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.

The July 4th holiday is upon us in Louisiana.  School kids have been out in cities like Lafayette, New Iberia, Opelousas, and Crowley for more than a month. That means our mindset along the bayou is less about school days and more about sun days. That’s the sun as in fun in the sun as opposed to our weekly day of rest.

The July 4th holiday falls on a Thursday. Not the best day of the week but at least it’s not a Wednesday. And for a lot of us, the Fourth of July means getting in or on the water. We love to take the boat out to our secret fishing spot and we also love to water ski.

But then again, there is something that is quite relaxing about just going with the flow. You know, taking a float trip down a scenic Louisiana waterway. We have our tubes, our friends, and our tubes for our drinks, and what could go wrong?

Drownings Are On The Increase in Louisiana

From 2020 to 2021 Louisiana saw an increase of 60% in the number of reported drownings. Many of these fatal mishaps occurred in backyard swimming pools or more structured bathing facilities. However, there were more than a few that happened in our state’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

This got us to wonder, what is Louisiana’s most dangerous body of water.

At first blush, we contemplated the Mississippi River. It’s a very busy waterway and the opportunity for a mishap is quite plentiful. Fortunately, in order to pilot a vessel on the Father of Waters you have to be trained and licensed.

Then we contemplated the Gulf of Mexico. Every year we hear of fatal mishaps that involved the coastal waters of Louisiana. But the problem with the Gulf is where do you draw the line. If a cruise boat passenger sailing from Louisiana falls off the boat near Mexico, is that still a “Louisiana Gulf of Mexico” mishap? 

Louisiana’s Most Dangerous Body of Water is 112 Miles Long

We did some snooping online and discovered through the website, Only in Your State, that the most treacherous body of water in Louisiana only covers a very short distance. To the untrained eye, the surface of the water looks to be calm and peaceful but the danger is lurking beneath the whiskey-brown shade of water that is slowly flowing by.

The body of water listed by Only in Your State as the most dangerous in Louisiana is the Amite River. The river is very popular with sportsmen, especially in the lower 30 some odd miles. So there is a lot of traffic in that part of the river but that’s not why the Amite earns the title of “Most Dangerous”.

Why Is the Amite River Louisiana’s Most Dangerous Body of Water?

The answer to that is two-fold. The river is dangerous because of the limited visibility. You can’t see more than a few inches underwater, that is if you could even stand to open your eyes. So, things that go into the water are seldom seen again. There are also a lot of hidden branches, trees, and debris that can snag a person’s foot while they are swimming.

The second and probably the biggest reason the Amite River is considered to be the “most dangerous” has to do with the popularity of the river. Not only do fishermen love the Amite but those who love a good float trip flock to the Amite River as soon as it’s warm enough to get in the water.

The sheer volume of people creates more opportunities for tragedy especially when you mix in abundant sunshine, coolers of alcohol, and a laissez-less bon temps rouler attitude.

Fortunately, most people who float the Amite River do so with a group. That means people looking out for people. If you do plan on floating this river or any body of water this summer, make sure you have a friend too. Never swim alone and don’t ever dive into water that you don’t know the depth of. Be safe and have fun and remember it is not the river that’s dangerous, it’s the actions of the people on the river that cause the problems.

HAGERSTOWN, MD – The Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking initiative led by Governor Wes Moore: the launch of the Cannabis Workforce Development Program. This pioneering effort, the first of its kind administered by a cannabis regulatory agency nationwide, aims to support Marylanders entering the expanding cannabis industry. The program prioritizes individuals with prior cannabis-related offenses, aligning with Governor Moore’s recent historic pardon of over 175,000 such charges. 

Please read below and remember, reach out to Linda Spence, Business Specialist with the Department of Business and Economic Development at [email protected] or by phone at 240-313-2286 if you have additional questions.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Cannabis Workforce Development Program, the first workforce development initiative developed and administered by a cannabis regulatory agency in the nation. This program, which will prioritize individuals with a history of cannabis-related offenses, is launching after Governor Moore’s historic pardon of more than 175,000 cannabis charges last Monday.

“This groundbreaking collaboration will support Marylanders interested in joining the state’s growing cannabis industry and prioritize individuals and communities directly impacted by the War on Drugs,” said Gov. Moore. “For decades, cannabis policy has been used as a cudgel. Together, we prove how cannabis policy can be used as a valuable tool to leave no one behind.”

The Cannabis Workforce Development Program – which will be offered free of charge to eligible applicants – is a joint partnership with the Maryland Cannabis Administration and the Maryland Department of Labor’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Program. The program will help reduce barriers to employment and create paths to sustainable jobs in the cannabis industry. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting July 1.

“Maryland is leading on cannabis reform and reinforcing that legalization must be accompanied by efforts to address the burdens of criminalization,” said Maryland Cannabis Administration Director Will Tilburg. “Through this program, individuals adversely impacted by cannabis criminalization will be able to receive real-time, hands-on experience and access to job placement.”

Program participants will have access to eight instructor-led, self-paced courses taught by industry experts, licensed operators, and college professors. Upon completion of 100 cumulative hours of virtual coursework and instruction, participants may enroll in a two-day intensive in-person course that provides 16 hours of hands-on occupational training. In-person training will be offered once per month beginning in November 2024 at locations across the state.

Anticipated locations and dates for the initial roll-out of the Cannabis Workforce Development Program include:

• November 2024: Baltimore Region
• December 2024: Anne Arundel County
• January 2025: Southern Region
• February 2025: Prince George’s County
• March 2025: Eastern Region
• April 2025: Western Region

“EARN promotes jobs and economic growth in Maryland, and the cannabis industry offers opportunities for entrepreneurs and career seekers,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “We wanted to prioritize that opportunity for residents who have been limited in the past by a prior cannabis-related conviction.”

In addition to receiving a grant award of $122,000 from EARN to jumpstart the program, the Maryland Cannabis Administration has secured partnerships with several licensed cannabis operators and two institutions of higher education with longstanding and celebrated records of innovative cannabis industry education and workforce development: Anne Arundel Community College and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

To learn more about the program, visit www.cannabis.maryland.gov.