April 2014

GRG of Brevard

April 2014 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC.

ISSUE # 154

SPRING IS IN THE AIR! Easter Happenings!

The Annual Easter Day of Fun at 3 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Bernice G. Jackson Park,

together by age and have their

more information.

own special time to hunt. Please

(Sharpes.)

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny,

bring a waterproof basket or egg

Participants will enjoy a free egg

for children 10 years of age and

holder to store your eggs, and a

hunt,

and

under, will be held at 9 a.m.

towel. Bring everyone for this great

more. This event is co-sponsored

Saturday, April 19, at Sand Point

family

with North Cocoa Civic League.

Park,

a

advance; no on-site registration.

Call

pancake breakfast, crafts and egg

Limited openings, ages 2-16 years

hunt. Tickets are $3 for each adult

old. Cost is $3 for participants and

and

$2 for adult swimmers. contact

face

(321)

Cocoa

egg carriers. Call (321) 264-5045 for

painting,

433-4448

crafts

for

more

information.

There will be two free egg hunts

Titusville.

$5

for is

There

each

will

be

child.

Pre-

and a movie at Fay Park in Port St.

registration

recommended

at

John, on Saturday, April 12. Children

Sandrift Community Center, Call

ages 5 and under will hunt at 5 p.m.

(321) 264-5037 for more information.

event.

Must

register

in

Claire Cawthon at (321) 633-1874 The Palm Bay Aquatic Center will host its annual Underwater Egg Hunt

Children ages 6 through 12 should

"Underwater Easter Eggsplosion"

bring a flashlight for the egg hunt

from 1 p.m.to 3:30 p.m. Saturday,

starting at 8:15 p.m. Immediately

April 19, at McLarty Aquatic Center,

Games and crafts will be available

following Brevard County Parks and

790 Barton Blvd., Rockledge. We are

from 11 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., and

Recreation would like to welcome

hunting for eggs underwater! Prizes

the egg hunt begins at 11:30 a.m.

everyone to see the movie "Frozen."

awarded

Easter

There are a limited number of

Call

Bunny's gold eggs. Some eggs will

tickets available for the event. The

float for the little tykes and there will

cost for the Underwater Egg Hunt is

Cuyler Park will host a free egg

be sinkers for those needing a

$4 per person. Participants must be

hunt at 4 p.m. Friday, April 18. All

challenge. Pictures will be available

inside the gates on April 20 no later

participants should bring their own

with the Easter Bunny or Easter

than 11am call (321) 952-2232.

(321)

633-1904

for

more

information.

for

finding

the

on Sunday, April 20.

Gates

will open at 11 a.m.

Chicken. Children will be grouped [Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

Page 1

Issue 154

GRG of Brevard

SUMMER CAMP What are your grandchildren doing when school is out for the summer? Have you thought about summer camp?

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren will assist you with summer camp fees. You select the camp, notify GRG of the registration or intent and cost and we will help you with the expense. You will have to supply us with your receipt and a copy of the registration. Please contact the office with the child’s name, your name, and the camp that you have selected with the dates of attendance. 321-631-7776

E-NEWSLETTER Are you interested in receiving an online version of our newsletter rather than a printed version? Please send an email to grg.brevard@gmail.com and include your name, email address and mailing address to insure we update your record accordingly!

Thank you for helping us save on printing costs so that more of each dollar can benefit children and families.

YOU NEED TO KNOW! SENIOR COUNSELING with Cliff Valentine If you sometimes feel that your new or continuing job of parenting again causes you concerns and you just want to discuss issues with a professional please call our office for an appointment. Cliff Valentine, LMHC, has volunteered his time each Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Each session lasts an hour and is held at our office located at 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge, FL. Please call (321) 631-7776 to schedule an appointment.

COMPUTER CLASSES conducted by Bill Hobson If you would like to know more about what your grandchild is doing on the computer or if you would like to be more proficient on the computer please call 321-631-7776. Class schedule will be based on number of participants.

How are your grandchild’s grades?

Are they getting “A's”, “B's”, “C's”, “D's” OR “F's”? If they are getting A's & B's come by the office and pick up a gift to reward them for their hard work. We have quite a few gifts that you can select from to reward your grandchild GRG of Brevard has teamed with a group of volunteers from UCF that have agreed to do free tutoring of our grandchildren, focusing on Math, Science, and Reading. If you are interested please contact the office 321-631-7776.

You're Stronger When We're Together!

APRIL 2014 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Tuesday, April 8th – Titusville Support Group Meeting 805 Century Medical Dr, Building B, Titusville. This group is partnered with Parrish Senior Solutions. 10:00 – 11:30 am (This meeting is always the second Tuesday of each month) Thursday, April 10th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting Libscomb Street Community Center 10:00 – 11:30 am.

