Volume 18 | Issue 4 | January 25, 2023 | |
News for Advocates of Children, Youth, and Older Adults from Generations United | |
Generations United in the News
Executive Director Donna Butts shares insights from the 2022 State of Grandfamilies Report on State of Childhood Obesity's expert perspective blog. The blog is titled, How Nutrition Programs Can Better Prevent Hunger Among Grandfamilies, and is available here.
Donna and a number of Generations United partners are also quoted in an article in The Beacon, "Many benefits of intergenerational living." They discuss the positive impacts of intergenerational living for older and younger people. Read more.
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Meet Our New Staff
Generations United has added several fantastic new staff members to our team this month and we want to introduce them each to you. Please join us in welcoming all of them to the team.
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Ilonka Walker joined the team as the Intergenerational Coordinator, where she is responsible for coordinating key intergenerational program activities, including the diverse intergenerational programs initiative. In this role she works to amplify and expand the diversity of intergenerational programs that bring younger and older people together across the country. | | | |
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Roh Ghafoori joined Generations United as the Project Assistant for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center. As the Project Assistant, Roh is responsible for assisting the Network’s staff and projects through communication and technical support. | | | |
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Fabian Venegas-Ramos joined the team as a Digital Communications Coordinator. They are responsible for coordinating and creating key digital communications activities for Generations United, including social media, email marketing, website, and cross-platform analytics and reporting. | | | |
Learn more about Ilonka, Roh, and Fabian here. | | |
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Global Conference Updates - Submit Your Session Ideas by Jan. 30
Registration is open for Generations United's Global Intergenerational Conference, to be held July 26-28, 2023 in Washington, DC! Special savings are available to people who register by March 15. Register today!
Submit your proposals for conference educational sessions. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2023. Download the Word Doc version of the session guidelines and instructions for more information. All submissions must be completed online.
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Partner with Us on State-Specific Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Charts
Generations United, with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, is developing state-specific comparison charts to help grandfamilies understand the difference between adoption and guardianship for children leaving foster care to permanency with relatives. For these resources, we partner with a state or local organization to help compile information and distribute the chart. All partners are credited. We are currently seeking state or local partners in the District of Columbia, Delaware, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.
Please contact Chelsi Rhoades at crhoades@gu.org if you are interested in partnering with Generations United on an Adoption and Guardianship Comparison Chart in your state.
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Seeking Grants & Contracts Specialist
Generations United is seeking a Grants & Contracts Specialist to join our results-oriented team. The Grants & Contracts Specialist is responsible for administering grants and contracts and providing other financial and administrative support for Generations United. These responsibilities include managing contracts and vendors, financial compliance, grants management, and supporting event logistics. Other activities include assisting with our biennial global conference and special events and engaging in Generations United’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work. Learn more about the position and apply today.
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Program Spotlight - JCA Heyman Interages Center
The JCA Heyman Interages Center, located in Rockville, Maryland, offers diverse volunteer opportunities for participants on both ends of the age spectrum. A Generations United Program of Distinction since 2012, JCA Heyman Interages Center engages middle schoolers, high schoolers, and older adults in a variety of intergenerational activities, including pen pal exchanges, book clubs, art and music lessons, and reading programs. One particularly impactful program is the Intergenerational Interview Project, which virtually connects youth to local entrepreneurs, artists, educators, leaders, and community elders in Montgomery County, Maryland. Learn more about the JCA Heyman Interages Center and programming here.
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Photo courtesy of JCA Heyman Interages Center. | |
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. | |
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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The AARP Purpose Prize Award Is Accepting Applications through February 28
The AARP Purpose Prize award honors extraordinary individuals who use their lived experiences to make a better future for all. Don’t miss a chance to earn $50,000 for your organization and a year of support to help broaden the scope of your work. Up to 10 fellows will each receive $10,000 for their organization and a year of technical support. See official rules and apply at www.aarp.org/apply.
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Culture United - Grandma's garden of magical rocks is 'Where Wonder Grows'
In Where Wonder Grows, a grandmother takes her three granddaughters to her special garden. They tell stories about magical rocks, seashells, crystals and meteorites. Learn more.
