. Lent leads the national effort to set a unified agenda and coordinates the work of organizations serving and advocating for grandfamilies. Relocating back to Kentucky with the grandchildren, Ms. Begay began attending a local Grandparents as Parent (GAP) group where she learned how little support was available for grandparents. Friends, family, neighbors, and church members can be powerful sources of support. There are even education-related tax credits that can help your grandkids go to college, like the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. It is important to keep in mind that law and policies change and are subject to different interpretations. Your family and friends care about you and may be willing to help, but you may have to ask. Contact: Kathy Schank, 610-566-7540 or visit the FCSDC Web site, Offered by Generations Together at the University of Pittsburgh, this program serves relative caregivers and the children whom they are raising in Allegheny County. . This Penn State Extension publication was written by Matthew Kaplan, associate professor, Penn State; Nancy Crago, former Penn State Extension family and consumer sciences educator; Caroline Crocoll, national program leader for family life and human development, USDA/CSREES; Jim McCrea, executive director, Generations Together; and Brent Elrod, manager, Policy and Program, Generations United. 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. They can receive Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) on behalf of the child, foster care reimbursements, or guardianship subsidies. Her passion is to build robust and lasting support networks where guardians can locate immediate assistance. She also oversees the Preschool Development Grants (PDG); Preschool Pay for Success (PFS) Initiative; Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) and the Ready to Learn Television (RTL) grant programs. She is a trusted voice on Capitol Hill on issues related to grandfamilies and intergenerational cohesion, having testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and in several briefings. People want to help but can't if they aren't aware of your need. . Grandparents parenting grandchildren: extent of situation, issues involved, and educational implications. Feb 15, 2011 at 5:18 pm. The grant is provided through state and local governments and can provide up to $400 per month for one child and $125 for each additional child in a kincare family (the amount varies by region). By learning more about these families and their unique needs, communities can better coordinate a continuum of service options. If you don't find what you need, keep looking. When a grandparent has to raise a grandchild, it adds additional stress on older people. Provide kinship care families with encouragement and information about resources they can draw upon. See InsureKidsNow.gov or call 877-543-7669 for more information. Let the group decide the time, length, and place of future meetings. Ask for business cards. You can also call the IRS publication line at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you the publications that further explain the aforementioned benefits. Apply online. Bette maintains contact with more than 30 of her former foster children. Set Boundaries. As grandparents step us to raise their grandchildren, this lessens the burden on an already stressed foster care system. This section provides a brief snapshot of kinship care families in Pennsylvania and highlights the importance of learning about caregiving issues. Eligibility, How to Apply In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails 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. This resource guide will tell you where to find the help you need. To meet the unique needs of kinship care families in Pennsylvania, exciting ideas are taking root. She is a board member on the Fairfax County Virginia Kinship Family Institute and was instrumental in its founding. American Community Survey: 2003 Multi-Year Profile for United States. She oversees its work providing technical assistance on grandfamilies issues. 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. 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. Your certificate(s) of completion have been emailed to . Grandparents raising grandchildren. The program addresses the unique needs of kinship care families by incorporating emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions of wellness. The providers terms, conditions and policies apply. How will refreshments be provided? Other times, caregivers may feel so overwhelmed or depressed that a helping professional should be contacted. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Prior to joining the Department of Education, Carmen worked for local government providing information and referrals on disability issues across the lifespan. Once you decide that you may benefit from contacting an agency, do not put it off. The third highlight of the meeting was an open forum for Council members to reflect on the report and shifting focus to the development of a National Family Caregiving Strategy that closely aligns with the Councils five goals. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Regardless of how you feel about the child's parent, never talk about the parent disrespectfully in front of the child. Navigator Program in your state. She is the recipient of the 2011 University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award and numerous Public Health Service awards. Visitors to this Web site can get county-specific information about helpful resources for kinship care families offered by local organizations. Eligibility for financial assistance based on household income. Web site. OH, and presents resources for relative caregivers on financial assistance, Medicaid, child support, after-school care, licensing, and permanency incentives. Guardianship is the form of grandparent custody that gives grandparents the most rights without the actual adoption of the grandchildren. To conclude the meeting the council was able to come to a consensus on recommendations covering the span of five areas of concern that will be applicable to the National Caregiver Strategy and wellbeing of Kinship families and Grandfamilies. Of course the answer was yes, but shortly after the children arrived, the Olsons discovered that no services followed, and very little was available since Minnesota was not the state that removed the children. When such changes occur, there are steps kinship care providers can take to help themselves and others cope and maintain healthy relationships. 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. Over 3 million grandparents are now responsible for the care and raising of their grandchildren. E-mail: gic@aarp.org. 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. . By Jackie Stewart. On September 21, 2022, the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was delivered to Congress. These general descriptions are not intended as legal advice in any particular situation. Her passion continues to be driven by her relationship with the GrAND Voices caregiver network who guide the work of Generations United. Publicize meetings through posters, flyers, press releases, ads, announcements or letters-to-the-editor in newspapers, local TV, and radio. 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. Standby Guardianship (23 PA Cons. Which means, unless the child has their own source of income, and the vast majority do not, almost all kincare families should be receiving the grant. Use this folder to store all your notes and records about your grandchild. Generations United (GU) National Center on Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising ChildrenSeeks to improve the quality of life of kinship caregivers and the children they are raising. Sarah is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Bar Association of Erie County, Bar Association of Niagara County, Women Lawyers of Western New York, and the Womens Bar Association of Western New York. AARP Grandparent Resource Center (GIC)Provides information about services and programs that can help improve the lives of grandparent households. Establishing intergenerational strategies for civic engagement and environmental design. Limiting the duration of visits in a month or determining which days or times should be avoided will . Free online workshop! Are there any financial assistance programs that can help grandparents who are raising their grandkids? related to AARP volunteering. Decide what kinds of activities and speakers you would like to have. With no assistance from the child welfare system, they have overcome what many said was impossible. As an organization focused on promoting intergenerational programs and policies, GU addresses the issue of relatives raising children from the perspectives of both the young and old. In that position, she led policy advocacy with federal agencies and Congress and legal advocacy nationally to advance community living and inclusion, including in the areas of healthcare, Medicaid home- and community-based services, employment, housing, and education. Request the names and phone numbers of other organizations that may help. You can see a doctor and receive medications without cost. Find a convenient and safe meeting place for a one- to two-hour meeting, such as a library, community center, faith-based group, hospital, social service agency, YMCA/YWCA, bank, or fraternal organization. Contact: A Second Chance, 412-665-2300; A Second Chance Web site. 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