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VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 5 | FEBRUARY 2023
View this Newsletter as a Webpage
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This month, we’re sharing upcoming webinars, hiring news, and a new resource from the Network, as well as learning, networking, and funding opportunities from around the field. Please read on for more information.
Please share your latest news, upcoming events, and highlights with us. They may be featured in our next newsletter!
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Register for Our Next Two Webinars! | |
We have two webinars coming up in the next two months, and we invite you to join us! Both webinars will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. | |
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Topic: The Unique Dynamics of Co-Parenting in Kinship Families
Presented by: Dr. Joseph Crumbley
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Topic: Intersection of Kinship Care and Culture: African & Caribbean Communities in America
Presented by: Dr. Anita Rogers (moderator),
Dr. Hadih Deedat, and Dr. Eric Edi
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What's New From the Network? | | |
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We’re Hiring Another Technical Assistance Specialist
Apply to join our team! The Technical Assistance Specialist will be responsible for providing technical assistance, including trainings, and for helping the Network to disseminate learnings. We are seeking candidates with at least four years of professional experience in the kinship/grandfamilies field, whether through direct service provision to the families or policy and practice work at a relevant government agency or nonprofit organization. Preference will be given to individuals who apply before Friday, February 24, 2023.
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Monthly Resource: Legal Options for Grandfamily & Kin Caregivers
Our February two-pager, “Legal Options for Grandfamily & Kin Caregivers,” provides information on care and custody options for kinship/grandfamilies, answers to a few commonly asked questions, and a technical assistance tip for professionals working with kinship/grandfamilies. It is full of vetted links to additional information, all conveniently collected in one short resource. We are grateful to our partners at ZERO TO THREE for their leadership in producing these monthly resources.
This resource is available in English and Spanish.
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In this monthly section, we'll share a tweet or other small bit of information that you can easily copy and share. | |
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This month, we're promoting our next webinar:
The @GensUnited Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is hosting a webinar with internationally renowned #kinship trainer & consultant Dr. Joseph Crumbley!
The Unique Dynamics of Shared/Co-Parenting in Kinship Families
March 14
2 pm ET
Register: https://buff.ly/40mhTwy
This draft is styled for Twitter; for other social media platforms and newsletters, please tag/mention Generations United and use the full name of the Network (Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center).
The graphic can be copied and included in your promotion. If you use the graphic, please be sure to add alternative text so that people with disabilities have equal access to the content of the graphic.
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Individual Technical Assistance Spotlight | | |
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The Network is responding free of charge to individual technical assistance (TA) requests from professionals who work in systems and organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. To date, we have responded to TA requests from 45 states and territories.
To request TA, please complete our Technical Assistance Request Form.
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Here's an example TA request and response.
Request
What services do Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) offer for kinship/grandfamilies?
Response
Check out this fact sheet and this report, both of which are available in the resource library on www.GKSNetwork.org. The fact sheet provides a high-level overview of results from a recent USAging topical poll of AAAs and Title VI Native American Aging Programs regarding their engagement with kinship/grandfamilies. Two-thirds of AAAs and Title VI program respondents offer services tailored specifically to kinship/grandfamilies. The fact sheet includes information on services provided to kinship/grandfamilies, referral partners, and challenges. The report covers additional topics and includes profiles of existing programs. Both the fact sheet and the report are also available in Spanish.
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Upcoming Presentations About the Network | |
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Jamarl Clark, the Assistant Director of the National Center on Grandfamilies at Generations United, and Ana Beltran, the director of the Network, will be presenting at the National PTA’s Legislative Conference, which will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 7.
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Leland Kiang, the program manager at USAging who oversees USAging’s role in the Network, and Ana will be presenting at the American Society on Aging conference in Atlanta. Their presentation is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 29.