Culture United highlights films, books, and TV shows with an intergenerational theme. Do you have any suggestions? Share them with us, and we'll share them in the weeks and months to come. We welcome responses or reactions. See disclaimer.
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Thank You to Our Members and Supporters | Thank you to 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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NEW: Youth Service America (YSA) is searching for Heartwarming Young Heroes with creative ideas to foster meaningful connections, promote inclusion, and teach empathy. With support from Hershey's Heartwarming Project, YSA will award up to $50,000 in grants for youth-led service projects and community-building activities during Global Youth Service Day (April 28-30). All youth ages 5-25 in the United States (including U.S. territories and military bases & DoD schools). The application deadline is Sunday, March 5 at 11:59pm your local time. Learn more.
New York Life Foundation: Aim High grant program, administered by the Afterschool Alliance, provides support nationwide for out-of-school time programs serving middle school youth. The aim is to bolster the ability of after-school and summer learning programs to prepare middle school students for success in high school, college, and life. For this year's cycle, 20 one-year grants of $15,000 each will be awarded: ten for programs' efforts around racial equity and social justice and ten for programs' efforts around youth well-being. Twenty two-year grants of either $50,000 per year or $25,000 per year will focus on supporting programs in enhancing direct service activities, technical assistance, capacity building, and their efforts in continuing to serve youth while facing the challenges of the pandemic and beyond. Applications are due February 1, 2023. Learn more.
AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program grants will fund projects focused on supporting older adults as they seek to secure employment in professional, skilled labor, or para-professional careers. In addition, AmeriCorps Seniors is partnering with Public Health AmeriCorps, which seeks to support projects that address the public health needs of local communities, advance health equity, and create pathways to public health careers for older adults. The application deadline is Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Learn more.
The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. Nonprofit organizations, school districts, universities, government entities, and other tax-exempt organizations in the United States and its territories that serve at least 15 youth are eligible to apply. Selected programs will be awarded $500 to start or expand their youth garden or greenspace and will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $1,000 in funding in specialty award categories focused on programs with greater funding needs, programs that serve a majority of LGBTQ+ youth, and programs led by people of color that serve a majority of youth of color. The application deadline is February 10, 2023. Learn more.
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge encourages mayors to partner with artists, elevating the value of including the creative sector when developing solutions to significant urban issues. The program supports temporary public art projects that celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public-private collaborations, and strengthen local economies. The application deadline is February 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. 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 | |
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Journal of Intergenerational Relationships Call for Papers for Memorial Issue Honoring Founding Editor Dr. Sally Newman’s Contributions to the Intergenerational Field: Dr. Sally Newman was a guiding force for founding the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships in 2003, serving as its first editor until June 2014. Despite her death in 2022, Dr. Newman’s legacy lives on. In honor of Dr. Newman’s leadership in intergenerational program research, the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships invites scholarly contributions for a special issue focused on contemporary intergenerational research that builds on her foundational work, which can be seen today in different programmatic settings and countries. This special memorial issue will be published in 2024. Submissions must be received by May 31, 2023. Read the full special issue announcement here. Contact Shannon Jarrott with questions.
"Intergenerational Community Planning" Report: Generations United Senior Fellow Irv Katz and Generations United friend and Penn State professor Matt Kaplan, PhD, collaborated on a "guide" to intergenerational community planning published by the American Planning Association (APA). The intergenerational planning guide follows related APA reports on multigenerational planning and planning for all ages. The document suggests that the well-being of children, youth, and older adults--and how they relate with one another--should be integrated into regular city planning processes, such as the comprehensive planning that most cities and towns undertake. "Intergenerational Community Planning" is available for free to members of the American Planning Association and $25 for non-members.
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Generations United Resources | |
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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.
Updated Intergenerational Evaluation Toolkit, which was 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.
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 a toolkit for American Indian and Alaska Native grandfamilies, African-American grandfamilies, and Latino grandfamilies. Learn more.
Racial Equity Tipsheets Now Available. With support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Generations United is pleased to share a new series of tip sheets to 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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"The students immerse themselves in Collington. Having them around is nice. They're a breath of fresh air- and we don't have to listen to their story about rheumatism!"
Resident Mary McCutchan, on the University of Maryland students who live in Collington, a life plan retirement home in Mitchellville, MD.
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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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