Volume 18 | Issue 34 | August 30th, 2023 | |
News for Advocates of Children, Youth, and Older Adults from Generations United | |
Celebrate Grandparents Day 2023! | |
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#DoSomethingGrand and celebrate Grandparents Day (Sunday, September 10) throughout the month of September! This year we are celebrating The Grandparent Advantage.
As part of our Grandparents Day ‘Do Something Grand’ campaign, Generations United is excited to partner with Grandparents Academy and invite you to Grandparents Week (September 10 - 16), the largest virtual educational conference and celebration for grandparents of its kind. You'll hear from over 20 experts including our very own GRAND Voices Support Coordinator, Robyn Wind, who will be sharing about resources for grandfamilies. There are also mini-classes and prizes lined up for this incredible event scheduled for September 10 - 16, 2023. General admission is free and there are giveaways for those who register in advance. Claim your ticket today!
Join us in this heartwarming celebration that uplifts and honors the pillars of our families. Learn more about our #DoSomethingGrand campaign, our Grand Partners, and activities you can do with your grandparents, grandfriends, grandchildren, or other loved ones here.
In the lead up to Grandparents Day, Generations United will be sharing quotes through social media about the importance of grandparents and grandfriends. Share a quote or reflection today!
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Apply by Sept. 18 for the Intergenerational Program of Distinction or Program of Merit Certification
Generations United is now accepting applications to recognize outstanding intergenerational programs that are connecting younger and older people in the United States. The Program of Distinction and Program of Merit designations are based on the criteria that underpin the effectiveness of any intergenerational program and are intended to recognize the rich diversity among programs that involve older and younger generations. Applications are due September 18, 2023.
Learn more and apply!
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Check out the First Issue of the Shared Site Learning Network News! | |
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Generations United is committed to helping strengthen and support the development of intergenerational shared sites (places that intentionally provide services/programs to multiple generations and foster meaningful cross-age relationships). The first issue of the Shared Site Learning Network News highlights ways shared sites around the world are emerging from the pandemic, best practices, relevant policies, and valuable resources from the field. Read it here.
Interested in receiving our quarterly newsletter in your inbox? Sign up today to receive upcoming Shared Site Learning Network News alerts!
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International Certificate in Intergenerational Practice - Edition 4
An 8-week course, the International Certificate in Intergenerational Practice is available to anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the purpose, impact, and practical application of intergenerational work and apply this knowledge within their own work. The course starts Monday, September 11, 2023.
The course is open to all, including: community workers, care home activity coordinators, nursery/playgroup staff, primary/secondary teachers, classroom assistants, community learning & development professionals, social care professionals, social workers, sociologists, psychologists, leisure & physical activity professionals, employment advisors, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, librarians, and third sector professionals of all backgrounds and levels. Learn more.
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Program Spotlight - Lutheran Home Children's Center | |
The Lutheran Home Children’s Center, a Generations United Program of Distinction, believes in strengthening each family by providing high quality child care programs in a caring and nurturing setting. They recognize each child as a unique individual and believe that children learn through play. Through play, children develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills to interact with other children, and self-confidence to try new experiences and explore new environments. They are also committed to the value of a multicultural and intergenerational experience for all children. The Children’s Center at the Lutheran Home serves children ages six weeks through 4K. As early childhood educators, they recognize that a program’s success is dependent on close relationships between children, staff, and parents. The Lutheran Home Children’s Center encourages parent participation in all areas of the program and welcomes parents to stop in at any time. Learn more. | |
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Each week, Generations United is spotlighting a recipient of our Intergenerational Program Certification. The certification is an annual recognition of outstanding programs bringing older and younger participants together and is based on rigorous standards of program effectiveness and sustainability. Learn more about the Intergenerational Program Certification here. | |
New Resource: School Breakfast and Lunch Programs for Grandfamilies and Kinship Families | |
The Network has another new back-to-school resource! Our subject matter experts at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) prepared this resource for kin/grandfamily caregivers. Share this resource with the caregivers you serve to help them learn about eligibility and applications for free and reduced-price school meals and related information. Access the resource. | |
Accepting Technical Assistance Requests | |
As always, the Network is accepting individual technical assistance (TA) requests from professionals who work in systems or organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Fill out the TA request form to receive support from our team. Learn more and sign up to access our resources! | |
The Network is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $9,950,000 with 95 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $523,684 and 5 percentage funded by non-government sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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Thank You to Our Members and Supporters | Thank you to all our members and supporters! Consider making a donation today to help unleash the potential of a society that values all generations. If you're an organization, join us! | | | |
Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities | |
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The Dialogues on the Experience of War program from the National Endowment for the Humanities supports the study and discussion of humanities sources that address the experiences of military service and war from a wide variety of perspectives. Dialogue projects encourage veterans and nonveterans to reflect collectively on such topics as civic engagement, veteran identity, and the legacies of war, service, and homecoming. Project teams should include humanities scholars, military veterans, and individuals with relevant experience. The application deadline is September 7, 2023. Learn more.
