Your Story, Your Stage

Generations Together is dedicated to serving children raised in kinship families. Did you know that 319,766 children in the state of Georgia, age 18 and under, live in homes where the heads of households are grandparents or other relative kin - aunts, uncles, older siblings? Regardless of their personal circumstances and without hesitation, they have assumed the responsibility of raising a child or children because the birth parents are unable or unwilling to do so. These newly formed families will face many challenges like providing for the expanded family’s basic needs while on a fixed income, as well as health and aging issues. The children may be traumatized, developmentally challenged, have academic difficulties, exhibit low self- esteem, and unable to adequately communicate with others. Regardless of circumstances, experts agree that children thrive when they are in the care of a relative rather than a non-relative in the foster care system. They have more stability, a sense of belonging, and feel safe and loved. Caring for an unexpected expanded household can cause anxiety and stress, and push families toward poverty. There are additional expenses for food, larger housing, medical and childcare, household emergencies, and transportation needs. Access to many public benefits and income supports are not readily available to these families. Generations Together, Inc. was incorporated in 2019 as a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to provide support and services to grand/kinship families. The organization provides a community where kinship families are empowered to provide a loving, safe, secure, and nurturing home for the children in their care so that they can achieve positive long-term outcomes in their lives. In fulfilling our mission, we provide services such as: Monthly empowerment meetings for caregivers, bi-monthly food pop-up markets, household supplies boxes, case management services, information and training, legal guidance and counseling, clothes and school supplies for the children, Thanksgiving dinner feast boxes, Angel Tree gifts for children, and kinship month breakfast celebration for the caregivers. Visit generations-together.com or scan the QR code on the right for more info. — Karen Gillespie, Executive Director