(This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month) Tuesday, April 15th – Central Brevard Support Group (note time change) GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 9:30 – 11:00 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month) Wednesday, April 16th – South Brevard Support Group Meeting (note DAY change) Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay 6:00 – 7:30 pm (Dinner is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the third Wednesday of each month) Thursday, April 24th – Beach Side Support Group Memaw’s Restaurant, Indian Harbour Beach, 9:30 – 11:30 am (Breakfast is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the last Thursday of each month)

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Issue 154

GRG of Brevard

NEW DCF GUIDELINES FOR REMOVING CHILDREN FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL HOMES After the HOT LINE is called an investigator must determine that the

It is DCF’s belief that children fair better with dysfunctional parents unless the charges for removal are egregious

(beating,

malnutrition,

etc.)

This

new

procedure

will

be

implemented July 1, 2014.

child(ren) are safe or unsafe in the

Brevard Family Partnership has

parental home. If the home is

also made changes. The Florida

determined to be unsafe for the

Children’s Home and Devereux will

child (ren) are placed in:

no longer be conducting the case

A temporary status with foster

work for BFP.

care or grandparents – jointly with the parents for 3-6 months.

A new organization will soon provide case management services

Fast Track Team

to

During this period other service

dependency (foster care). The new

organizations will provide assistance to the parents seeking to improve the

parents’

food or other services needed to make the home safe to return the children to their parents. If they are returned the case is closed.

While the child(ren) are in this joint

temporary

custody,

when

medical treatment or admission to school is needed the parents must provide

permission

for

these

services.

BFP

placement

may

take

place.

At any time if DCF deems that

and

the

management

existing

agencies

and

with

minimal

over

the

next

several months to address questions and concerns. *****************************************

I’VE BEEN WAITING At the Christmas party someone lost a child 's gray jacket with hood

MAKE TIME FOR YOUR OWN NEEDS, TOO As

much

as

you

love

your

grandchildren, you need time for yourself.....visit friends, go on a trip or just take a nap. Physical activity can relieve stress and boost your spirits.

Take

a

walk,

go

swimming

or

relax—and stay connected with

your closer.

RENEW YOUR GRG MEMBERSHIP! Don't miss out! Join GRG of Brevard for important support and events focused on informing and improving the lives of relative care families in Brevard County GRG of Brevard provides programs and services to meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relative caregivers raising children at risk.

& zipper. It is a size Small (6-8). Also

children will be returned back to the

casserole dish with cover. Dish is

parents. The period is shorter than

glass (crystal) with flowers & vines

before.

designs. If these items belong to you

is stated in Florida statue chapter 39.

7776.

your grandchild can also help bring

lost

the children with their parents as this

am-noon. Call to register 321-631-

friends. Sharing your hobby with

the parental home is safe the

Every effort will be made to keep

for the potluck. at the GRG office 10

currently

Community and family meetings will coordinated

the speaker, Bring a Covered Dish

case

disruption to children and families. be

TARGET Training with IMPOWER as

active. A hobby can help you

under contract to transition services effectively

April 9th is the Final Session of

gardening. Anything to keep you

http://www.impowerfl.org/

the parents cannot be located then shelter

court-ordered

IMPOWER is actively working with

If these services are need and a

in

organization IMPOWER

parenting

skills/methods. They will also provide

children

T.A.R.G.E.T.

at

the

party

a

beautiful

please call to claim. 321-631-7776

Help is just a Call Away: Office: 321.631.7776 Cell: 321.848.8006 123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge FL 32955 www.grg-brevard.org

You and your grandchild are lucky to have each other! You will share love, strength and wisdom with your grandchild---every day in your own way. Raising your grandchild won't be easy, but it will be well worth the effort.

Page 3

Issue 154 Raising Grandchildren Grandparents of Brevard County, FL, Inc. 123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge, FL 32955

GRG of Brevard NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MELBOURNE FL PERMIT NO. 495

HELP THE GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OF GRG OF BREVARD BECOME A MEMBER AND/OR FRIEND Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County FL, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

All gifts are deductible on corporate, foundation and individual tax returns to the extent provided by state and federal laws.

Members of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc. receive our newsletter and invitations to events where they can meet others in similar situations Name Date: Address:

I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle [ ] Sister / Brother [ ] Other (please specify)

City/State: Zip: Phone:

[ ] I am not in this situation but I want to join GRG of Brevard because I am interested in what you do.

Email: [ ] Annual Membership $20 [ ] Annual Corporate Membership $500 I want to be a friend of the GRG of Brevard and enclose an additional donation of: [ ] $25 [ ] $50 [ ] $75 [ ] $100 Other: $

Please make your check payable to: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard

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