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

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren A Grass Roots Project 1

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? 7

Question • What have been your greatest joys in raising your grandchildren? 8

Question • What have been some of the greatest challenges in raising your grandchildren? 9

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!!!!! 16