In the US, about 2.7 million children are raised by relatives, known as kinship care. This is often due to parents’ inability to provide a safe environment. Kentucky has one of the highest rates of kinship care. Kinship caregivers often face challenges and lack resources and support.
To help, the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky started the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC) in March 2020. The KKRC provides services for kinship providers in the state. These include education, training, mentor programs, and advocacy. It was the first center of its kind in Kentucky.
The KKRC offers a service called KY-KINS, a peer support program. It pairs kinship caregivers with certified Peer Support Specialists. These specialists, who are also kinship caregivers, offer support to others in Kentucky.
KY-KINS has had a positive effect. It has helped caregivers, reduced stress, and brought stability to families in Kentucky. In 2023, it was named “Parent Group of the Year” by the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC). Recently, KY-KINS was approved to certify kinship peer supporters, as per Kentucky law.