Grandparents Raising Grandchildren A Grass Roots Project 1 The - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Grandparents

Raising Grandchildren A Grass Roots Project

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The Steering Committee

Sam Burnett – Committee Coordinator

• Dr. Amy Allen

Arcelia Armstrong Michael Bryant Dr Tom Cox Dr Larry Godfrey Dr John Paschen Sue Rowe Sheriff John Tharp

2

Scope of the Issue

• 1 in 10 Grandparents live with their grandchildren
• 4.9 million grandparents who live with their grandchildren are the

head of household

• 2.7 million grandparents are solely responsible for their grandchildren
• 58% are in the workforce
• 21% are below the poverty level
• 40% provide care for the grandchildren for more than 5 years
• In Lucas county there are over 10,000 children being raised by their

grandparents

3

Partnerships

• Pat Miller Foundation
• Area Office on Aging
• Eleanor Kahle Senior Center
• Aldersgate United Methodist Church
• Lucas County Sherriff Department
• Toledo Public Schools
• Pickett School
• Washington Local Schools
• Jackman School
• Boomers’ Lake Erie Region

4

Goals

• Understand both the joys and challenges of raising grandchildren
• Identify and communicate available resources, for grandparents and

their grandchildren

• Understand the unmet needs of grandparents who are raising their

grandchildren.

• Provide a resources guide and support network for grandparents who

are raising their grandchildren.

• Establish a network of self-directed grandparent support groups

5

Our First Step

• February 18, 2015
• Initial Focus Group
• Invited 12 grandparent who were raising their grand children
• 9 ultimately attended
• Ages from 50-70
• Across Socioeconomic Status
• Explored the joys, challenges, and concerns of being responsible for

raising their grandchildren

• A series of questions about experiences was facilitated
• Notes and recording of the discussion

6

Question

• 1 = extreme difficulty

10 = extreme joy What number would you pick to represent your experiences in raising your grandchildren?

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Question

• What have been your greatest joys in raising your grandchildren?

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Question

• What have been some of the greatest challenges in raising your

grandchildren?

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Focus Group Summary

• The challenges span education and income levels
• The challenges are real
• Grandparents are devoted to their grandchildren
• Legal, financial, educational and emotional challenges emerged as the

areas where grandparents need support

• There are resources available but not always well known
• There are gaps in the system
• Something can be done

10

What Has Happened Since

• Shared results of Focus Group with those who participated
• Began the process of creating Grandparent Groups
• TPS: Pickett School
• WLS: Meetings and discussions with Jackman School
• Hosted two community events
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Seminar
• Overview and Support
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Seminar
• Opiate Crisis
• Building Partnerships

11

Where Do We Go From Here

• Continue building Partnerships
• Begin the initial Grandparents Groups
• Continue the identification and communication of available resources
• Continue the identification and communication of gaps in the

resources network

• Continue to identify ways to make the resource network more

navigable

• Process improvement, communication, and education

12

How Can You Help

• Join us in partnership
• Have representation at various events
• Be vigilant
• Communicate to those in need
• Tell us what we don’t know
• Other resources
• Other efforts
• What else?

13

Summary

• Initiative began 18 months ago
• The challenges are real
• Progress slower than we expected
• Gaining more commitment each day
• Still lots to do
• You can help

14

Questions

15

Thank You!!!!!

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