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Network subject matter expert Angelique Day and Ana will be on a panel during a morning plenary session of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) conference in Reno, Nevada on Monday, April 3. NICWA's Sarah Kastelic, Tara Reynon, and Alexis Contreras; Generations United's Robyn Wind; and Ana will also participate in a Network/NICWA workshop session, which will take place on Tuesday, April 4.
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What's New Around the Network? | | |
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Information Session on Proposed Rule for Foster Care Approval/Licensing of Relative/Kin Families
Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
As we shared last week, ACF has proposed an important rule for children in kinship/relative foster care. The proposal allows child welfare agencies around the country to adopt licensing/approval standards for all relative or kinship foster family homes that are different from those used for non-kin foster family homes. Moreover, ACF encourages child welfare agencies to “strongly consider” developing standards for relative and kinship foster family homes that are limited to long-standing federal safety requirements and omit any additional standards required of non-kin foster family homes.
The Children’s Bureau in ACF is holding this information session for title IV-E agencies and the public, to provide an overview of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. No advance registration is required. To join, simply save the date, time, and link.
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New Tailored Resources for Kin and Grandfamilies Available from the Nutrition & Aging Resource Center
Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Network is pleased to note that government entities and nonprofit organizations are increasingly creating tailored resources for kinship/grandfamilies and those who serve them.
Nutrition Resources for Kin and Grandfamilies provides links to various resources that may help professionals serving kinship/grandfamilies. Grandparents and Nutritional Needs shares background information on grandparents raising grandchildren and offers ideas to help nutrition programs better serve the families. Both resources are also available through the resource library at www.GKSNetwork.org.
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Learning Session: Supporting Kin Caregivers Outside the Foster Care System
Government Performance Lab, Harvard Kennedy School
Thursday, March 2, 2023
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
Most children who live with kin are not in the foster care system and therefore are less likely to receive government support, yet the needs of these “informal” or “independent” kin caregivers look very similar to those caring for children in the foster care system. Community-based organizations and government agencies both have roles to play to support the families. Speakers will include (from top) Dr. Ali Caliendo, Founder and Executive Director of Nevada’s Foster Kinship; Kim Clifton, MSW, Executive Director of South Carolina’s HALOS; and Beth Lindley, LMSW, Director of Michigan State University’s Kinship Care Resource Center.
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Partner with Generations United on State-Specific Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Charts
Generations United is developing state-specific comparison charts to help kinship/grandfamilies understand the differences between adoption and guardianship for children leaving foster care to permanency with relatives or kin. This project is supported by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. State or local partner organizations will help answer state-specific questions and assist in distributing the resource, and the partner’s logo will be included in the publication! Organizations in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawai'i, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Tennessee that are interested in participating should contact Chelsi Rhoades, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, at crhoades@gu.org.
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Webinar: The Role of Transportation in Cross-Sector Collaborations Designed to Improve Housing Stability
Housing and Services Resource Center
Monday, February 27, 2023
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Partnerships across housing, transportation, aging and disability, and health are essential to ensure housing stability for people with disabilities, older adults, and caregivers. Partnerships help ensure accessible, reliable, and safe transportation options so people can live where they choose, with the people they choose, and engage in their communities as they see fit. Webinar participants will learn about creating cross-sector partnerships with public transportation as a key partner to improve housing stability. Tools and other technical assistance resources will be shared. Participants will also be able to ask questions.
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Funding Opportunity: Building Early Childhood-Child Welfare Partnerships to Support the Well-Being of Young Children, Families, and Caregivers
Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Applications Due March 13, 2023
This grant will provide eight recipients with $250,000 to $275,000 to support partnerships between early care and education (ECE) and child welfare to assist children and families at-risk or engaged with the child welfare system. Grant recipients will implement strategies, such as establishing formalized mechanisms of coordination between partner agencies, increasing cross-training and partnership opportunities for child welfare and ECE at both the staff and leadership levels, developing and enhancing strategies to facilitate referral and coordination processes between agencies, and ensuring that child welfare agencies have ready and accurate information about ECE.
