect legal and benefits options for different families.

Rosie Turner, a kinship caregiver from Jefferson County, shared her experience as a grandparent who started out with little understanding of the processes and support systems available to her. Through connecting with other kinship caregivers via peer support, attending the GAP conference, and participating in Kinship Connections, she gained valuable knowledge and support. 

As Rosie shared, these experiences “opened my eyes to all the resources available to me as a Kinship Foster Parent. I appreciated the opportunity to meet other [kinship] foster parents and to share our stories.” 

KYA’s Community Engagement Director, Nikki Thornton, noted that even as a KYA staff member, she found the distinctions between different types of kinship family options surprising. She appreciated the perspectives of the lived expert, as well as the expertise of Kinship Navigators who all enhanced the impact and understanding of the information presented. 

“Attending the event inspired me to continue advocating for more kinship resources and information sharing for families,” shared Nikki.

Co-host Elizabeth Coots of the Shelby County Extension Office said the information provided helped her to better understand opportunities and benefits available for kinship families. 

If you are a kinship caregiver, part of an organization serving kinship families, or someone who would like to learn more, stay tuned to the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky website and Facebook page for updates and registration for 2026 – 2027 upcoming events in Marion, Metcalfe, and Nelson counties.