Volume 18 | Issue 46 | November 22nd, 2023 | |
News for Advocates of Children, Youth, and Older Adults from Generations United | |
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We are thankful for all of you and wish you meaningful connections with friends and family of all ages during this season. Here are a few resources to reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday and to raise awareness of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage:
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We’re also giving thanks to everyone who was part of the success of our 2023 State of Grandfamilies report released earlier this month.
We’re especially thankful for the grandfamily caregivers and children of grandfamilies who offered strength and vulnerability in sharing their experiences. Their stories highlight their resilience, as well as shed light on how much work is needed to better support this strong family type - through better policies, better practices, and better research.
Read their stories and learn what we need to do to better support grandfamilies.
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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Program Spotlight - DOROT | |
DOROT, a Generations United Program of Distinction, addresses the challenges of an aging population. They serve their clients with a diverse range of programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Their intergenerational programs reflect DOROT’s commitment to bring the generations together to share stories and perspectives, learn and create together and value contributions made to each other. Service-learning programs connect students with older adults to break down the barriers of ageism, promote greater understanding and respect between generations and build intergenerational communities. DOROT serves more than 4,000 older adults each year. Their volunteer programs engage more than 6,000 individuals, family and groups to make meaningful connections with their clients. 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. | |
Announcing Our Newest Assistance Opportunity: Bridging Systems for Kinship Families | |
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We are thrilled to roll out a unique opportunity to work with the nation's leading experts on kinship families. Apply by January 30 for the chance to receive support to improve collaboration across government systems and nonprofit service providers, address service barriers, and leverage resources to maximize support of all kinship families, whether they are involved in the child welfare system or not. The Network will select two jurisdictions – states, territories, and/or large counties – and Network experts will provide in-depth support to each. The Network's support, all free of charge, will focus on collaborative goals identified by the lead agencies and their partners. Learn more.
Questions? Join us on Thursday, November 30 at 2 p.m. ET for a live Zoom call about this opportunity! Register here.
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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 Bert Hayslip for his contribution to Generations United. 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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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.
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. The 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. The 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 for children with special and/or exceptional need. Applications due Thursday, February 1, 2024, 5:00 PM ET. Learn more about the Senior Companion funding here and the Foster Grandparent funding here.
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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"It was clear that each person brought a wealth of wisdom and a unique perspective, even in the face of cognitive challenges. Listening to their stories, sharing in their joys and sorrows, and witnessing their resilience left an indelible mark on me."
— Chanel Mandap, participant of Voices in Motion
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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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