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Volume 12, Issue 38
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September 20, 2017
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Help Grandfamilies Affected by Hurricanes
Our hearts go out to the hurricane victims. One relief effort helping grandfamilies near Houston, TX, recover is the Gulf Coast Grandparents As Parents Program. Please consider making a contribution.
Donations to help can be made by check to Gulf Coast GAP and mailed to Gulf Coast GAP, C/O First United Methodist Church, 219 North Arcola St., Angleton, TX 77515
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Learn more about the program
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New Report Highlights the Role of Grandfamilies in Mitigating Trauma
At last week's (Sept. 13) reception on Washington, DC's Capitol Hill, Generations United released our 2017 State of Grandfamilies report,
In Loving Arms: The Protective Role of Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Exposed to Trauma. This fourth edition of the annual State of Grandfamilies in America report highlighted grandparents and other relatives who step in to care for children and the important role they play in mitigating trauma, which children in the child welfare system experience at starkly higher rates than the general population. The report offers recommendations on ways policymakers, advocates and professionals serving children can support grandfamilies. We also honored
Senator Susan Collins and
Senator Bob Casey with Generations United's Grandfamilies Champion Awards. Special thank you to our Board member,
Karyne Jones (president and CEO of National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.) who emceed our event.
See our Storify recap!
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Senator Susan Collins Senator Bob Casey
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- Reform federal child welfare financing to provide more trauma-informed support to prevent children from entering or re-entering foster care
- Increase availability of and access to trauma training and supports designed for grandfamilies
- Address barriers to licensing relatives as foster parents
- Ensure grandfamilies not licensed as foster parents can access financial assistance to meet children's needs
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Generations United an Eisner Foundation Grantee
Generations United thanks The Eisner Foundation for its financial support to expand intergenerational programming. We're thrilled to be working with experts at Ohio State University on an intergenerational field-building project.
Learn more
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 Generations United in the News
- WGAM did a story on Senator Susan Collins receiving Generations United's Grandfamilies Champion Award. Learn more
- In their Huffington Post blog, Donna Butts and our strategic advisor, Bob Blancato (executive director at National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Program (NANASP), urge families to use the fall season to protect their health. Read more.
- The Press highlighted St. Anne's Village respite care center. The article mentioned Generations United. Read the article.
- In his article for the Kokomo Evening News and Tribune, George Myers profiled Indiana's grandparents raising grandchildren because of the opioid epidemic. The article quoted Jaia Peterson Lent's testimony before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in March. Learn more.
- WKMG Orlando reported on babies and youth impacted by the opioid epidemic. The article cited a Generations United report. Read more
- WSLS did a story on grandparents raising children orphaned by the opioid crisis. The article cited an interview Donna did with the AARP Bulletin. Read the article.
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A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters
We thank our new member,
Harbor Housse of Louisville, for their contribution. We also thank
Donna Butts who gave in honor of "the little engine that could." You can also contribute and/or honor a friend or loved one with a Tribute Gift to Generations United.
T
ogether, we are building a world that values all generations!
Donate to help us unleash the potential of an "age-amped" society.
If you're an organization,
join us
!
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Policy Update
Despite the groundswell of resistance that helped defeat threats to health care over the spring and summer, repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and slashing Medicaid funding are back on the Senate agenda. The proposed "Graham-Cassidy bill, " which the co-sponsors seek to pass by the end of the month, would leave millions of Americans of all ages uninsured, destabilize the individual insurance market, and slash Medicaid. Learn more about the harmful impact of the proposed legislation on children, youth and older adults. Contact your legislators today to tell them to vote no on Graham-Cassidy and protect Medicaid. Here's how. |
Sign Up for Our Grand Voices Newsletter!
Grand Voices is a quarterly e-resource for
grandfamily
advocates and their allies distributed by Generations United's National Center on Grandfamilies. Each issue highlights key resources, policy updates, action opportunities, and programs to inspire and improve services and supports to grandfamilies across the U.S. Check out our first issue, then sign up today!
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Grandparents: Sharing the Care
In 2017, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation,
ZERO TO THREE
conducted focus groups with grandparents to learn more about the joys and challenges of "sharing the care."
Generations United served as an advisor on the project. These resources were developed to share what was learned, with information designed both for grandparents and for organizations that serve grandparents and young families.
Learn more
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#TakeAGrandie for Intergenerational Month!
What's a grandie? An Intergenerational selfie, of course! Why not #TakeAGrandie during Intergenerational Month with someone of a different generation and let us know by tagging Generations United on
Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram.
