June 9, 2022
GRANDFAMILIES ALERT
Hello Friends of Grandfamilies,

Below you will find some recent updates and resources from the field. If you know anyone who may be interested in receiving these alerts, please forward this to them and/or encourage them to sign up here.
TOP NEWS
The Chronicle of Philanthropy Spotlights Generations United Work For Grandfamilies, Kinship Families
Generations United’s work to support grandfamilies and kinship families was highlighted in a recent story in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The story featured quotes from Generations United, national partners Sarah Kastelic (National Indian Child Welfare Association) and Karyn Jones (National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.), as well as Ali Caliendo of Foster Kinship in Nevada. We’re grateful to Editor Stacy Palmer and Staff Writer Kristen Griffith for lifting up our work. Read the story here.

PHOTO BY TODD HEISLER, REDUX PICTURES
Generations United is hiring a Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator who will coordinate its public policy and advocacy initiatives and collaborate with the intergenerational program and National Center on Grandfamilies teams. Someone with a minimum of two years of experience in public policy and/or issues affecting children, youth and/or older adults will be a good fit for this position.

The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is seeking a new Project Assistant to support the work of the first-ever national technical assistance center on grandfamilies and kinship families. This is a wonderful opportunity for a recent college grad interested in improving support and services for kinship families and who wants to start their career at a unique and supportive organization.
EVENTS
White House Conference
Regional Listening Sessions
The White House is announcing virtual, regional listening sessions for you to share your ideas and experiences with hunger and diet-related diseases in your communities in the lead up to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health which will be hosted in September. The Biden-Harris Administration is calling on all Americans to join us to achieve the goal of ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases and disparities in the U.S., and we hope that you will join us so we can learn from you as we seek to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close the disparities surrounding them.
 
These listening sessions are open to the public. Please register using the links below, and we encourage you to register for the region you live in.
  • Spanish-only (all regions): June 13, 2022, 1pm-3pm EDT. Register here.
  • All regions: June 15, 2022, 3pm-5pm EDTRegister here.

*Language interpreters offered in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
 
Please feel free to share this invitation with others in your network who may be interested in participating.
Caregivers are invited to share experiences and inform research, stipends are provided.


Are You a Family Caregiver of
a Child or Youth with Disabilities?
ARCH is partnering with the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), Georgetown University, to conduct listening sessions with racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse family caregivers of children/youth and adults with disabilities, and older adults, to learn about their experiences with respite services. Please review the flyer and contact Betelhem Eshetu Yimer at 202.687.5387 or email her at [email protected] by Friday, June 17. Small stipends are available for family caregivers.

Motivations for Raising a Grandchild
Grandparents who are not raising their grandchildren, as well as those who are doing so, are invited to participate in a project that deals with grandparents’ views about why such persons raise their grandchildren. A total of 20 non-caregiving grandparents and 20 caregiving grandparents are needed for this survey. The project involves completing an online survey anonymously, which will take less than 1 hour. Participants will receive a $20 gift card for their time.
If you are interested in this survey and/or want additional information about the project, please contact Dr. Christine Fruhauf ([email protected]), at
970-491-1118.

Raising a Grandchild Amid the COVID Pandemic
Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren are invited to participate in a project that deals with how grandparent caregivers are coping with the challenges of raising a grandchild in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project involves completing one survey which will take less than 1 hour to complete. The survey can be completed either online or by telephone; all responses will be anonymous. Participants will receive a $10 gift card for their time.
A maximum of 60 volunteers are needed for this survey and we will be collecting surveys from grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in the absence of the child’s parent through August 1, 2022. If you are interested in this survey and/or want additional information about the project, please contact Dr. Deborah Whitley ([email protected]), at 404-413-1055.
RESOURCES
Grandfamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy
- New Issue!
The editors and editorial board of GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy are proud to release its new issue -Vol.7(1) for 2022. The new edition includes a research brief on results from the GrOW national study on grandfamilies navigating COVID-19.
Access the latest issue of the fully online journal at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/grandfamilies/vol7/iss1/
June is National Reunification Celebration Month
National Reunification Month, celebrated in June of each year to recognize efforts around the country to help families reunite and stay together. Bringing greater awareness to this month is an opportunity to help change the narrative around child welfare towards one that prioritizes supporting families rather than separating them from each other.
Rally has created a social media tool kit, intended to raise the importance of reunification. Children's Bureau also has several resources. American Bar Association has a long-standing commitment to reunification.
Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published a fact sheet in EnglishSpanish, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, and Navajo that includes information on community resources such as local Community Action Agencies, breast milk banks, and the United Way 2-1-1 hotline. Families are encouraged to reach out to these organizations if they are unable to readily find formula, including specialty formulas for older children and adults with rare metabolic diseases.
CAREGIVER CORNER
Grandmas Can Be Queens Of Their Grandchildren’s Hearts
Please join us in welcoming Rev. Jason Wilson to Generations United's team, where he serves as our new Communications Specialist. He helps orchestrate communications across the organization. In a special Platinum Jubilee short film, Rev. Jason was inspired by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear to write a reflection. It highlights grandfamilies and intergenerational relationships, but most of all, his relationship with his loving grandmother. Be inspired!
Thanks for reading this newsletter. If you have anything you would like included in future newsletters, please send them to Jamarl D. Clark at [email protected]. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter. Feel free to reply with any feedback or comments.

Best,
The Grandfamilies Team