Chandra DeRamus

Success Story 

September 30, 2022

“Parenting Program in Hardin County Makes Positive Impacts in the Lives of Families”

Kentucky has experienced an unprecedented amount of challenges within its communities over the last year after the impact of covid-19.   Along with the challenges that developed from the covid-19 pandemic and monkey pox, families across the different communities have had to face a lot more challenging times with an economy that has been plagued with inflation and higher gas prices.  In order to address some of these challenges the state of Kentucky and its government agency’s have made a continued commitment to address those challenges by increasing funding to the Child Welfare program.  According to the Child Welfare Agency, Kentucky spent $347,689,363 in 2016 in state funds to address the needs of children and families.   Currently in 2022 legislation within Kentucky has made a push to improve the livelihood of families by increasing their investments in funding to the Department for Community Based Services workforce to support individuals working on the frontline to address the needs of families.  

Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension programs offers programs within Hardin County to address the needs of families who have experienced some challenges in providing the necessary resources for their children called the C.A.R.E. families program.  Some families within the state of Kentucky within Hardin County (Elizabethtown) get involved with court cases for the neglect of a child. As a result, in some cases the children are temporarily placed with a foster care family or with relatives who act as temporary guardians, while the parents that are involved complete the requirements to get their kids out of the foster care system.  

The C.A.R.E. family program meets the needs of the families within Hardin County by providing several classes throughout the year for families on topics such as Discipline Techniques, Keeping My Children Safe, and Brain Activity in Adolescent’s. On this year, there have been a total of about 8 families that have completed the parenting program and been able to get permanent custody of their kids back.  Several of the families that participated were involved in pending court cases where there children had been placed within the foster care system. The C.A.R.E. parenting program assisted the parents by providing educational resources on how to establish more effective discipline techniques for their children and they also learned how to manage conflict and developed some techniques on how to ensure that they are providing a safe home environment for their children.  

On average per family, most families saved about $500-$1,500 by taking the parenting classes thru Kentucky State University’s program.   That is a total of about $12,000.   That total is not including the cost on families if they decide to pay for a lawyer, court costs, lab fees for drug testing, and registration fees for other classes that they are required to take (Anger Management, Drug Rehabilitation classes, and/or Protective Parenting classes).  This program has had a tremendous impact on so many of the families who got involved with the program by increasing the number of families that are able to be reunified with their children in about 98% of the cases, and also by helping the parents to realize other goals related to getting better jobs and improving upon their personal goals on having a better lifestyle for themselves and their family.   

Furthermore, several of the participants within the parenting programs have received job promotions, improved their relationships with their children, and also started to invest more funds in the improvement of their homes for the betterment of their children.  One family decided to remodel their kid’s room as a result of what they learned from the parenting program about how a child’s home environment can stimulate their learning and increase their chances of having a longer and healthier life.   Some people involved within the program have also decided to give up drug addictions and other harmful activities that have had a negative impact on not only themselves but the livelihood of their families.  This program has definitely transformed the lives of several individuals within this community. 

In the future, the program will continue to grow within the area of Elizabethtown into some of the bordering counties.  This program is starting to expand at a gradual rate and has continued to provide educational resources to the families that get involved with the program.  We are committed to meeting the needs of families that are in this area.

Pictured Above: Parenting Program participant receives his completion certificate for completing the program with Kentucky State University. 

Pictured Above: Parenting Program participant receives his completion certificate for completing the program with Kentucky State University. 

Pictured Above: Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension, family and consumer science agent, educates participants on discipline techniques for parents.