By Tina Agonva, Kentucky Youth Advocates
During the last two years the Bounce Coalition and Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky worked with kinship support group leaders and facilitators to learn more about the self-care and resilience-building needs of kinship families throughout Kentucky. We hosted multiple brainstorming sessions to deepen our understanding and to help support curriculum that we’ll be developing to aid families. What we learned will also assist in the development of trauma-informed trainings for the participating facilitators.
Through our time together Bounce’s lead trainer, Jo Cruz, created curriculum with the information shared from the facilitators to help them and all kinship support group facilitators with maintaining engagement and supplying resources. Jo utilized the Kinship Caregiver Support Group Facilitator Guide along with the Kentucky Grandparent and Relative Caregiver Handbook Relative Care Handbook. Bounce also developed survey tools to evaluate both the Training of Facilitators and the individual support group sessions on items. The surveys assess participants’ understanding of key concepts around trauma and resilience and enable participants to provide feedback on the training for continuous improvement.
We were able to create five short videos with our lead trainer, Dr. Anthony Zipple and Bounce project lead, Hannah Edelen. Each video guides viewers through quick resilience tips. We will share them through our social media channels. The videos are available for the public and located on the Bounce Coalition’s YouTube page. Listed below are titles and descriptions of each.
Description: Boost your health and wellbeing by embracing positivity in life. Get insights from Dr. Tony Zipple, Positive Psychology Coach, on how gratitude can do wonders for your wellness.
Description: Dr. Tony Zipple, Positive Psychology Coach, walks us through a quick breathing exercise to allow us to re-center ourselves during moments of impatience and frustration.
Description: Ready to break the ice? Hannah Edelen from Bounce Coalition is here with three icebreaker activities that’ll get every participant pumped and prepared to collaborate!
Description: Dr. Tony Zipple, Positive Psychology Coach, provides practical alternatives for responding to different types of conflict.
Description: Dive into the marvels of awe with Dr. Tony Zipple, our Positive Psychology Coach. Who knew there were so many benefits?
Additionally, you can see some of the feedback we received directly from kinship caregivers and support group leaders on ways we all can support kinship caregivers.
- Offer practical assistance:
- Respite care: Provide short-term childcare to give caregivers a break.
- Meal delivery: Offer to cook meals, drop off groceries, or order takeout.
- Household help: Assist with chores like laundry, yard work, or errands.
- Transportation: Offer rides to appointments, school, or other activities.
- Provide emotional support:
- Offer a listening ear: Simply being present and offering a non-judgmental space for caregivers to share their experiences can be invaluable.
- Connect them with resources: Share information about local support groups, counseling services, and financial assistance programs.
- Acknowledge their sacrifices: Let caregivers know that their efforts are appreciated and that they are making a significant difference in the lives of children.
- Advocate for their needs:
- Support policies that benefit kinship caregivers: Advocate for increased financial assistance, access to mental health services, and legal support.
- Raise awareness: Educate your community about the challenges faced by kinship caregivers and the importance of supporting them.
Every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a big difference in the lives of kinship caregivers.
