LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2024) — The Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC), housed in the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky, is expanding to better serve caregivers and children across the Commonwealth.

The KKRC now offers resources for all caregivers, including those who have custody, are fostering, or for those caring for a child of a family member or friend.

“The relational dynamics and complexities of kinship care can be difficult for caregivers to navigate, regardless of whether a caregiver has custody or not,” said Sheila Rentfrow, director of KKRC. “Expanding the program will provide opportunities for caregivers to connect with other kinship caregivers and receive vital support — no matter where they are in their kinship journey.” 

Nearly 2.7 million young people are being raised by a relative and data suggests kinship rates throughout the Commonwealth are among the highest in the country. 

There are immense benefits of kinship arrangements — a form of care that allows children to grow up in a family environment. Studies show these children have healthier behavioral and emotional outcomes. But emerging research also takes a closer look at the struggles relatives often face when caring for young family members.

The CoSW has an established history of supporting kinship caregivers across Kentucky. From conducting research to launching programming, the college is on a mission to connect relatives caring for youth with an array of services designed to meet their unique needs.

In an effort to provide much-needed support for kinship families, in March 2020, the college launched KKRC. Through education and training programs, peer support and mentoring initiatives, and broad-based advocacy, the center provides a continuum of resources for kinship caregivers.

“We conceptualized and launched KKRC for a singular purpose: to meet the needs of kinship caregivers in Kentucky,” said CoSW Dean Jay Miller, Ph.D. “This center was the first of its kind in our state, and we are extremely excited to be able to continue serving kinship caregivers in an innovative way.”

Miller, who spent time in foster and kinship care as a youth, is passionate about providing useful information and valuable resources to caregivers. That’s why KKRC leads efforts to provide and promote evidence-based approaches. This is done through expansive research and evaluation in the field. 

With the expansion, KKRC will now offer programming to all relative caregivers in Kentucky, regardless of custodial status, which includes kinship foster caregivers.

“The KKRC is designed to provide a strong social support network easily accessible by participants in times of need,” said Missy Segress, director of centers and labs in the CoSW. “Through our innovative partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, we have implemented a program that reduces the risk of placement instability and improves the quality of care. With this program expansion, we are able to provide these services to even more families across the Commonwealth.”

Families being served by KY-KINS have access to innovative peer support and mentoring initiatives. Additionally, Kinship Peer Supporters, who are caregivers themselves, undergo comprehensive training to provide the best support possible.

KY-KINS is based on the premise that by connecting kinship caregivers to a supportive network of trained professionals, the overall well-being of the entire family will improve, and the placement of children in the home will become safer and more stable.

“Our peer supporters and small group facilitators have been amazing people to work with. They are passionate about using their lived experiences in kinship care to serve and connect kinship families with needed resources and assistance,” Rentfrow said. “With this type of expansion, we’ll be able to offer more support services, utilizing more program leaders with lived kinship experience, including hiring more peer supporters and small group leaders that will allow us to serve more of Kentucky’s kinship families.”

In 2023, the KKRC was nationally recognized and named “Parent Group of the Year” by the North American Council on Adoptable Children. The award is designed to honor parent associations and groups for their excellence in supporting adoptive, foster and kinship families.

KY-KINS was also approved to certify kinship peer supporters, in accordance with Kentucky law. The program is recognized as meeting state certification requirements — allowing KKRC to address critical workforce and behavioral health needs in Kentucky.

“As a kinship caregiver, I wasn’t able to access programs like KKRC,” said Jessica Adkins, a kinship caregiver and certified Kinship Peer Supporter. “For many of our caregivers, it’s such a relief to know they are not alone — to know they are heard and to know there is help. That is what the KKRC is all about.” 

To learn more about KKRC, or if you are a kin caregiver in need of support, email kinship@uky.edu.

KENTUCKY (WDKY) — A man vowed to never eat bologna again after he and his son won the top prize on a scratch-off lottery ticket earlier this month in Kentucky.

Jody and his father took home a lump sum of $700,000 after hitting the $1 million jackpot on a Casino Nights scratch-off, per the Kentucky Lottery. Jody requested not to share his last name, and his father’s name wasn’t released.

The dad had purchased the $20 ticket on June 8 at the Adairville Market, a convenience store located roughly 12 miles away from Springfield, Tennessee, where Jody lives.

After buying the ticket, Jody’s father couldn’t wait to scratch it.

“I said [to the clerk], ‘If I hit this million dollars, I ain’t ever eating bologna again,’” the dad said.

According to lottery officials, the top $1 million prize was revealed within the first couple of rows, where all three key symbols matched.

“It kind of shocked me,” the father said.

He told lottery officials that he immediately called Jody to share the exciting news.

Jody recalled his father saying, “You’ll never believe what I just did.”

“And, I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘We just won $1,000,000!’” Jody continued. “I was sitting there thinking, ‘Yeah, right, I don’t believe you!’”

Jody said his dad drove to his home to show him the ticket, and they made plans to travel to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters on June 10 to claim their prize.

The big win didn’t change Jody’s weekend plans, however. He still decided to mow the lawn.

As for what he plans to do with the money, Jody said he wants to invest it.

“Houses are paid off. Cars paid off, done. We will be bill-free probably next week,” Jody said. “You become debt free, and you don’t have any bills.”

Since they opted for the lump sum, they went home with a check for $504,000 after taxes, lottery officials said.

Last week, we saw most of the Kentucky Women’s Basketball roster move into their new home on campus, but now, we’re getting a sneak peek at what’s in store for the 2024-25 season following the team’s first week of practice.

In some new flicks released by the team, we get a glimpse into what some of the players have been working on during practice. On the left, 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack is working on post moves, Jordan Obi is chatting with assistant coach Josh Peterson, and Lexi Blue is putting some shots up.

Strack, the Virginia Tech transfer will be vital for the ‘Cats this upcoming season. The sophomore averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game her freshman season but didn’t show her true talents until the NCAA Tournament. The center scored 35 points over those final two games on 13-15 (86.7%) from the field.

6-foot-1 guard Jordan Obi transferred from the University of Pennsylvania for her final year of eligibility. Last season, she was named to the 2023-24 All-Ivy First Team and Academic All-Ivy. In 83 games at Penn, she averaged 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Obi’s ability to score on the perimeter and in the paint will be especially useful when matching up against SEC opponents.

Incoming freshman Lexi Blue will also play a large role for the ‘Cats. Standing at 6-foot-2, the guard was ranked No. 40 in the 2024 class by ESPN. As a senior at Lake Highland Prep, Blue averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Blue’s size and versatility make her extremely valuable for Kentucky. She seems to be the perfect pickup for the Wildcats.

We even got to see Kenny Brooks in on the action in a video posted to social media on Thursday. To me, it seems like players are getting to know each other while working hard for the upcoming season. Chemistry is key, and we saw a glimpse of that at an outside-of-practice hangout the other day. This season is shaping up to be one we’ve dreamed of for years. Hopefully, this early hard work will pay off during the regular season.