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
in the NEWS
Earlier this month, Generations United brought together Assistant Secretary January Contreras, Administration for Children and Families (ACYF) Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston, Associate Commissioner Aysha Schomburg, and GRAND Voices Network kinship caregivers to discuss the challenges & the support/services around the licensing of relatives! Thank you, ACYF, for listening to grandfamilies!
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Global Conference Updates - Accepting Nominations for the Brabazon Award for Evaluation Research
Generations United is now accepting nominations for the Brabazon Award for Evaluation Research, which honors a researcher or team of researchers whose outstanding work has advanced the understanding of intergenerational programming. The award will be presented during the 22nd Global Intergenerational Conference in Washington, DC! Submit your nomination by May 12, 2023. Learn more.
Want to put your organization on the map at Generations United's 2023 Global Intergenerational Conference? Snag a spot in our conference program book! Submit your ad by June 1, 2023. Learn more.
Register for Generations United's Global Intergenerational Conference, taking place July 26-28, 2023 in Washington, DC! Register today!
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Letters in Support of Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Separate Licensing Standards for Kinship Foster Family Homes from Members of Congress
This proposed rule would allow child welfare agencies nationwide to adopt licensing or approval standards for all kinship/relative foster family homes that are different from those used for non-kin foster family homes. Generations United is in strong support of the NPRM as it would be a significant move forward for the thousands of children who are placed with relatives or kin in foster care and yet do not receive monthly financial assistance to meet their needs. Thank you to the members of Congress who submitted letters in support of the NPRM, including a bipartisan letter from leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, a letter from members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a letter from Representative Danny Davis (IL)!
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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.
Please contact Chelsi Rhoades, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, at crhoades@gu.org if you are interested in partnering with Generations United on an Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Chart in your state!
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Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use Part 2
This is a new set of resources that includes recommendations and resources on five topics identified by kin caregivers as uniquely challenging for grandfamilies impacted by substance use. Each resource was written by GRAND Voice Charlotte Stephenson, with several additional GRAND Voices and other experts providing input.
The topics are:
The creation of these resources was made possible by the Brookdale Foundation Group.
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This week is Global Intergenerational Week 2023! Join Generations United, The Eisner Foundation, and organizations around the world to celebrate all things intergenerational.
Here’s how you can participate:
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Share your intergenerational stories, connections, and activities on social media with #GIW23. Need some inspiration? Check out our social media toolkit with graphics and sample language.
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Attend a Global Intergenerational Week event! Check out everything going on in the U.S. here, and around the world here. Highlights include the launch of The Collaborative Network for Intergenerational Connections, a conversation with Dr. Megan Gerhardt from Gentelligence Academy, the release of a Funder's Toolkit, and the Global Intergenerational Week closing ceremony featuring the Eisner Intergenerational Big Band!
This is an incredible opportunity to come together as a global community celebrating intergenerational connection. Join us!
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Webinar: Collaboration Strategies for Tribes, or Non-Native Service Providers Working with Tribes, to Support Kinship/Grandfamilies
Our Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center is hosting a webinar “Collaboration Strategies for Tribes, or Non-Native Service Providers Working with Tribes, to Support Kinship/Grandfamilies” will include an overview of collaboration, specific strategies for collaboration in tribal programs, a discussion of collaboration between tribes and government or private organizations, example collaborative principles, building blocks for collaboration, and issues to consider. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. The presenter will be Dr. Terry Cross.
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Michigan Kinship Coalition: Grandparents Raising LGBTQ+ Grandchildren
Much has evolved over the past fifty years, from the Stonewall Riots in the 1960’s to the recent change in legislation, making protection for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression the law in Michigan. With LGBTQ+ grandparents raising grandchildren – and grandparents raising LGBTQ+ grandchildren, it’s time to look and the “then and now” and build a bridge of understanding. Presented by Judy Lewis, Training and Education Director, Mi Gen. Register here for the presentation.
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The Office of Planning, Research, & Evaluation (OPRE) has released a new brief!
This brief highlights information from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, Second Cohort (NSCAW II) on service needs and receipt for children in kinship care and non-relative foster care in 2008 and 2009. NSCAW is a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. Read the brief here.
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Black Kinship Families and Culturally Appropriate Engagement Video and Key Takeaways Document
This 12-minute video presents a conversation between Karyne Jones, President and CEO of the National Caucus & Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA), and Anita Thomas, PhD, Executive Vice President and Provost of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Thomas is an expert on culturally affirming counseling approaches with African American families, and the discussion touches on several important themes. The key takeaways document collects quotes from the video that emphasize these topics. This short video can serve as a brief tool for professional development. We are grateful to our partners at NCBA for producing these resources. Click here to access the video and key takeaways document.
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Relatives as Parents Program Grants-The Brookdale Foundation Group
Proposals Due Thursday, June 22, 2023
The Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) aims to develop or expand services for kinship/grandfamilies. Public state agencies and nonprofit organizations from across the United States are eligible to apply. Each selected entity will receive a seed grant of $30,000 ($20,000 year one and $10,000 tier two), contingent on progress made during year one and potential for continuity in the future. States must match the seed grant 100% in cash or in-kind. The RFP proposal and guidelines can be downloaded by visiting our website: www.brookdalefoundation.org.
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On March 29th, GRAND Voice Victoria Gray of Arizona testified at a House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Work & Welfare hearing, titled "Welfare is Broken - Restoring Work Requirements to Lift Americans Out of Poverty." Congratulations to Ms. Gray and thank you for sharing your story and advocating for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to better support grandfamilies. Listen to the hearing here.
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On Tuesday, April 4th, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren took about 60 grandparents and grandkids to the Texas Capitol. The Grandfamilies were acknowledged in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They stood out in their bright yellow shirts. 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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