Learn more
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#BandAGEofHonor Campaign
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Click the image to play the video.
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This video testimonial, in which
Tom Taylor reflects on the polio virus and why he talks with his grandson about vaccinations, is part of
Valuing Vaccinations Across Generations, an awareness-raising campaign that promotes vaccines for all ages. In the United States, the campaign started in partnerships between Generations United, the Gerontological Society of America and the American Academy of Pediatrics with support from Pfizer.
Watch Tom's video.
Generations United is expanding its international campaign as we continue working with teams led by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute on Gerontology (TMIG) in Japan and the University of Granada - Business Sector Foundation in Spain. Follow
#bandAGEofhonor and
learn more about our campaign.
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Call for Papers - GrandFamilies Journal
The editors of
GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy invite authors to submit manuscripts that examine new or emerging practice methodologies, program evaluation and policy perspectives related to grandparent-headed families.
Learn more
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Critical Bridge/Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo
This week's cool idea is
Critical Bridge/Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo, an Encore Prize Finalist based in San Jose, CA. The Mayor's office connects youth from underserved communities with 50+ mentors, providing a critical bridge for youth in their pursuit of jobs and continuing education.
Learn more
Got something cool you tried that was successful? Why not tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas? You can also post them to our Intergenerational Connections Facebook Group. We want to highlight innovative age-optimized programs and practices through our blog, social media and weekly e-newsletter! Share the inspiration.
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In the spring of 1980, a teenager is gunned down in the streets of Flatbush, Brooklyn. The police pressure a child witness to identify a suspect. As a result, Colin Warner, an 18-year-old kids from nearby Crown Heights, is wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Colin's childhood friend, Carl 'KC' King, devotes his life to fighting for Colin's freedom. In addition to KC, Colin's grandmother is another positive figure in his life. She gives him hope in the early years of his incarceration.
Learn more
Culture United highlights films, books, music and TV shows with an intergenerational theme. Do you have any suggestions? Share them with us and we'll share in the weeks and months to come. We welcome responses or reactions. We'll possibly feature them on our blog. See disclaimer.
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Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities
Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards.
The Roslainde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Family Caregiver Alliance extended their application deadline. The Foundation will award $20,000 to each of the three categories: Creative Expression, Diverse/Multicultural Communities and Policy and Advocacy. Extended deadline: Oct. 2, 2017. Learn more
Disney Be Inspired Grant. Disney is awarding $500 to kids implementing service projects in the fall in partnership with nonprofit organizations.
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2017.
Learn more
If you have - or know of - any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to [email protected]
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Think Intergenerational - Great Resources
Research and Resources
Think Babies Tips for Grandparents.
Generations United and ZERO TO THREE released this fact sheet rich with information and strategies for grandparents interested in engaging as advocates for young children and sharing the Think Babies
TM message.
Learn more
Intergenerational Leadership Institute (ILI). Penn State University. This certificate-training program helps older adults (primary target audience is 55+) seeking new lifelong learning experiences, skills, and volunteer opportunities to contribute to innovation and change in their communities.
Learn more
Generations United and NANASP's Placemat Campaign.
These placemats from Generations United and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) are designed to get older adults and youth talking about the value of vaccines together.
Learn more
2017 GrandFacts Sheets.
This resource from Generations United and our national advocacy partners is an important starting place for grandparents and other relatives raising children. The GrandFacts Sheets provide state-specific information on local program resources, benefits and data for grandfamilies.
Learn more
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Events
Take Off with Respite! 2017 National Lifespan Respite Conference.
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
Huntsville, AL. Oct. 11-13, 2017.
Learn more
2017 Young Adult Services Symposium. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).
Louisville, KY. Nov. 3 -5, 2017.
Learn more
ZERO TO THREE Annual Conference. ZERO TO THREE.
San Diego, CA. Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2017. Learn more
International Federation on Ageing 14th Global Conference on Ageing.
International Federation on Ageing.
Toronto, ON, Canada. Aug. 8-10, 2018.
Learn more
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Quote
"If people are sick
and hurting and lost, I guess it falls on everybody to address
those problems in some fashion. Because injustice, and the price of that injustice, falls on everyone's heads."
~Bruce Springsteen,
who turns 68 on his birthday this Saturday! (see the meme)
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| Your Feedback Invited! We want Generations This Week to be a real resource for you. Please send us any national news on intergenerational issues in addition to upcoming conferences, funding opportunities, reports and webinars. Local and state events can be shared in our Facebook group. Please also let us know how we can improve! Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Best, 
Alan King
Communications Specialist
Generations United |
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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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