Generations This Week

Volume 16 | Issue 50 | December 22, 2021

News for Advocates of Children, Youth and Older Adults from Generations United

Happy Holidays from Generations United

As we reflect on 2021, we are saddened by the losses we all have experienced but fortified in our resolve to build a world that values and engages all generations.

While the past year has been filled with many challenges, we also had some amazing successes. We wanted to highlight five of these accomplishments and ask you to join us in supporting strong intergenerational connections in 2022.

1) Virtual Global Conference

Generations United’s 21st Intergenerational Conference was held virtually this year and was our largest convening to date! With over 450 participants, representing 40 states and the District of Columbia, at least 8 tribes, and 18 countries, the three-day event was filled with inspiring and educational sessions. The highly acclaimed plenary session, Sankofa: The Art of Intergenerational Storytelling, is available to watch online. We are starting preparations for our next international conference in 2023. Stay tuned.

2) Expanded Commitment to DEI

In 2021, we expanded our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through intensive staff training, racial equity toolkits for grandfamilies, and a new project to elevate intergenerational practices in diverse communities. More information about our goals will be coming early in the new year when we release our 3-year strategic plan for 2022-2024.

3) Supporting Grandfamilies

Our National Center on Grandfamilies continued to elevate the voices of grandfamilies through our GRAND Voices Network. We were proud to participate in the federal Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the development of its initial report to Congress. We also administered the Grandfamilies COVID Response Fund, distributing grants totaling $120,000 to grandfamilies and nonprofits that serve them.

4) First National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families

Generations United is honored to create the first National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families (NTAC), funded through a five-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL). We will coordinate the work of five partners and a diverse steering committee of the nation’s leading experts on kinship and grandfamilies and caregivers from the GRAND Voices Network.

5) New and Updated Resources

Finally, we delivered a bumper crop of new and updated resources in 2021. We encourage you to check them out and use them in your efforts to strengthen intergenerational connections and supports for grandfamilies.

The updated GrandFacts State Fact Sheets are resources for grandfamilies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia - now available in Spanish.
Making the Case for Intergenerational Programs provides rationale and facts to help you make the case for intergenerational programs.
Fact Sheet: Intergenerational Programs Benefit Everyone serves as a companion piece to Making the Case and provides a synthesized overview of the benefits.
Staying Connected While Staying Apart: Intergenerational Programs & the COVID-19 Pandemic shares an overview of intergenerational engagement during the pandemic.
Family Matters: Multigenerational Living is on the Rise and Here to Stay includes the findings of a 2021 survey which revealed that multigenerational living nearly quadrupled in the past decade, with the pandemic playing a strong role. This report includes recommendations for ways that both public and private initiatives can help more families benefit from this highly successful way of living. Learn more.
Sharing Our Space: A Toolkit for Developing and Enhancing Intergenerational Shared Sites is an online toolkit that details every step of the development and operation process, from initial planning to sustaining long-term shared site programs.
Latino Grandfamilies: Helping Latino Children Thrive Through Connection to Culture and Family gives resources and tips to child welfare agencies, other government agencies, and nonprofit organizations so that they can better serve all Latino grandfamilies regardless of child welfare involvement. This toolkit joins our toolkits for African American Grandfamilies and American Indian and Alaska Native Grandfamilies released in 2020. Learn more.
Reinforcing a Strong Foundation: Equitable Supports for Basic Needs of Grandfamilies is our 2021 State of Grandfamilies in America Annual Report. It includes updated national and state data on grandfamilies and key recommendations to address inequities and provide critical supports to serve grandfamilies well.

Thank You to Our Members and Supporters

All of this is possible because of our members, supporters, and you. Please donate now to continue to build a world that values all ages. If you're an organization, join us!

Generations United thanks Marilyn & John Oyler, Jean & Richard Josephson, and Jamie & Christopher Bailey for their contributions.

This is the last issue of GTW for 2021. Thank you for your support this year and please also let us know how we can improve! Email us at gu@gu.org. We'd love to hear from you!

Happy Holidays from

The Generations United Team