Healthy Grandfamilies Program Another EPIDEMIC in our country an - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

West Virginia State University Healthy Grandfamilies Program

Another EPIDEMIC in our country an EPIDEMIC in West Virginia! GRANDFAMILIES a new community! Bonnie Dunn, MS Bonnie.dunn@wvstateu.edu

parsonsb@wvstateu.edu

West Virginia State University

West Virginia State University Healthy Grandfamilies

HISTORY / BACKGROUND

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What is a Grandfamily? A GrandFamily is a special kind of Kinship arrangement. Different from kinship and foster care because of the genetic/biological connect. Grandparents are: A treasure, founders of a loving legacy, greatest storytellers, keepers of traditions, strong foundation. Special love sets them apart from all others. They keep a family close at heart.”

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National Trends

• Over 2.5 million grandparents are responsible

for their grandchildren

• For every 1 child in the foster care system, 25

are being raised by grandparents or relatives

• utside of the system
• Grandfamilies save tax payers more then $6.5

$4 billion by keeping kids out of foster care

Source: Generation United, 2017 4

Statewide Trends

WV ranks 2nd among all states in the % of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren.

Source: Kids County 2016 5

Source: WVRHA/WV Health Data Portal 6

Common reasons for grandparents raising their grandchildren

• Death of parent
• Abandonment or

neglect

• Incarceration
• Substance abuse
• Unemployment and/or

financial problems

• Mental Illness
• Divorce
• Teen pregnancy
• HIV/AIDS
• Abuse, family violence
• Military deployment

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Challenges Faced by Custodial Grandparents

• Legal status
• Financial support
• Health care/mental

health care

• School
• Child behavior
• Family relationships
• Support services
• Fair & equal treatment
• Often dealing with

addiction of adult child

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Program Model Intervention

Grandparents receive:

• Education/Action Plan (3 months)

– Weekly Discussion Groups for grandparents delivered in the community in which they live. – Child care – Refreshments

• Family Support Follow-up (3 months following

Discussion Groups) Total Intervention = 6 months

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Discussion Topics

• 1. Communication
• 2. Parenting in the 21st Century

We must not have gotten it right the first time or we wouldn’t be raising our grandchildren!

• 3. Family Relationships

4 . Self Care Health Literacy

• 5. Stress

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Discussion Topics

6. Nutrition

• 7. Technology, Social Media,

Cyber-bullying

• 8. Navigating the Legal System
• 9. Navigating the School System
• 10. Family Response to Addiction

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Additional Topics

• Trauma Informed Care
• ACE’s
• Counselling Services
• Others as needed

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“Healthy Grandfamilies”

Be It Known That

John

Successfully completed this program which focused on: Communication, Parenting in the 21st Century, Family Relationships, Self-Care/Health Literacy, Stress, Nutrition, Legal Issues, School System, Social Media and Family Response to Addiction. 16 hours’ class time

Healthy Grandfamilies Coordinator Date Social Worker Date

Andy and Debbie Adoption 2 Grandchildren Ages 5 yrs - 4 months

Baseline Characteristics (N=125)

from the Pilot Project

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• Age range: 39 – 82 (67.4% age 60+)
• 73.4% female
• 88.8% Caucasian/White (78.4%

grandchildren Caucasian/white)

• 66% Married
• 44.8% some college or college degree
• 32% with incomes $10,000 – $24,999
• (45% $25,000 - $49,999

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Placement Reasons

2 Average # of grandchildren in grandfamily household:

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Primary reasons for placement:

– Drug-related 84.8%

• Addiction
• Death of parent
• Incarcerated parent
• Child removed by DHHR

– Financial reasons 6.4% – Parent has disability 4.0% – Military deployment 1.6% – Parent is a teenager 1.6% – Other 1.6%

Health Status

• Grandparents’ chronic

health conditions:

➢At least 1 100% ➢Top 3: arthritis, heart disease, chronic pain

• Self-reported health of

grandparents:

➢Excellent 60.8% ➢Good 32.0% ➢Fair/Poor 7.2%

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Chronic Conditions of Children

• Grandchildren’s chronic

conditions:

➢At least 1 22% ➢Top 4: ✓Hyperactivity ✓Behavior Problems ✓Obesity ✓Learning Disability

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19.2% reported to have behavioral problems 19.2% diagnosed with hyperactivity 12.0% diagnosed with a mental health condition

Grandfamilies with 7 grandchildren 8 grandchildren 9 grandchildren Are you prepared to take on such a daunting task?”

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Family Support Follow-up (3 months) “Social Work in Action”

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What is the current status

• f WVSU HGP?

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2 year post follow-up

Survey’s were mailed to the original participants of the Pilot

• Project. With 49% of the survey’s from the follow-up results

are: Percentages 93% – 96% “strongly agree” “agree” That the overall participating in the program made a positive impact on their family. Comments: “I would highly recommend this program to any grandparent involved in raising a grandchild. “I found that the program is phenomenal. Everyone on the HG team was extremely knowledgeable and helpful…”

Training the 54 Harrison County was trained 2017 during the Pilot Project 22 Trainings 805 participants 1 Social Work Training 22 participants

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Replication of WVSU HGP Trained Kentucky New Hampshire Guam

GRANT HAMPSHIRE HARDY PENDLETON FAYETTE GREENBRIER MERCER MONROE NICHOLAS WEBSTER LOGAN MCDOWELL RALEIGH WYOMING BOONE CABELL LINCOLN WAYNE CLAY KANAWHA JACKSON MASON PUTNAM BRAXTON LEWIS RANDOLPH TUCKER MONONGALIA PRESTON TAYLOR TYLER BROOKE HANCOCK OHIO WETZEL ROANE RITCHIE WIRT WOOD TUCKER MARION MINERAL

Healthy Grandfamilies December 2019

Trained Active Programs in 28 counties

Testimony from a Grandmother

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Kairos is a time that requires a conversion from people. Kairos is extraordinary time, requiring

• interpretation. The capacity to

read the signs of the time.

Bill & Lillie Blackhurst my Grandparents Rand, WV 1948

Contact Information Bonnie Dunn, MS, Extension Specialist Family and Consumer Sciences bonnie.dunn@wvstateu.edu

parsonsb@wvstateu.edu

• . 304-204-4007
• c. 304-541-1654

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