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 is Featured in the Los Angeles Daily News and the Washington Post
An article in The Washington Post, "One roommate is 85, the other is 27. Such arrangements are growing," quotes Generations United Executive Director Donna Butts. This remarkable story highlights intergenerational housing and the value of creating non-family ties. Read here.
Photo Courtesy of the Washington Post: Nadia Abdullah, 25, with Judith Allonby, 64, holding Mango the cat, have been roommates in Malden, Mass., since May 2019. (Nadia Abdullah)
Generations United was quoted and featured as a resource in a recent story on combating ageism in the Los Angeles Daily News. Read here.
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Generations United Joins Annie E. Casey Foundation
and Casey Family Programs on Kinship Project
Ending the Need for Group Placements is a collective effort by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and community partners across the nation to ensure all children grow up with their families in a safe, supportive home. To address the findings of Away from Home and explore key levers of change. The Learning Exchange Project offers short videos and discussion guides and opportunities for leaders and lived expert partners to learn about and share high-impact strategies that build equitable systems of caring and support.
Generations United Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network Director, Ana Beltran shares her insights here.
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Network Seeking
New Project Assistant
Our Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (the “Network”) is seeking a Project Assistant. The Project Assistant is an integral part of the Network team and provides important project support that helps improve programs and services for grandfamilies and kinship families. Read more about this great opportunity here.
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Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice: The Virtual Kinship National Town Hall
September 9th, 1:00pm-4:00pm EST
- Hear from the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services about national efforts to support kin and what may be on the horizon.
- Learn what federal legislators believe Congress can do to elevate kinship families.
- Support fellow caregivers as they share their stories about their caregiving experiences, highlighting their challenges and needs.
- Explore the work of organizations that aim to support kin families through advocacy, support groups, and services.
- Hear from a celebrity guest who will elevate their kinship story and how it shaped who they are today.
*Registration information to follow
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Seeking Family and Parent Leaders to
Serve as Family Consultants
The Capacity Building Center for States (Center for States) is searching for family leaders who are experienced in providing technical assistance or training to the field of child welfare or are otherwise recognized as strong advocates for family engagement and empowerment? We encourage you to complete the application linked to be considered for the role of Family Consultant.
Prospective applicants should attend one of the informational webinars designed to explain the role of Family Consultants. Register here for July 27, 2022 at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or here for July 28, 2022 at 4:30-6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The deadline to apply to become a Family Consultant is August 12, 2022.
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You're Invited to The Black Experience Community Roundtable
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is
hosting roundtable discussions with the public to hear
directly from Black and African American people about their experiences with our programs, and their encounters with racism and bias when doing so. They would like to understand how ACF can improve our engagement and communication with
Black people and communities.
The virtual 90-minute community roundtables will be held in August (3rd and 4th). ACF is particularly interested in diverse representation from Black communities, including those who are:
- Adults, young adults (18-24 years old), parents, and caregivers
- Members of the LGBTQ+ community
- Persons with disabilities
- Members of the refugee and immigrant community
- Individuals who may not have engaged in discussions with federal agencies in the past
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Survey on COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences of Americans with Disabilities
The NSHD is an annual, online survey about health, quality of life, access to health care services, and the COVID-19 pandemic, concerning people with disabilities or health conditions. Participants may also complete the survey by phone. Participants will have a chance to win one of ten $100 gift cards. The survey closes on September 2nd. For more information, call 855/556-6328 (Voice/TTY) or email healthsurvey@ku.edu.
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Gaming and Social Media:
Supporting the Healthy Use of Technology for Youth Webinar
Monday, July 25, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST
Extended Access Available Jul. 26 - Aug. 26
Technology can enhance our lives in many ways. It can make us more effective, productive and efficient. It also can entertain us and can help us connect with others. The excessive use of electronic media can be an attempt to cope with significant psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or social skills deficits. Dr. Edward Spector, Psy.D. will present on the healthy use of technology, including common forms of electronic games (computer, video, phone apps), the Internet (including the use of social networking sites and online communities), and the use of smart phones.
Register HERE! Use coupon code SOCIAL at checkout to receive your FREE registration. Note: There is a $15 charge per registrant after the first 600 registrants have used the discount code.
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Making the Case for
Intergenerational Programs
This tool is based on a comprehensive review of the literature on intergenerational programs and highlights evidence-based findings on how intergenerational programs benefit everyone. There is also an accompanying fact sheet. Both are available in English and Spanish. Learn more.
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Child Welfare Information Gateway Podcast "Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers"
This podcast series, produced on behalf of the Children's Bureau, presents a series of interviews and group conversations intended to provide beneficial information for busy child welfare and social work professionals.
The podcast episode features a group of kinship-centered services and programs from Rhode Island. The State’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families created a separate team dedicated to family search and engagement that identifies and attempts to create relationships with family members or those with connections to children and youth. Listen here.
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GRAND Voice Shares Her
Kinship Care Story
Generations United GRAND Voice Genia Newkirk shares her story about becoming a kinship caregiver.
“It was just a fire placed in me,” Newkirk said. “It’s got to be an intentional approach in everything that I do for this child. I have to be intentional in what I say. I have to be intentional in the things that we do. I have to be intentional in what her surroundings are."
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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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