CVS Health Foundation’s 2023 Centering Youth Mental Health grant program has released an open call for applications. This funding opportunity is open to locally-led coalitions working to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents and young adults. Coalitions based in the following states are eligible to apply: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. The Foundation expects to award up to $4 million in grants to locally-led, multi-sector coalitions that are collaborating to improve mental health outcomes for people ages 12 to 24. Each selected coalition will receive a $1,000,000 award. This award will be disbursed in installments of $200,000 over a five-year period. Application deadline: September 8, 2023, 5:00 p.m. EDT. Learn more.
The International Paper Foundation addresses critical needs in the communities where International Paper employees live and work in the United States. Areas of interest include education, with a focus on children's literacy; hunger and food security for children, families, and seniors; health and wellness, including promotion of healthy habits; and disaster relief. If your organization does not have an International Paper location in the community, you are not eligible for grant funding. (Grants in the company's global headquarters location of Memphis, TN, are made by invitation only). Applications are accepted through mid-September, annually. Learn more.
Life Comes From It is a grantmaking and movement-building circle that supports grassroots work led by people of color in the United States. Funding is provided for projects and collaborations led by people of color that focus on restorative justice, transformative justice, Indigenous peacemaking, and land-based projects. The aim is to support work committed to replacing criminalization and incarceration with alternative approaches to address violence and repair harm, and prioritizing peacemaking development and Indigenous initiatives led by Native people. Grants are typically unrestricted and for general operating costs. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply. Application deadline: None for introductions. Learn more.
If you have—or know of—any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to gu@gu.org.
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Think Intergenerational - Great Resources | |
Generations United Resources | |
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Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness In Intergenerational Programs is a new report from Generations United that highlights the intentional and creative ways that organizations combat systemic racism by prioritizing the voices and lived experiences of diverse staff and participants in their practices. Learn more.
The 2022 State of Grandfamilies Report, Together at the Table: Supporting the Nutrition, Health, and Well-Being of Grandfamilies, includes the latest findings on grandfamilies facing high rates of hunger and food insecurity, as well as policy recommendations to help feed grandfamilies. Read the report to explore the data and learn why we need to change current policies to ensure access to adequate, nutritious food for grandfamilies.
Grandfamily Caregiver Tip Sheets on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health are now available in Spanish. These tip sheets were developed with support from our partner, Humana. Learn more.
An Updated Intergenerational Evaluation Toolkit, which was originally created in 2019 by Dr. Shannon Jarrott with support from The Eisner Foundation, includes over 20 reliable and valid outcome measures that have been used in the evaluation of intergenerational programs. Learn more.
Generations United has updated our Children Thrive in Grandfamilies Fact Sheet, a resource that provides key facts about how children do in the care of relatives and a list of research articles to support the facts. Learn more.
17 New State-Specific Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Charts Are Now Available! These comparison charts help grandfamilies understand the difference between adoption and guardianship for children leaving foster care to permanency with relatives, made possible with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Learn more.
Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use Part 2 includes 5 new resources designed to provide tips, useful information, and a list of additional resources to help grandfamilies both inside and outside the foster care system impacted by opioids or other substance use. Learn more.
Racial Equity Toolkits are designed to give resources and tips to child welfare agencies, other government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, so they can better serve all grandfamilies. Generations United has produced toolkits for American Indian and Alaska Native grandfamilies, African-American grandfamilies, and Latino grandfamilies. Learn more.
Racial Equity Tip Sheets, created with support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, accompany our racial equity toolkits. These tools are designed to help professionals serving grandfamilies to provide culturally appropriate services. Learn more.
Sharing Our Space: A Toolkit for Developing and Enhancing Intergenerational Shared Sites is designed for individuals and organizations interested in creating an intergenerational shared site or enhancing services at their current site. Divided into 10 sections, the toolkit details every step of the development and operation process, from initial planning to sustaining long-term shared site programs. Learn more.
Making the Case for Intergenerational Programs provides rationale and facts to help make the case for intergenerational programs. It 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 available in English and Spanish. Learn more.
Staying Healthy Across Generations: Vaccines are Essential for All Ages is an infographic that illustrates that vaccines aren't just for kids - they protect all generations, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying up to date on vaccines for the flu, pneumonia, and whooping cough is important to protect both older adults and children. Learn more.
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"It was joyful and loud. The children really lifted their spirits. Residents reminisced about their childhoods and bonded with the children. The emotional, physical, recreational and mental benefits of the intergenerational activities were plain to see."
Jen Cotsopolous, Star of the Sea Aged Care Lifestyle Coordinator
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We want Generations This Week to be a resource for you. Please send us any national news on intergenerational issues in addition to upcoming conferences, funding opportunities, research, reports, and webinars. You can connect with other intergenerational enthusiasts through 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! | |
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Treat Yourself GRAND!
As a reader of Generations This Week, you are eligible to receive a complimentary subscription to GRAND - The Lifestyle Magazine for Awesome Grandparents.
That's a $26 value for 12 issues delivered right to your inbox. Get valuable offers and inspirational articles like our column on GRAND Families, and more.
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