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News for Advocates of Children, Youth and Older Adults  

from Generations United

Featured Articles
 Volume 15, Issue 16
April 22, 2020
New COVID-19 Resources and Upcoming Webinar This Week!
Generations United continues to monitor the evolving situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on intergenerational connections across the United States and the world. With all the changes that the crisis has brought, we know that intergenerational relationships and supporting grandfamilies is now more important than ever. 

This week, we released our new resource on Intergenerational Programs and Physical Distancing. We are also co-hosting with Encore.org our next Zoom conversation on Friday, April 24th.  

Generations United developed a summary of implications of the recently passed federal CARES Act for grandfamilies, and we have been sharing information from the office of Rep. Danny Davis to help grandfamilies access the COVID-19 stimulus payments. We also encourage caregivers, advocates and other allies to contact your members of Congress to urge policies supporting  grandfamilies in the next COVID-19/Stimulus package.
In the News
  • In their Sector Leadership Spot, the National Human Services Assembly ran an article by our Executive Director Donna Butts on strengthening the ties that bind generations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
     
  • The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) posted a blog on new approaches to social connectedness during COVID-19. The blog highlights Generations United's COVID-19 resources. Read the blog post.
Intergenerational Programs and Physical Distancing
We are still learning how best to connect the generations while maintaining physical distancing.  Generations United developed a guide to share ideas and solutions on how intergenerational professionals can adapt programs and activities and create new intergenerational connections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more
A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters
We thank Jaia Lent, who gave in honor of Generations United's work to help grandfamilies and promote intergenerational connections in the midst of COVID-19!.  Together, 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 !
Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Virtual Meeting
The Administration for Community Living announced the second meeting of the Advisory Council for Thurs., April 23, at 12 PM ET. This virtual meeting is open to the public. Registration is not required to attend. (The webinar link will be available one hour prior to the meeting start time.) Learn more
Cool Ideas
FriendshipWorks
For 36 years, FriendshipWorks has worked to reduce social isolation in Boston by matching volunteers to older adults in need of assistance. In light of COVID-19, they're recruiting digital volunteers for video and phone chats with older adults. 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.
Guide to Grandfamilies and COVID-19 Stimulus Payments from Congressman Danny K. Davis
Download the guide. To ensure that grandfamily caregivers who haven't filed a tax return get the full stimulus payment that includes their dependent children, they need to input the child and bank account information into a special non-filer tool on IRS.gov
Tweet of the Week
Child Welfare League of America's Webinar Series on Kinship Navigator Response to COVID-19 Pandemic 
  • Part 1: Virtual Assistance (Wed., April 29, 1 - 2:30 PM ET) This webinar will describe typical services and offer guidance on best practices in response to COVID-19. Presenters will explore how virtual kinship navigators are enhancing supports via "virtual case management," conference calls, online webinars, chats, and other virtual services. Register here.
     
  • Part 2: Community-Based Assistance (Wed., May 6, 1 - 2:30 PM ET) With the focus on social distancing, the usual case management, support group, and respite services must adapt. This webinar will look at responsive innovations and suggest best practices. Register here.
Intergenerational Connections During COVID-19
Generations United and  Encore.Org will facilitate our next discussion on  Friday, April 24 at 3pm EST / 12pm PST. This session will include deeper conversations and lessons-learned with practitioners using high-tech and low-tech solutions to connect the generations during this crisis.  Learn more and register
Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities
Grassroots Community Organizing in the Midwest Supported. The Needmor Fund's Core Grants program focuses on supporting grassroots community organizing in the Midwest. Support is provided to grassroots, membership-based community organizations that are democratically led, engaged in direct action campaigns, and committed to leadership development. Deadline: June 30, 2020. Learn more.

Request for Proposals. RRF Foundation for Aging is accepting proposal applications for its next grant cycle. RRF recently completed a strategic planning process that sharpened their commitment and focused its grantmaking on four priority areas: Caregiving, Economic Security in Later Life, Housing and Social and Intergenerational Connectedness. LOI Deadline: June 15, 2020. Learn more.

If you have - or know of - any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to aking@gu.org.
Think Intergenerational - Great Resources  
Research and Resources
COVID-19 Fact Sheets in English and Spanish. These fact sheets from Generations United provide information for grandfamilies to stay healthy, informed and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.

The Best of Both Worlds: A Closer Look at Creating Spaces that Connect Young and Old.   This report from Generations United and The Eisner Foundation includes actionable ways to boost the number of intergenerational shared sites around the country.  Learn more   .

New Interactive Toolkit: Connecting Generations in Senior Housing. This toolkit, developed by Generations United and the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston with funding from RRF Foundation for Aging, is now a website with downloadable resources. It was designed specifically to help senior housing organizations plan and implement high-quality intergenerational programs that will benefit residents and young people in their communities. Visit the site.

New Survey on Feeding Infants.  Generations United, in partnership with the Infant Nutrition Council of America (INCA) , evaluated results from a recent INCA survey to understand what grandfamilies need to know about feeding infants in their care.  Learn more .

A Place to Call Home: Building Affordable Housing for Grandfamilies.   This sixth edition of the annual State of Grandfamilies in America report detailed the housing challenges these families face and highlighted innovative programs that offer potential for nationwide expansion. Learn more.
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Quote
"Let us take care of the children, because they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, because they have come a long way. Let us take care of those in between, because they are doing the work." ~Nelson Mandela

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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 gu@gu.org. We'd love to hear from you!

 

Best,       

 

         

 



Alan King
Communications Specialist
Generations United
  
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