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Funding Opportunity: WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Subgrants
WIC Community Innovation and Outreach (CIAO) Project
Applications Due March 23, 2023
Funding is available through a Request for Application (RFA) to WIC State and local agencies, including Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), and nonprofit entities and organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative outreach strategies to increase WIC awareness, participation, benefit redemption, and reduce disparities in program delivery. Applicants may request support of $100,000 to $1,000,000, and up to $10 million total will be available under this WIC CIAO Subgrant RFA.
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National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference: “Spreading Love and Supporting All Children”
Institute for Educational Leadership
June 7-9, 2023
The 2023 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference in Philadelphia will bring together people from across the country who believe all children deserve a safe place to live and opportunities to learn and thrive. The conference is designed to catalyze collaboration, action, and a renewed commitment to transforming practices, partnerships, and systems. People of all backgrounds and areas of expertise are invited to attend, including school and district leaders; education, justice, and health system professionals; early childhood educators; university partners; disability advocates; researchers; and more.
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Podcast: “Grandfamilies, Part 2: Talk With a Grandparent”
From the “Talk. They Hear You.” Podcast from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Listen as Generations United GRAND Voice Charlotte S., from Pennsylvania, a grandmother raising her grandson, shares specifics about returning to the role of primary caregiver. There is much to learn from her personal experience and wisdom around a topic that affects many families.
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January 18, 2023
Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grants bring together local government, nonprofit, and private entities to engage families and communities and provide students with comprehensive, integrated social and health services and academic supports. In this round of funding, 42 five-year grants were awarded to local educational agencies, nonprofits, other organizations, and institutions of higher education, all for the establishment or expansion of community schools.
This grant and these schools represent a phenomenal opportunity for cross-system collaboration, one that can both serve kinship/grandfamilies and act as a model for the specialized integration of supports for kinship/grandfamilies.
January 19, 2023
This year, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the U.S. Department of Agriculture will select up to three states to receive funding and support to run an Electronic Healthy Incentives Pilot (eHIP) for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in their state. The idea is to improve food and nutrition security by making it easier for SNAP households to access healthy foods. As noted in the 2022 State of Grandfamilies Report from Generations United, 25 percent of all grandparent-headed households experience food insecurity.
January 26, 2023
Preschool Development Birth through Five funding helps states to invest in strategies that will improve early learning experiences for young children. Funds can be applied for a range of services that benefit young children and their families, including supports for the early childhood workforce, integrated mental health services, and improved coordination that make programs easier for families to access.
This is another example of government support for integrating services and improving coordination.
January 30, 2023
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it is expanding and enhancing its help to borrowers struggling to make mortgage payments on their FHA-insured mortgages. An estimated 60 percent of grandparents and other relatives raising children are homeowners, and some may have FHA-insured mortgages. The enhancements extend FHA's COVID-19 loss mitigation options to all eligible borrowers who fall behind on their mortgage payments, regardless of the cause. The updates also enable mortgage servicers to use the full 30 percent of FHA's partial claim option, to help maximize the number of borrowers able to retain their homes. The mandatory effective date of the changes is April 30, 2023, but mortgage servicers may begin offering these options to borrowers immediately.
January 31, 2023
The rate of food insecurity in households in which grandparents who are at least 60 years old are raising their grandchildren is three times higher than the rate in comparable households with no children. New grants will help 47 states and tribes to modernize and expand the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which serves individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have low incomes. The $50 maximum benefit will now be available for up to 250,000 additional eligible seniors.
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Did you receive this newsletter as a forwarded email? You can sign up to get it in your inbox every month! | |
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The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is the first-ever national technical assistance center for those who serve grandfamilies and kinship families. It was created to help guide lasting, systemic reforms. The Network is a new way to collaborate, to work across jurisdictional and systemic boundaries, to eliminate silos, and to help one another and be helped in return. Thank you for being part of it.
We'd love to hear from you! Please send any feedback on this newsletter to mweiss@gu.org.
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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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