Collect contact information from all who attend. This section highlights some of the benefits of belonging to a kinship care support group and describes the basic steps involved in organizing support groups. Web site, Census DataAdditional U.S. Census data on grandparents and grandchildren, University of Wisconsin Extension Resources, The Arizona Governor's Advisory Council on Aging--Support Group Training Manual Downloadable manual for kinship caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren, with sections on starting, leading, and conducting a support group. AARP Foundations Benefits QuickLink. (Voice/TTY) 1-800-986-5437, Special Kids Network . Human service professionals can facilitate this goal by joining together (e.g., forming local kinship care task force groups), sharing ideas and resources, and mobilizing to address the unmet needs of kinship care families. Nevertheless, kinship caregivers and the organizations that represent them must work harder to ensure that lawmakers know the many challenges and joys the caregiver families experience, particularly in areas where Pennsylvania law can be improved to promote the best interests of the child and family. Additionally, extension educators in county extension offices, located in each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, are a resource for educational publications, programs, newsletters, and individual assistance on topics including parenting, nutrition and wellness, child care, and other related areas. By Jackie Stewart. Grandparents and other relatives help keep children safe, situated in families and communities known to them. The unique feature of the grant is that only the childs income and financial resources are counted in determining the eligibility for the grant. Also, visit AARP Foundations Benefits QuickLink tool for kincare families at www.benefitscheckup.org. Enhance public awareness about the importance of kinship care issues. The benefits are limited to a period of five years. He brings to this position more than 20 years experience in personal finance issues, public policy, and consumer outreach. United for Children's RightsProvides information for families about the process of obtaining custody of children in foster care. More information about the network of parent centers that support families of children with disabilities can be found at parentcenterhub.org. Nationally, 5.5 million children are living in households headed by grandparents and other relatives. Whenever Christy C. mentions the two grandchildren who live with her, she bursts with pride. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2014, more than 13 million grandchildren lived with their grandparents. Some support groups also take on a proactive and political component as they work toward making improvements in local or state policies. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails Toni Kleckley, M.A., D.Th., is a 10-year chaplain, licensed and ordained, with her doctorate in theology and M.A. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Support groups are ways for kinship care families to assist one another. Are there any financial assistance programs that can help grandparents who are raising their grandkids? The Eck family, Terry, Sandy and Jack Jr. Terry and Sandy took custody of their grandson when he was 22 . KinKids offers: a resource directory; a training curriculum for human service professionals who work with relative caregivers and their families; a GRANDFamilies intergenerational program for relative caregivers and the children whom they are raising; a relative caregiver database; and a Warmline (412-641-4546) for telephone reassurance, support, and referral. Table 2 Selected Social Characteristics. It also describes federal programs currently available to assist them and provides 22 recommendations for better supporting kinship families and grandfamilies. Tammy holds a bachelors degree from North Carolina Central University and a masters in early childhood education administration from the University of the District of Columbia. She has worked in the kinship arena for the last 10 years, serving on various committees, taskforces, and workgroups with a focus on foster, adopted, and kinship families at the local and state levels. Assistance programs help children remain within their own families, which helps address separation anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues experienced by disrupting their home lives. Because it can be stressful, consider grandparents raising grandchildren support groups in your area. Kinship care is just what it sounds like. Lent leads the national effort to set a unified agenda and coordinates the work of organizations serving and advocating for grandfamilies. From August 2018 to January 2019, I interviewed 30 grandparents (ages 54 and older) raising grandchildren in North Carolina about their experiences feeding their families. Ask for business cards. 2511-2513)This law allows a child's legal guardian/custodian to permit a relative or family friend to consent to medical, surgical, dental, developmental, mental health, or other treatment for the child. She is the co-chair for Larimer County Alliance for Grandfamilies, a member of Generations United - GrAND Voices Network, and a member of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Implementation Team for Colorado. She is the recipient of the 2011 University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award and numerous Public Health Service awards. She is a founding and charter member of NewFound Families (previously known as FACES) and served as their vice president of kinship for more than five years. Assign specific roles such as finding a guest speaker on an area of special interest to the attendees. Talk with others who are experienced in getting services. She and her husband have been a stabilizing force in his life, and they remain committed to supporting Cameron however they can so that he can live a successful life. Your income is not considered for the child to receive help. Make a separate folder for each grandchild (kin member). Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Jaia Peterson Lent is the deputy executive director of Generations United, whose mission is to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all. Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging Web site, The Brookdale FoundationThe Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) is designed to encourage and promote the creation or expansion of services for grandparents raising grandchildren. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. When there is a question of trust, monitor the parent's behavior to be sure they are not doing anything to hurt the child or you. She previously managed her familys private practice for 17 years. Don't give up. AARP Grandparent Resource Center (GIC)Provides information about services and programs that can help improve the lives of grandparent households. This publication addresses kinship care challenges and highlights promising programs and resources available to assist grandparents and other relative caregivers and the children they are raising. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. . Save the expression of such feelings for a close friend, a spiritual advisor, a counselor or other professional, at a time and place where the children won't hear you. She is also part of the Generations United GrAND Voices Network. fact sheet developed by the AARP Pennsylvania state office. They can make referrals to counselors and psychologists, or you can visit the Pennsylvania Counseling Association website to find a professional in your community. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This section provides a brief snapshot of kinship care families in Pennsylvania and highlights the importance of learning about caregiving issues. The council was presented with an analysis of the 2019 public Request for Information (RFI), covering major areas of concern faced by Kinship and Grandfamilies within the U.S such as legal and financial resources. As appropriate, encourage the mother and/or father to talk directly with the child, even if it means paying close attention to what is being said and what is happening during the interaction. 1U.S. There are an estimated 202,000 children in Pennsylvania who live in households. As the mother of a young adult with a disability, Carmen is keenly aware of the importance of supporting families so that all members may grow and thrive. When such changes occur, there are steps kinship care providers can take to help themselves and others cope and maintain healthy relationships. This can be because their children cannot take care of them because of substance abuse, incarceration, mental illness, death, or other reasons. Many of the families in their county have suffered tremendously due to poverty, emotional and physical health issues, and lack of supports. Pennsylvania ranks seventh among the states in terms of number of children living in grandparent-headed households, with over 164,000 children fitting into this category1. Request the names and phone numbers of other organizations that may help. If your grandkids need health insurance, depending on your income level, you may be able to get free or low-cost health insurance through your states Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program. This section provides information about current kinship care laws in Pennsylvania and where families can go for help. Camerons father filed a custody petition, but after two years in family court, Charlotte was able hold onto Cameron and keep him out of harms way. In some counties, human service agencies are coming together, sharing ideas and resources, and offering innovative services designed to support grandparents and other relatives raising children. The Advisory Council will establish a process for obtaining public input to inform the development of both the initial report and the subsequent update. This report will be delivered to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Congress, and the state agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs. Learn More. Stat. Ask for publications 501, 503, 596, 970, 972. Resources The Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Center compiles free and online legal resources in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system. Family and Community Service of Delaware County Website: www.fcsdc.org Phone: 610-566-7540 (Media office) Anyone can see the surface view of a grandparent raising a grandchild, things like putting off retirement due to financial strain, finding childcare, forgoing personal time or interests, being the oldest PTA volunteer, or having a unique family structure. Note if the line is busy, when no one answers, or you leave a message and no one returns your calls. Talk with your spouse or partner about ways to help with the children's care, and be willing to accept help when it is offered. In addition to the state's child guardianship and custody laws, the following laws may be helpful to kinship caregivers: Medical Consent (11 PA Cons. Her passion continues to be driven by her relationship with the GrAND Voices caregiver network who guide the work of Generations United. Thankfully, there are programs available that give you the support you need to provide your family with a better Free Financial Help Services, Inc. is an organization dedicated to assimilating vital financial resources that help low-income families find help paying bills and maintain stability. For more information or to learn how to fill out the grant application, contact the New York State Kinship Navigator at: Her passion is to build robust and lasting support networks where guardians can locate immediate assistance. CE Approval Collaborative Approval Period: Tuesday, July 12, 2022 through August 31, 2024. An agency worker may leave, files may get misplaced, or you may relocate your residence. In 2017, Lent was named one of the Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. Grandparents and other relatives help keep children safe, situated in families and communities known to them. In the meantime, please feel free Grandparents parenting grandchildren: extent of situation, issues involved, and educational implications. Please visit the links below to view the meeting presentations, live stream recording, and a summary of the meeting outcomes. Plan on contacting them weekly. 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