Author: Diana Doggett
Planning Unit: Fayette County CES
Major Program: Family Development General
Plan of Work: Making healthy Lifestyle Choices and Citizen Education
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Kentucky has the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the nation and ranked 5th for the number of children in care of grandparents. Approximately 44,000 are living in homes led by grandparents (datacenter.kidscount.org/data). Caregivers face many challenges as they strive to develop healthy relationships with children who have experienced significant loss, pain and disappointment. The needs of children can be overwhelming and COVID 19 generated isolation and limited access to resources. The Bluegrass Regional Grandparents As Parents (GAP) Coalition annual GAP Conference also had to be postponed due to the pandemic. As a result, coalition member Fayette County Extension planned, marketed and virtually produced the first virtual statewide seminar in March 2021. Norma Hatfield, Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky President, presented ‘Kinship Care, Advocacy and Taking Care of the Caregiver’ to 121 relatives, grandparents and professionals ranging in age from 39-70+. The following impact was based upon a pre and post surveys:
Knowledge of types of kinship care: 88% lacked prior knowledge/93% significantly increased knowledge
Advocacy: 84% lacked prior knowledge/86% significantly increased knowledge
Taking Care of the Caregiver: 83% lacked prior knowledge/88% increased knowledge
Ninety percent stated that would share information with other; 50% committed to advocacy; 57% utilized available seminar resources; and 31% made inquiries relative to local support groups.
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