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.
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Generations United’s Statement on Tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde
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Loved ones and neighbors are grieving in the midst of the tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde, while our nation remains paralyzed by inaction. The United States is plagued by consistent gun violence. But we’re doing nothing to prevent these horrific acts.
In Uvalde, Texas, a grandson killed 21 people, including 19 young children, at Robb Elementary School despite his grandmother’s love and support.
In Buffalo, NY, a racially-motivated murderer killed 10 Black people, including grandparents, getting groceries at Tops Friendly Markets who never came home to family meals and celebrations.
The mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde are the most recent unfathomable human-caused disasters in a succession of devastating mass shootings and daily gun violence. While Generations United’s thoughts and prayers won’t resurrect those lost, we send genuine condolences to the grieving families, friends, and communities.
We also send healing prayers to the Texas assailant’s grandmother, whom he shot. She was among the nation’s more than two million grandparents who step up to care for children on a permanent or temporary basis.
As we navigate this epidemic of violence, we call for more than thoughts and prayers—we demand action and accountability.
Generations United stands with and mourns with the grieving families. We must not become numb but, instead, act more urgently to enact solutions, because we’re stronger together.
Here are some valuable resources from Generations United and other organizations:
- Call 1-855-4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736) Advocates are available 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Learn more about the Administration for Community Living's Older Americans Month theme "Age My Way" an opportunity to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities.
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Learn more about the Children's Bureau's National Foster Care Month 2022 campaign, "Relative and Kin Connections: Keeping Families Strong," Check out the message from Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau.
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Generations United is hiring a Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator and a Project Assistant for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network. Learn more and spread the word.
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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.
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South: June 1, 2022, 11am-1pm EDT/10am-12pm CDT/9am-11am MDT. Register here.*
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Midwest & Mountains: June 3, 2022, 1-3pm EDT/12pm-2pm CDT/11am-1pm MDT. Register here.*
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Northeast, MidAtlantic, Puerto Rico, & U.S. Virgin Islands: June 7, 2022, 10am-12pm EDT. Register here.*
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West Coast & Pacific: June 9, 3pm-5pm PDT. Register here.*
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Spanish-only (all regions): June 13, 2022, 1pm-3pm EDT. Register 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.
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Caregivers are invited to share experiences and inform research, stipends are provided.
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 (Christine.Fruhauf@ColoState.edu), 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 (dwhitley@gsu.edu), at 404-413-1055.
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Kinship Adoption and Guardianship Comparison Resources
Generations United with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, created an issue brief, national comparison chart, state-specific charts for 20 states and user guide that focus on adoption and guardianship for children in kinship foster care so that these children can exit foster care into permanent families. Read and share these free resources.
Generations United has a limited number of hard copies of these resources available by request. Contact gu@gu.org to request.
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Grandfamilies and Kinship Families:
Strengths and Challenges Fact Sheet
This Generations United Fact sheet is a general resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about grandfamilies and kinship families. It incorporates data, a few brief policies and advocacy recommendations, infographics, and quotes from family members. Featured information includes data related to the number of children living in grandfamilies and kinship families and the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic characteristics of families in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren. The fact sheet also discusses the strengths of grandfamilies and kinship families, highlighting familial, cultural, behavioral, and mental health benefits. Additionally, it provides details about the challenges these families face, from legal and financial issues to physical and mental health, housing, and education. The end of the fact sheet contains links to additional resources. Click here to download the fact sheet.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Shares Resources on Medicaid and CHIP Renewal
CMS has created a resource page, https://www.medicaid.gov/unwinding, to help states and territories access guidance, communications materials, and other tools related to returning Medicaid and CHIP to normal operations.
CMS has launched a second resource page, https://www.medicaid.gov/renewals. It provides information to help beneficiaries get ready to renew their coverage, including updating contact information, checking their mail, and completing a renewal form, if needed. The page also provides an interactive map to easily connect beneficiaries to their state Medicaid agency. We encourage you to visit both sites and make continuous enrollment in affordable health care for children, youth, and families a priority.
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Capacity Building
Center for States
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Generations United would like to congratulate GRAND Voice Kris Magstadt from North Dakota who adopted her grandkids this month. She said it was a magical day. When she asked the children if they felt different, she got two answers - ”My heart feels warmer” and “It feels like all the stress and worry are gone.” Big words from a 9 and 10-year-old! Learn more about our GRAND Voices Network.
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Grandfamilies and Kinship Families
Invited to Share Their Perspective
Generations United, in partnership with Family Voices United, invites members of grandfamilies and kinship families to Share Your Perspective for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Please answer the question, "What services or supports would have helped prevent you and your family or relatives from coming into contact with the child welfare system?" Learn more by visiting https://www.familyvoicesunited.org/share-your-story and click here to access the Google Form and submit your responses.
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Thanks for reading this newsletter. If you have anything you would like included in future newsletters, please send them to Jamarl D. Clark at jclark@gu.org. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter. Feel free to reply with any feedback or comments.
Best,
The Grandfamilies Team
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