According to the Kentucky Youth Advocates, 70% of Bell County children live in low income families. In 2018, 23.8, per 1,000 Bell County children lives in a foster home and only 125 were reunited with their families. Grandparents and other relatives attempt to hold their families together by raising children when their parents cannot.

In efforts to support and educate them, the Bell County Family and Consumer Science Agent is partnering with Youth Service Centers and other community members to create a support system for these families.  The Youth Service Centers identified over a hundred of families in the county who would benefit from this support group. The Second Time Around Family Support Group was formed and the first meeting was held in February. Families identified needs and topics they would like to have covered during their first meetings. Using publications from UK, inviting guest speakers and using the Parenting A Second Time Around training materials will help address their needs.

Families are excited to have the support group formed and look forward to being able to talk with others in the same situation as them. One participant stated that “it will be nice to know where to find resources, and know where to go for help/assistance.