By Tori Henderson, KYA intern

This year, the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky in partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates, 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 first event took place on May 27th in Laurel County, Kentucky. We will be hosting two more this year: Shelby County, Kentucky on July 14th, and Logan County, Kentucky on September 10th (follow our Facebook page for locations and registration updates).

As a social work intern, one theme stood out to me throughout the Kinship Connections event in Laurel County: many caregivers are doing incredible work, but too often they are navigating it alone.

When a relative suddenly steps in to care for a child, there is rarely a roadmap. Caregivers are focused on making sure the child is safe, fed, enrolled in school, and emotionally supported. Learning about programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, KTAP, kinship foster care assistance, and community resources often comes later—if they learn about them at all.

During the presentation, one caregiver asked a simple but powerful question: “How does anyone even know this exists?” That question highlights a challenge many kinship families face. Resources may be available, but they cannot help families if families do not know where to find them.

Kinship care helps children remain connected to familiar people, communities, and support systems during times of uncertainty. Yet caregivers often find themselves navigating multiple systems while balancing the responsibilities of raising children unexpectedly.

Events like Kinship Connections help bridge that gap by connecting families to information, resources, and one another. They also remind us that supporting kinship caregivers is not only about financial assistance. It is about ensuring families have access to the knowledge, relationships, and community supports they need to succeed.

At Kentucky Youth Advocates, we believe strengthening families is a key part of prevention. When caregivers have the information and support they need, children are more likely to experience stability, connection, and positive outcomes.

Sometimes the greatest challenge facing kinship caregivers is not a lack of support—it is not knowing that support exists.

The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky is hosting free Kinship Connections events for kinship caregivers to help them and those who support them better understand and navigate the child welfare and legal systems while connecting them to local resources. We have events planned in Shelby County on July 14th and Logan County on September 10th. We are also planning events in Marion, Metcalfe and Nelson Counties over the next year. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates and registration.