According to Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, 96,000 Kentucky kids live in kinship care. Kinship care may be informal or may involve the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). In many cases, grandparents and even great-grandparents have stepped up to help raise children when they cannot remain safely with their parents.

The Marshall County Family & Consumer Sciences agent, Family Resource Youth Services Center directors and the Marshall County Resiliency Center are working together to provide a safe environment for networking and education for these caregivers. Currently, 15 families are meeting monthly to share and process the ongoing changes that have and continue to occur within their families. They are sharing disappointments, frustrations, sadness and loss with others experiencing similar emotions. Utilizing the 'Parenting a Second Time Around' (PASTA) curriculum, families are learning skills and strategies that equip them to manage the sometimes overwhelming feelings of everyday living. Topics dealing with child development, emotions, discipline, and others open up discussion for how to set healthy boundaries and maintain harmony within the family.

Networking with other caregiver families has been well-received. Connecting with Family Resource staff has also been very beneficial. Many grandparents had no knowledge of who to contact in the school system that could connect them to valuable community resources. One participant remarked that she had no idea so many people cared about her family and was willing to lend a hand during such a stressful life-changing time.

Plans to continue the program through the summer months will include the children with special activities planned for the local library and park system.