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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Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network Launches Website!
Our Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center has launched its new website at www.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!
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Celebrating Grandparents Day!
We’re still celebrating Grandparents Day and Kinship Month 2022 throughout the month of September. Join us & #DoSomethingGrand!
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Let’s Talk about It: Supporting Grandfamilies Mental Health and Emotional Well-being While Navigating Pandemic Challenges Webinar
Generations United and our Grandparents Day partner Humana hosted an interactive webinar on Sept.12 discussing the COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on grandfamilies’ mental health and social isolation. The webinar featured a stellar grandfamilies panel and presentation by Dr. Deborah Langosch, a clinical social worker, trainer, psychotherapist, and consultant.
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Generations United Receives William Penn Foundation Grant
The William Penn Foundation announced a set of three-year grants totaling more than $2.8 million to eight organizations that will work to improve and expand their services focused on Philadelphia “grandfamilies” – families in which grandparents or other older adult kin are the primary caregivers for young children. As part of this initiative, Generations United received a grant to convene a learning community and provide technical assistance to the grantees. Read the full announcement here.
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Exemplary Kinship/Grandfamilies Policy, Practice, and Program Designation
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (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 grandfamilies and kinship families. Apply today! For more information, check out the application.
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The Imprint Launches National Indigenous Family Reporting Beat
The Imprint, a daily news publication covering child welfare, juvenile justice and youth homelessness around the country, has launched a new national beat covering Indigenous children and families with support from Seattle, Washington-based Casey Family Programs.
This announcement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide the fate of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), America's landmark federal protection for Indigenous families and tribes. The 1978 law sought to combat cultural genocide and family separation following centuries of forced Indian boarding school attendance and adoptions by white families. Read the full announcement here.
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HUD Issued the NOFO for New Section 202 Grants, including $15M for the LEGACY Intergenerational Units!
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of up to $174.6 million in grant funding opcportunities through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the development of new affordable multifamily rental homes for low-income seniors along with ongoing project rental assistance and supportive services. The grants are offered under HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program and will be awarded to non-profit organizations across the country. Read the full announcement here and the NOFO here.
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We're Hiring! Join Our Team!
Generations United is currently hiring for two positions - Senior Manager, Intergenerational Initiatives and Project Assistant for our Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center. Please help us spread the word!
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Why Native American Traditions Are Critical to Caregivers of Kin Children
Hosted by RedMane Technology
Thursday, September 29, 2022
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
This webinar will explore how connections to culture and heritage impact kinship care placements and will share practical strategies that demonstrate positive outcomes. The discussion will cover the importance of culture in successful kinship care placements within a tribal community, the gaps or challenges in supporting Native American kinship care families, and how a focus on relative care and prevention is impacting tribal communities. There will also be time for attendees to ask questions. The presenters lead kinship care programs in their communities.
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Child Welfare Virtual Expo on
September 28
Learn about prioritizing lived expertise in child welfare at this year’s Child Welfare Virtual Expo (CWVE)! This event will explore the power of intentionally partnering with people with lived experience and expertise to transform child welfare systems and better serve and support children, youth, and families. At this year’s CWVE, you’ll attend sessions designed and led by young adults and family representatives with lived experience and child welfare expertise, working with Center for States staff and other partners. Explore the CWVE website to learn more about this year’s CWVE!
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Grandfamily Caregiver
Tip Sheets
Generations United with support from our partner Humana, developed tip sheets on self-care and youth mental health for grandfamily caregivers. These tip sheets are filled with helpful information and resources for grandfamilies. Click here to view tip sheets.
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Resources to Support Your Work With Kinship Caregivers
There are more than 407,000 children in foster care. Placing youth with relatives and kin caregivers can support reunification and often help minimize trauma for youth. Learn more about how relative and kin connections keep families strong when they need support at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/kinship/
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Apply for Free and
Reduced Meals
Get the help your family needs this school year. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on your household income. Learn more about free and reduced-price school meals at fns.usda.gov
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Even though the tax season has ended, it’s not too late for parents to file and claim all eligible benefits!
If families have not yet filed taxes to receive their full 2021 Child Tax Credit, there’s still time. This year’s tax filing deadline will be approaching soon; families who have not yet filed should do so as soon as possible,
Go to ChildTaxCredit.gov to help determine if you are eligible for the 2021 Child Tax Credit or find free resources to help you file for the credit.
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Grandparents Struggle Finding Mental Health Help for Grandchildren
Charlotte Stephenson, GRAND Voice–Generations United, and other caregivers recently discussed on a panel hosted by the COVID-19 Vaccine Project and HealthyWomen why they decided to vaccinate their children against COVID19. Watch here.
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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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