Barbara Graham, Jefferson County, KY

I have custody of my 3 grandsons belonging to my son. They were living with their mother and their father due to criminal record issues was unable to have custody of them and plus I would have objected due to he is documented bi-polar. This is the second time that we (my partner and I) have had custody of the boys. The first time was for 6 months in 2013. I went to pick up the boys to spend some time with me and as I was getting them ready to leave their mother’s home, cps and the police came in and remove them from the home. It was a very devastating moment in my life to see my babies walk away with strangers. This time we have had them since 2015.

I guess I am writing this because there is a serious resource problem for kinship families. After the cps case was dropped I was never contacted by anyone else concerning the boy’s case so I am guessing we have full custody, I just don’t know. I was very discouraged when I found out I wouldn’t qualify for the kinship care due to I didn’t let my Grandchildren go to foster care before coming to the haven of my home. The first time I had no choice in the matter and I qualified for the kinship care. In the midst of taking care of the kids and settling them into a stable home environment, we found out the boys have serious learning disabilities and health issues that have caused me to loose my jobs due to taking off to care for them going to doctor appointments and specialist or attending school meetings, on which I gave no second thought. We do receive K-tap and food stamps but without the support of my partner, I don’t know where we would be.

I truly think it is unfair that the system would rather pay strangers than to help family’s care for their own because even though we love them with everything we have, it takes all the resources we can get to keep them happy, healthy, and safe. I really appreciate all the voices that are speaking up for the kinship families in Frankfort.

Thank you for listening.

Barbara Graham