Mable, Fayette County, KY

I have temporary custody of my five (5) grandchildren and have had since 2014 for 4 of them and 2015 for the baby. I hold a full time job and my husband is home on disability. I tried to get help, everywhere I looked, I was shot down with the exception of my child care for the baby and medical cards for all the children. I applied for child support, that program doesn’t work well either. I asked for food stamps since my daughter was getting them when she had the child, I was told I made too much money. I stated, “Isn’t the food stamps for the children?” They said yes, and I said “Well they’re still here”. Needless to say, that didn’t matter either.

We have been struggling financially and were so excited that kinship was coming back, especially since it wasn’t available when we first got the children. I was at first told that we qualified for the program, then I got a letter that said we didn’t because the children had not been put in the program and then I got them out. When I tried to ask for the case to be reviewed again, I was told all decisions were final and closed. The lady did add that only Foster Parents were getting help, no grandparents. How fair is this? Our Grandchildren need just as foster children do. The Systems in Kentucky is definitely broken! I even wrote to the Governor and got a response from the Cabinet of Children & Families because it was forwarded to them! Why couldn’t the Governor at least see the email?