2020
News You Can Use
From the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
weekly newsletter #2
In these difficult and unprecedented times, it is important that we stay informed and connected. Although as grandparents raising grandchildren, relative caregivers, and service providers we may not be able to meet in our communities to discuss and share important issues for children and families, we can still stay connected in other ways.

The Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren plans to send weekly newsletters out in order to share information and resources that may be helpful to you as caregivers. We hope to provide links to resources that may address some of your questions or concerns about COVID-19 Coronavirus, as well as share resources for you as caregivers who are home with children who are out of school.

We wish you all good health.


The Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren


*Follow us on Facebook for updates, information,
and daily words of encouragement
@magrgcommission

Coronavirus Advisory and Information

For the most up to date information about COVID-19 at both a local and Federal level, please visit the links below. These sites are updated frequently and will provide information about the public health crisis as well as resources for you and your families.
Parental Stress Hotline Resources

The Children's Trust has a great list of local and national resources to help parental/caregiver stress during these difficult and unusual times. Please click on the link below for more information.
Generations United:
COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grand-Families and Multigenerational Families
Generations United has prepared a comprehensive COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Multigenerational Families. The fact sheet has access to information and resources to keep caregivers informed and connected.
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Commission Announcements:

Spring 2020 Workshops:
  • Mattapan 3/27/20 CANCELLED
  • Milford 4/1/20 CANCELLED
  • Ashburnham 4/14/20 CANCELLED

Support Group Training 4/3/20 : CANCELLED

* No decision has been made at this time regarding workshops scheduled in May in Billerica, Chicopee, and Bourne.
* No decision has been made at this time regarding the 2020 Conference for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren which scheduled 6/3/20.
How to Stay Connected to Your "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" Support Group

Written by the
Support Group Sub-Committee of the
Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Being a part of a support group has so many benefits for those who participate, especially for grandparents raising grandchildren. Support groups help participants feel less alone, learn ideas and strategies from people who have the same experiences. Support groups help prevent isolation, loneliness, and depression. Support groups help participants form a new community of caregivers to connect with who know exactly what each other is going through. Many grandparents tell us that participating in a support group has helped them learn information about services and resources, gain a better understanding as to some of the issues that may be impacting their families, and most importantly, feel supported.

In this current public health crisis, support groups are not able to meet in person. Fortunately, with modern technology, there are many different and creative ways to still stay connected, even when we can't meet up in person. We recently reached out to support group facilitators from across the state to hear about ways they are connecting with support group members and we were thrilled to learn that many group facilitators have connected with support group members either by phone or e-mail. We have heard about other groups that are meeting through FaceTime or through Zoom.

Below is a list of suggested ideas for support groups to stay connected during COVID-19 State of Emergency:
Great Resource
for Massachusetts Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship Caregivers:
Kinship Navigator
Kinship Navigator is a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that assists all kinship caregivers (grandparents and other relatives) with accessing services for themselves and the children they are raising. If you, or a kinship family you are working with, needs help accessing services, the Kinship Navigator is a great resource to help.
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What To Do With Kids While Home


Each week, we will send out information, tips, helpful resources for what to do with your grandchildren while they are home. We hope you find these resources helpful and maybe even a little fun. If you know of other resources or have some ideas that you would like to share, please send the information to
and we will include it in the following week's newsletter.

We will all get through this together!
Massachusetts state parks and comfort stations remain open at this time and are available for public use. DCR reminds visitors to avoid large gatherings and maintain social distance while walking the trails. For more information, please visit the link above.
Kahn Academy provides free online resources for teachers and parents including links for daily schedules and lessons for students ages 2-18 years old to keep them learning.
Mommy Poppins website has creative and fun activities for children of all ages. There are links to articles, online games, virtually concerts, story times, and other online events for children and caregivers.
Join children's book author Mo Willems (author of Snuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, and much more) for "Lunch Doddles with Mo Willems!" Mo Willems invites you into his studio every day to draw, doddle, and explore new ways of writing. New episodes will be posted each day at 1:00.