Hello! Friends of Grandfamilies
Below you will find some recent updates and resources from the field. If you know anyone who may be interested in receiving these alerts, please forward this to them and/or encourage them to sign up here.
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Generations United
in the NEWS
An article written by Jaia Lent, Deputy Executive Director at Generations United, on Supporting the Nutrition, Health and Well-Being of Grandfamilies is featured in GRAND Magazine. The article highlights our 2022 State of Grandfamilies report. Read the article here.
Danica Derriennic, Special Projects Coordinator at Generations United, is quoted in an article that centers Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.), a Chicago-based housing organization, recognized for its intergenerational housing initiatives. The article highlights H.O.M.E as a Generations United designated Program of Distinction. Read the full story here.
Photo: Dupty Executive Director Jaia Lent and Special Projects Coordinator Danica Derriennic
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A Proposed Federal Rule Would Support Kinship/Grandfamilies Involved with the Foster Care System
Generations United is very pleased to share that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), has proposed that child welfare agencies around the country adopt licensing or approval standards for all kinship/relative foster family homes that are different from the licensing or approval standards used for non-kin foster family homes.
This is a significant move forward for the thousands of children who are placed with kin in foster care and yet do not receive monthly foster care payments to meet their needs – payments that all children with non-kin in foster care receive. This proposed change advances equity for children in kinship foster care, including the disproportionate numbers of children who are Black or Indigenous or living in underserved rural areas.
Generations United is thrilled that we, along with trusted partners, are cited throughout the notice of proposed rule making. Today’s notice builds on work we’ve been doing for well over a decade to promote equitable financial support for children in kinship/relative foster care.
The notice period for the proposed regulation is open until April 17, 2023 and we encourage all stakeholders, including kinship caregivers, youth raised in kinship care, and child welfare agencies, to submit comments here.
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Global Conference Updates - Accepting Nominations for 2023 Generations United Awards
Know a person, program, or organization doing innovative and outstanding work in the intergenerational and grandfamily fields? Nominate them for a Generations United Award, to be presented during the 22nd Global Intergenerational Conference in Washington D.C.! Interested individuals are encouraged to self-nominate. The deadline for nominations is March 6. Learn more.
Registration is open for Generations United's Global Intergenerational Conference, to be held July 26-28, 2023 in Washington, DC! Special savings are available to people who register by March 15. Register today!
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Announcing Global Intergenerational Week 2023!
Join Generations United, The Eisner Foundation and organizations around the world to celebrate Global Intergenerational Week!
Now in its fourth year, this U.K.-based campaign led by Generations Working Together is expanding its global reach! As one of the U.S.-based leaders for this initiative, we invite you to sign up as a supporter and help inspire people, organizations, governments and more to fully embrace intergenerational practices connecting people of all ages, especially the younger and older generations. Learn more here.
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Generations United’s Public Policy Priorities for the 118th Congress
Children, youth, and older adults are interconnected parts of our lives and families, yet government policy and programing tend to treat them as separate groups. It’s time for all of us in the U.S. to recognize this interdependence, and to acknowledge that these connections make for stronger communities and a stronger nation. Generations United identifies, promotes, and advocates for a variety of legislative priorities for the 118th Congress to better enable young, old and those who care for them to prosper individually and as they support one another. Learn more.
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National PTA's
Legislative Conference
Jamarl D. Clark, the Assistant Director of the National Center on Grandfamilies at Generations United, and Ana Beltran, the Director of the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (Network), will be presenting at the National PTA’s Legislative Conference, which will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 7. Register here.
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The Unique Dynamics of
Co-parenting in Kinship Families
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (Network) will host a webinar on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.
The webinar title is "The Unique Dynamics of Co-Parenting in Kinship Families," and our speaker will be Dr. Joseph Crumbley. Register here.
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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. Register here!
Speakers will include:
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Kinship Conversations: Building Resilience During the Pandemic and Beyond Webinar
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 1:00 p.m. ET
The Grandfamilies Outcome Workgroup (GrOW) will share practice recommendations and lessons learned from 825 kinship caregivers from both survey waves of the National Grandfamilies and COVID-19 Survey. Register here.
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Tips to Include Kinship/Grandfamilies in Programmatic
Decision-Making
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center (Network) created a resource that offers tips for engaging caregivers, youth, and parents with lived experience in kinship/grandfamilies so that they can meaningfully contribute to programs and services intended for them. Download the resource here.
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Supporting your LGBTQ+ Grandchild
Sex and Gender Education (SAGE) partnered with Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gay (PFLAG) produced a guide for grandparents and those with younger loved ones who are coming out at LGBTQ+.
Learn how sexual orientation differs from gender identity, tips for showing your support, and more. Download here.
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Celebrate Black History Month
This Black History Month, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is highlighting the roles food insecurity and nutrition have on common health disparities faced by Black and African American communities, such as increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and maternal and infant mortality. Click here throughout the observance to learn more.
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GRAND Voice Norma Hatfield is quoted in an opinion piece in the Lexington Herald Leader. The article is called, "Lawmakers move to help KY grandparents. Why can't they support families more often?" Generations United commends her and other advocates in Kentucky for this success! Read the full story here.
Photo: GRAND Voice Norma Hatfield
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Thanks for reading this newsletter. If you have anything you would like included in future newsletters, please send them to Jamarl D. Clark at jclark@gu.org. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter. Feel free to reply with any feedback or comments.
Best,
The Grandfamilies Team
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