2023 State of Grandfamilies Report Release Event - Register Today

Join Generations United live on Wednesday, November 8, at 3:00 PM EST for the virtual release of our 2023 State of Grandfamilies report, "Building Resilience: Supporting Grandfamilies' Mental Health and Wellness." 

During this report release webinar, you'll have the opportunity to: 



• Explore key findings and highlights from the report. 
• Engage in a conversation with caregivers and young members of grandfamilies facilitated by Sonia Emerson of ChildFocus Partners. 
• Hear insights from family therapist and kinship expert Dr. Joseph Crumbley. 

Don't miss this valuable webinar. Register today and join the conversation! 

Thanks to The Brookdale Foundation Group for making this report and event possible, and to Centene Corporation for their valuable support! 

Partner With Us!

State-Specific Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Charts

Generations United, with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, is developing state-specific comparison charts to help grandfamilies understand the difference between adoption and guardianship for children leaving foster care to permanency with relatives. For this project, we identify an organization in each state and ask them to partner with us by answering a set of state-specific questions, placing their logo on the publication along with ours, and distributing the resource. We are currently seeking state or local partners in Arkansas, District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

Please contact Adina Wambua, Project Assistant, at awambua@gu.org if you are interested in partnering with Generations United on an Adoption and Guardianship Comparison Chart in your state! 

Latest Policy & Advocacy Update

Check out this Medium blog for Policy & Advocacy Update from Generations United Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Chelsi Rhoades. The blog includes information on President Biden's Proclamation on National Grandparents Day, ways to take action to support Peer-to-Peer support programs, help ensure Kinship Navigator Programs receive $20 million in FY 24 funding, and how to get involved in the development of the Kinship Unity Action Agenda. The blog also includes updates related to appropriations/continuing resolution, Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, and the Older Americans Act. Read the policy & advocacy update here.

Be a VOICE for Grandfamilies! Recruitment Season!

Become a part of GRAND Voices and play a vital role in shaping policies and practices that support relatives raising children. Caregivers of young people, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, and extended family members, are all welcome to join. We strongly encourage caregivers from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color to apply. All perspectives are invaluable in shaping policies, programs, and practices that uplift all grandfamilies/kinship families.

Do you know someone who would be a good fit as a GRAND Voice? Are you a good fit? Nominate someone or apply today!

As a GRAND Voice you can:

• Connect with fellow caregivers
• Share your wisdom and experience
• Inform policies and programs nationally
• Participate in trainings and events
• Amplify grandfamily strengths and needs

GENERATIONS UNITED provides:

• Quarterly video conferences
• Peer support calls
• Trainings on advocacy and storytelling
• Preparation and support for speaking events
• Ongoing networking opportunities

Help reveal service gaps, guide new resources, and raise your voice so grandfamilies/kinship families can THRIVE. We are taking applications and nominations until November 10th. Learn more: www.gu.org. Contact Robyn Wind, GRAND Voices Coordinator, rwind@gu.org with questions or to nominate someone.

Webinar Recording – Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs

This event co-hosted by Generations United and RRF Foundation for Aging on October 5, 2023 highlighted the recommendations in the new report Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs. This event explored the challenges and successes of organizations embarking on a diversity journey and those already prioritizing cultural responsiveness. We heard from a panel of intergenerational program practitioners whose work focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Watch the video here or listen to the audio.

New Federal Rule Supports Kinship Families in Foster Care Resource and Webinar Recording

This short resource explains the final rule that was published by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on September 28, 2023. The rule explicitly gives all Title IV-E child welfare agencies the option to use kin-specific foster care licensing or approval standards and encourages them to limit those standards to federal safety requirements. This change will allow more children to be cared for by those they know and love and requires that they be financially supported like children with non-kin foster parents. We also held a webinar on this topic, along with a coalition of national nonprofit organizations. As part of the webinar, the coalition released its recommended kin-specific standards. To access the resource, Click Here. To access the webinar, Click Here.

Empowering Change: Resources for Engaging Young People and Families in Child Welfare

Discover a wealth of valuable resources at the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) Center to enhance your efforts in engaging young people and families with lived experience in child welfare. These resources are your key to fostering meaningful connections and driving positive change in the child welfare system. Explore, learn, and empower change today!

• Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Round 4: Strategies to Include Family and Youth Voice (2022 CWVE recorded session)
• Preparation Checklist for Engagement of Young People and Families in the CFSR (checklist)
• Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Strategies for Meaningful Youth, Family, and Other Partner Engagement (brief)
• A Tool for Youth Engagement and Youth Empowerment (Division X tool)

Unlocking the Potential of Kinship Navigator Programs

The Casey Family Program has released a brief that highlights the crucial role of kinship navigator programs in supporting more than 2.4 million children in the United States who are raised by their grandparents or other relatives. These caregivers often face financial difficulties and lack guidance, but kinship navigator programs provide them with vital information, education, and referrals to various services. This brief provides information about the key components and advantages of these programs, along with real-life examples. For more information on creating and financing kinship navigator programs, you can refer to the companion brief here. 

CAREGIVER CORNER

Meet Andreah Moyer, a member of GRAND Voices from Iowa who recently launched a blog. Her blog tells the story of her remarkable and deeply personal journey. In an extraordinary show of love, Andreah adopted her younger brother, as a toddler. Through her blog, she warmly invites readers to join her on this unique adventure. She is dedicated to sharing her poignant experiences and heartfelt stories as a foster parent in Iowa. Together, readers will explore the intricate tapestry of emotions, triumphs, and challenges that come with opening hearts and homes to children in need. Through her narratives, Andreah aims to uncover the untold stories, celebrate the resilience of these young lives, and share the invaluable lessons learned along the way. To access the blog, kindly click on the link provided.