Kinship Care in Kentucky | Sen. Julie Raque Adams & Norma Hatfield | Sunrise & Beyond Ep. 3

Did you know that 60,000 children woke up today in Kentucky living in kinship care—being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members because they couldn't stay at home? That's enough children to fill an entire college football stadium.    In Episode 3 of Sunrise and Beyond, host Dr. Terry Brooks sits down with State Senator Julie Raque Adams and statewide kinship advocate Norma Hatfield for a powerful, deeply moving conversation on the state of kinship care in the Commonwealth. Together, they explore how personal faith drives public service, the origin of Kentucky's landmark kinship legislation (Senate Bill 151), the daily struggles kinship caregivers face with red tape and financial support, and practical ways everyday citizens and faith communities can step up to surround these families.    ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro & The 60,000 Kids in Kinship Care 01:45 - Welcome Senator Julie Raque Adams & Advocate Norma Hatfield 04:17 - Faith in Action: Servanthood & Responsibility in Public Office 07:30 - "What Is My Purpose?": Norma’s Journey into Kinship Care 10:30 - Kinship Care: A Neglected Feature of Child Welfare 12:30 - The Genesis of Senate Bill 151: Passing Policy Unanimously 16:28 - The 4 Core Needs of Caregivers: Financial, Respite, Legal & Mental Health 20:16 - Crisis Decisions & Informed Consent: The 10 PM Knock on the Door 24:25 - Looking Ahead: Scouring Regulations & Policy for 2027 26:30 - Boots on the Ground: How Churches & Communities Can Help 29:00 - Influencing Frankfort: Connecting with Your State Legislators    👥 GUESTS & HOST IN THIS EPISODE: • Senator Julie Raque Adams – Kentucky State Senator for District 36, longtime advocate for children and families, and sponsor of key kinship legislation. • Norma Hatfield – Statewide Kinship Advocate, President of the Kentucky Kinship Care Coalition, and grandmother raising her grandchildren. • Dr. Terry Brooks (Host) – Nationally acclaimed youth advocate and Executive Vice President and Ambassador for Sunrise.    📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS & TOPICS: • Faith & Servanthood: Sen. Raque Adams shares how her Catholic faith and parental upbringing instilled a duty to serve vulnerable families in government. • Life-Altering Phone Calls: Norma Hatfield details her personal story of stepping up to raise her grandchildren and discovering the widespread lack of resources for kinship families. • Informed Consent vs. Red Tape: Why caregivers need time to process placement options rather than signing away crucial financial resources during a midnight crisis. • The 4 Primary Obstacles: Addressing the urgent need for financial support, respite care, legal representation, and mental health counseling for grandfamilies. • Activating the Community: Simple, actionable ways churches and individuals can help—from casserole ministries and gas cards to advocacy in Frankfort.    🔔 CONNECT WITH SUNRISE CHILDREN'S SERVICES: 🌐 Website: www.sunrise.org 📲 Facebook: www.facebook.com/SunriseKidsKY 📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunrisekidsky #SunriseAndBeyond #KinshipCare #JulieRaqueAdams #NormaHatfield #DrTerryBrooks #Grandfamilies #ChildWelfare #KentuckyPolicy