Volume 17 | Issue 45 | November 2, 2022

Generations This Week

News for Advocates of Children, Youth, and Older Adults from Generations United

Visit our Website
Make a Donation

TODAY: 2022 State of Grandfamilies Report Release Event

There are more than 2.5 million children in the U.S. growing up in “grandfamilies,” meaning they are being raised by relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.) or close family friends without their parents in the home. Research shows grandfamilies are the best option for children who can’t be raised by their parents. Yet, 25% of grandparent-headed households with grandchildren and no parent present experienced food insecurity. That is more than twice the national rate.


Today, we released the 2022 State of Grandfamilies Report Together at the Table: Supporting the Nutrition, Health, and Well-Being of Grandfamilies which includes the latest findings on grandfamilies facing high rates of hunger and food insecurity, as well as policy recommendations to help feed grandfamilies. Read the report to explore the data and learn why we need to change current policies to ensure access to adequate nutritious food for grandparents.


We are hosting a launch event today at 12:30 pm ET, which will bring together a diverse set of advocates and grandfamily members to discuss key report findings, new data, and grandfamily stories around food insecurity. The event will be held in-person at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and simultaneously live streamed. You can register to watch the live stream here.

Shared Site Learning Network - Next Meeting Nov. 10


Join us for the next meeting of the Shared Site Learning Network on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET. The topic will be strategies for funding and sustaining intergenerational programs. In addition to time for conversation and questions, the session will include a presentation by Dr. Derenda Schubert, executive director of Bridge Meadows. With the support of The Eisner Foundation, our Shared Site Learning Network brings together practitioners who are interested in connecting with others about intergenerational shared sites. Register today.

The Eisner Foundation New York City Grant Application is Now Open


Last year, The Eisner Foundation expanded its grantmaking to New York City for the first time, awarding 13 grants to new partners doing intergenerational work. The New York City application is now open! Nonprofit organizations with intergenerational efforts operating in one or more of New York's five boroughs are encouraged to apply no later than January 15, 2023. Review the criteria and guidelines here, and begin your application here.

The 22nd Global Intergenerational Conference is coming - July 26-28, 2023


Generations United's Global Intergenerational Conference will be held July 26-28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Be sure to save the dates and start planning to join us. This will be our first in-person conference since 2019 and the first time back in D.C. in 10 years. Bookmark the conference website for updates. Want to help make the 2023 conference an incredible success? Join our Program Committee! Please complete this form to volunteer. 

Thank You to Our Members and Supporters

A very special thank you to Generations United Board Member Cody Burch for his donation.


Consider making a donation today to help unleash the potential of a society that values all generations. If you're an organization, join us!

Upcoming Webinar


The Network's November webinar, "Legal Relationships and Public Benefits for Kinship/Grandfamilies," will take place on Thursday, November 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. Our presenters for this webinar are Ana Beltran, JD, the director of the Network, and Heidi Redlich Epstein, the director of Kinship Policy and State Projects at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. Register today!

Visit the Network's New Website

The Network has launched its new website, https://GKSNetwork.org! Check it out to find a variety of resources. Our resource library will keep growing, so please visit often to discover more. Visit now!

Apply Today for an Exemplary Kinship/Grandfamilies Policy, Practice, and Program Designation

READY FOR RECOGNITION? The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network wants to lift up your exemplary policy, practice, or program!

The Network is seeking to identify and designate exemplary kinship/grandfamilies policies, practices, and programs to elevate good work and share exemplary strategies with others. The Network encourages applications from government agencies in states, tribes, and territories, as well as private kinship navigator programs and other community-based organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Apply today! Learn more.

Technical Assistance Requests

As always, the Network is accepting individual technical assistance (TA) requests from professionals who work in systems or organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Fill out the TA request 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.

Culture United - Young Plato


This heartwarming documentary tells the story of a boy's school in Northern Ireland and its devoted principal, an older adult who believes in the power of the classics and nonviolence. Watch a trailer and read a review.


Playing in select theaters

Principal Kevin McArevey in a scene from the documentary "Young Plato."

Culture United highlights films, books, music, TV shows, and art with an intergenerational theme. Do you have any suggestions? Share them with us, and we will share in the weeks and months to come. We welcome responses or reactions. See disclaimer.

Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities

The Wallace Foundation is seeking expressions of interest from groups of organizations that are working together to promote youth development, are seeking financial support to strengthen their work, and can help determine new directions for its Learning and Enrichment programs. Each group of organizations selected will receive grants averaging $200,000 for a year of work, as well as access to other supports such as peer learning and technical assistance. Expressions of interest are due by November 4. Learn more. 


The AmeriCorps State and National American Rescue Plan Planning Grants provide support to develop an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members in implementing evidence-based interventions to solve community problems. Priority is given to organizations leading service in rural communities, tribal communities, communities with concentrated poverty, and those organizations serving historically underrepresented and underserved individuals. The application deadline is November 14. Learn more.


The Panera Bread Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that provide access to programs for at-risk, underserved, or historically underrepresented children and youth. (Part of the services provided must be within 25 miles of a Panera U.S. location.) Eligible organizations can apply for grants between $25,000 and $150,000. The application deadline is November 14, 2022. Visit the Panera Bread website for more information on the Foundation and apply online.


Panera's Day-End Dough-Nation program donates unsold bread, bagels, and baked goods from Panera's bakery-cafes to local nonprofit organizations, public schools, and religious organizations. Applicants must distribute the donated products to people in need, people who are ill, or to underserved and at-risk children and youth and must commit to picking up and distributing the donations on a weekly and continuous basis. Organizations who are interested in the program can apply online.


Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children is a Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity (SNOFO) from the Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Operations (ORR/DUCO) within the Administration for Children and Families.It is designed to support long-term foster care providers. Applications are due by November 29. Learn more.


The Actors' Equity Foundation Theatre Grants are awarded to theatres which have a current 501c3 tax exempt status, an established artistic and administrative track record, a history of fiscal responsibility, and have worked to improve the state of the theatre. Applications must be submitted by November 30. Learn more. 


T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million five-year initiative, which began in April 2021, to support the people and organizations that help small towns across America thrive and grow. T-Mobile is putting out the call again for potential new awardees. Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basisLearn more.


The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns across the United States to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or partner organization. Applying organizations must be from communities with populations of 2,500 to 30,000. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all grants have been awarded. Learn more.


If you have—or know of—any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to [email protected].

Think Intergenerational - Great Resources

Call for Practice Briefs - GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy 


Do you run a program for grandfamilies and other kinship caregivers? The National Research Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren's online journal, GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy, invites practitioners to submit a short summary of their program including:

  • Name and location
  • Program conceptualization and purpose
  • Services for caregivers and youth
  • Challenges encountered and how barriers were overcome
  • Accomplishments and successes 
  • Tips for other providers and lessons learned 


The submission deadline is December 15, 2022. Submissions should have an approximate total word count of 2500. Completed manuscripts should be submitted online. Any questions about submissions can be sent to co-managing editor Dr. Deborah Langosch at [email protected]

Generations United Resources

Racial Equity Toolkits are designed to give resources and tips to child welfare agencies, other government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, so they can better serve all grandfamilies. Generations United has produced a toolkit for American Indian and Alaska Native grandfamilies, African-American grandfamilies, and Latino grandfamilies. 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.

"All grandfamilies should be able to easily get food for the children they are raising. I fight for the grandparents and great-grandparents and aunts and uncles, sisters, brothers, family friends—I fight for anybody who wants to take care of the child.”


Alice Carter, grandfamily caregiver

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 [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

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.

Click here for your free subscription
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Youtube