Volume 18 | Issue 48 | December 6, 2023 | |
News for Advocates of Children, Youth, and Older Adults from Generations United | |
Check Out the 2023 State of Grandfamilies Report
The 2023 State of Grandfamilies report, Building Resilience: Supporting Grandfamilies' Mental Health and Wellness, brings attention to the mental health and emotional wellness of grandfamilies, sheds light on their resilience and the challenges they face, and provides innovative solutions and resources to better support them. The report also includes policy and program recommendations for strengthening these incredible families.
Download the report and the release event materials and recordings.
Thanks to The Brookdale Foundation Group for making this report and event possible, and to Centene Corporation for their valuable support!
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Plaza West Grandfamily Gift Drive | |
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Generations United is partnering with Mount Vernon Triangle CID to support their holiday drive to bring in donations for the families at Plaza West, an innovative affordable housing development serving grandparents raising grandkids in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. The unique development has 50 units for grandfamilies. Plaza West also served as the site visit location during Generations United's Global Intergenerational Conference this year.
Spread joy this holiday season by contributing to the Plaza West Grandfamily Gift Drive! Learn more.
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Program Spotlight - Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative | |
The mission of Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI), a Generations United Program of Distinction, is to forge intergenerational relationships and community partnerships that promote social justice and help build resilience in and improve the lives of children, youth, families, and older adults. They partner with more than 30 organizations to engage in Neighborhood Action and deliver mentoring and conversation programs for youth, an English conversation program for adult language learners, and an early literacy program. They leverage the expertise and experience of more than 125 older adult volunteers to lead programs, mentor youth, advocate for equity, and support the organization in all kinds of ways. GBCI monitors their effectiveness through reflection and evaluation, which guides their strategic planning, reporting, and program modifications. Learn more. | |
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Each week, Generations United is spotlighting a recipient of our Intergenerational Program Certification. The certification is an annual recognition of outstanding programs bringing older and younger participants together and is based on rigorous standards of program effectiveness and sustainability. Learn more about the Intergenerational Program Certification here. | |
Navigating Family Dynamics in Kinship Families: Tips for Service Providers | |
In this tip sheet, Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network Subject Matter Expert Dr. Joseph Crumbley offers strategies that you can use to help kin/grandfamily caregivers adjust and adapt as they navigate new family dynamics in their role as primary caregivers. Learn more. | |
Accepting Requests for Assistance | |
As always, the Network is accepting individual requests for assistance from professionals who work in systems or organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Fill out the request assistance form to receive support from our team. Learn more and sign up to access our resources! | |
The Network is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $9,950,000 with 95 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $523,684 and 5 percentage funded by non-government sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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Thank You to Our Members and Supporters | Thank you to Barb Quaintance for her contribution. Thank you to all our members and supporters! Consider making a donation today to help unleash the potential of a society that values all generations. If you're an organization, join us! | | | |
Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities | |
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Bob Woodruff Foundation provides support for programs and services that serve the military and veteran community in the United States. The focus is on programs that improve the health and well-being of service members, veterans, and their families and caregivers; improve social determinants of health; decrease barriers to accessing physical and mental healthcare; increase accessibility to programming that fosters a healthy lifestyle; and enhance opportunities for veterans to thrive after service. Nonprofit organizations providing direct services to the military and veteran population are eligible to apply. Application deadline: January 11, 2024. Learn more.
ArtsHERE, a new grantmaking initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with South Arts and collaboration with the five other U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, supports increased opportunities for arts participation in the United States. ArtsHERE will invest in a range of projects from organizations throughout arts and cultural ecosystems that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming and undertaken consistent engagement with underserved groups and communities. Grants will be provided for specific projects to strengthen each organization’s capacity to sustain meaningful community engagement and increase arts participation for underserved groups and communities. In addition, grantees have access to peer learning and technical assistance opportunities. Application deadline: January 19, 2024 for statements of interest. Learn more.
AmeriCorps Seniors invites organizations to submit applications for the FY 2024 Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs. These funding opportunities specifically help AmeriCorps Seniors focus Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent projects on issues that are critical to communities and help expand the programs to more geographies. AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program grants must establish programming that engages adults fifty-five (55) years and older to serve as volunteers who help seniors live independently. AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program grants must provide and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged people, especially children and particularly children with special and/or exceptional need. Applications deadline: Thursday, February 1, 2024, 5:00 PM ET. Learn more about Senior Companion funding here and Foster Grandparent funding here.
Life Comes From It is a grantmaking and movement-building circle that supports grassroots work led by people of color in the United States. Funding is provided for projects and collaborations led by people of color that focus on restorative justice, transformative justice, Indigenous peacemaking, and land-based projects. The aim is to support work committed to replacing criminalization and incarceration with alternative approaches to address violence and repair harm, and prioritizing peacemaking development and Indigenous initiatives led by Native people. Grants are typically unrestricted and for general operating costs. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply. Application deadline: None for introductions. Learn more.
If you have—or know of—any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to gu@gu.org.
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Think Intergenerational - Great Resources | |
Generations United Resources | |
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Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness In Intergenerational Programs is a new report from Generations United that highlights the intentional and creative ways that organizations combat systemic racism by prioritizing the voices and lived experiences of diverse staff and participants in their practices. Available in English and Spanish. Learn more.
Generations United has updated our Children Thrive in Grandfamilies Fact Sheet, a resource that provides key facts about how children do in the care of relatives and a list of research articles to support the facts. Learn more.
17 New State-Specific Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Charts Are Now Available! These comparison charts help grandfamilies understand the difference between adoption and guardianship for children leaving foster care to permanency with relatives, made possible with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Learn more.
Sharing Our Space: A Toolkit for Developing and Enhancing Intergenerational Shared Sites is designed for individuals and organizations interested in creating an intergenerational shared site or enhancing services at their current site. Divided into 10 sections, the toolkit details every step of the development and operation process, from initial planning to sustaining long-term shared site programs. Learn more.
Making the Case for Intergenerational Programs provides rationale and facts to help make the case for intergenerational programs. It is based on a comprehensive review of the literature on intergenerational programs and highlights evidence-based findings on how intergenerational programs benefit everyone. There is also an accompanying fact sheet available in English and Spanish. Learn more.
Staying Healthy Across Generations: Vaccines are Essential for All Ages is an infographic that illustrates that vaccines aren't just for kids - they protect all generations, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying up to date on vaccines for the flu, pneumonia, and whooping cough is important to protect both older adults and children. Learn more.
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"OMEGA is a reminder to all of us that there are new generations committed to intergenerational solutions, not only for the challenges of aging, but also for unlocking the opportunities of living longer."
— Michael E. Festa, state director of AARP Massachusetts
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We want Generations This Week to be a resource for you. Please send us any national news on intergenerational issues in addition to upcoming conferences, funding opportunities, research, reports, and webinars. You can connect with other intergenerational enthusiasts through our Facebook group. Please also let us know how we can improve! Email us at gu@gu.org. We'd love to hear from you! | |
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Treat Yourself GRAND!
As a reader of Generations This Week, you are eligible to receive a complimentary subscription to GRAND - The Lifestyle Magazine for Awesome Grandparents.
That's a $26 value for 12 issues delivered right to your inbox. Get valuable offers and inspirational articles like our column on GRAND Families, and more.
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