Supporting Relative Caregiver Families of Brevard County, FL Fall 2017
Support Group Meetings Sometimes our children provide us with challenges that we're just not quite ready to handle. And sometimes support groups can help us find the answers we need, or at least make us feel okay about the unique challenges we're facing.
Friday Oct 6 & Nov 3 – North Brevard
Want to hear something scary? 65% of fourth graders read below grade level. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard is hosting its 2nd annual “Storybook Village” event Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Space Coast Field of Dreams in West Melbourne. Local community organizations will create interactive displays based on children’s books. Children will learn about the story and create a related make-and-take project at each display. Storytellers will ignite guests’ imaginations as they bring children’s most cherished stories to life. Storybook Village offers a free morning of family fun, including: • FREE Children’s Entertainment • FREE Activities • FREE Crafts • FREE Music Storybook Village brings together child advocates to deliver the message that every child in Brevard must be ready to learn, and able to achieve their full potential. For more information email: grg.brevard@gmail.com Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storybook-village-tickets-37488258390
Indian River City United Methodist Church, 1355 Cheney Hwy. Titusville 9:30–11:00 am (This meeting is always the first Friday of each month)
Tuesday Oct 10 & Nov 14–Cocoa Beach Riverside Presbyterian Church 3400 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach 9:30–11:00 am (This meeting is always the second Tuesday of each month)
Thursday Oct 12 & Nov 9 – Club Esteem Club Esteem 3316 Monroe Street, Melbourne 10:00 – 11:30 am (This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month)
Tuesday Oct 17 & Nov 21 –Central Brevard GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge 9:30 -11 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month)
Holiday Season Planning is underway for the annual Children’s Holiday Party, Saturday December 9th at Kiwanis Island 12:00 noon. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the office 321-631-7776. If you are interested in placing your name on our Christmas Assistance List, please call the GRG of Brevard office or sign up at support group meetings. If you need meal assistance for Thanksgiving or Christmas, please contact the office or signup at support group meetings. To receive assistance for you are required to be a member and attend at least 3 meetings or events throughout the year. If you are unable to meet the requirements you will go on a waiting list. .
Wednesday, Oct 18 & Nov 15 – South Brevard Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay 6:00–7:30pm (Dinner is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the third Wednesday of each month)
Thursday, Oct 26 & Nov 23 – Melbourne Beach Side 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)
For Traumatized Children, an Offer of Help from The Muppets
Cookie Monster is all wound up. The Count has him hold up his furry blue fingers, count them (of course), and blow on each one in turn as if he were blowing out a birthday candle. Afterward, Cookie declares, in his familiar growly voice, that he feels much better. "Hey! Me feel terrific! Me calm. Me relaxed." As part of a special initiative called Sesame Street in Communities. Free materials, including videos, books and games, will be released October 9th to help parents and caregivers, in turn, help young children cope with traumatic experiences. The science of adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs for short, is beginning to transform education and social services. ACEs include poverty, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, divorce, and mental illness or substance abuse on the part of a caregiver. It can be comforting in itself for children to see familiar characters dealing with these emotions. Traumatic experiences are sadly common, but not much talked about in most kids' media. https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/traumaticexperiences/
Caregivers Make ALL the Difference Reprint from http://www.nextavenue.org/grandparents-difference-traumatized-kids/
“One thing I’ve noticed is that most people go to Grandma’s house and get spoiled, but for me it was the only safe place I had,” said Chad Dingle, who was raised by his grandmother in Oregon. “Getting to live with Grandma was like ‘going to Grandma’s house’ all the time. I had more love there than anywhere else in my life.” The 2017 State of Grandfamilies report ,“In Loving Arms the Protective Role of Grandparents and Other Relatives in Raising Children Exposed to Trauma,” published by Generations United, points to the enormous benefits of having a kinship caregiver. Among them: better mental and behavioral health outcomes than for kids raised in foster care with non-relatives; more stability and a greater sense of belonging and feeling loved compared nonfamily foster care; a supportive, extended family network; continued cultural identity and increased resiliency and healing from trauma.
Add to that safer childhoods and a better chance of having a permanent home with the grandparents (if the kids can’t go back to their parents). Those children who do get reunited with their parents are also less likely to go back into foster care. The most important factor for overcoming a history of abuse or neglect, the report notes, is having a supportive relationship with caring adults. It only takes one grandparent or relative. And yet, relatives who take in children are less likely to receive supports and services. The report offered several recommendations to improve the lives of grandfamilies. Here are four of them: 1. Keep kids out of foster care - place them with relatives as a first option. 2. Educate legislators and communities about the value of providing services and programs for grandfamilies — and get leaders to act. 3. Do a better job of outreach. Offer mental health help, including specific trauma training, in a variety of venues and make it easy to access, whether this is at a medical center, school or through a faithbased group, private foundation or service provider. Let grandfamilies know what type of federal aid is available. It turns out that less than half of eligible children in these situations receive Medicaid. 4. Eliminate hurdles to licensing relatives. That would give grandparents more money and services. to address these barriers.
Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage for most, and kids can have those feelings of nervousness or apprehension even when they’re left with people they know well, like grandparents or aunties, or when doing something fun, like going on a playdate. But with a little know-how, you can help ease childen through this challenging phase. Normalize their fears. “The keys to helping your child through this stage of development are sensitivity, patience and understanding.” Your first inclination may be to say “calm down,” but, it’s much more important to listen. “Caregivers need to be able to show they understand their child’s feelings and empathize with their anxiety. Saying something like ‘When I was your age, I had a hard time leaving my mommy, too,’ normalizes the situation for them. Couple that with a loving hug and your grandchild will immediately feel less alone and more grounded. Soothe their worries. Reiterating that you’re always there for them, in spite of a brief absence, can also help them over the hurdle. “Telling your grandchild ‘I’ll miss you, too, but I’ll see you in a few hours’ can ease the stress in older children,”. “For little ones who don’t yet have a concept of time, teaching them how to self-soothe – whether it’s holding onto a stuffed animal or blanket, taking deep breaths or imagining their ‘happy place’ – can provide temporary relief until you return.” “It’s important for kids to know they’re not the only one feeling this way,”. “It can help them to hear that their friends are having a hard time, too.”
Summer 2016
Honoring & Celebrating GRG
CELEBRATING SUCCESS! On a beautiful day in October, we found ourselves on the golf course raising awareness and funds for the important support and services that GRG of Brevard provides. Once again Lilian Hobson organized an awesome event! A special thanks to all our golf tournament sponsors for making this event possible especially the Proctor Family for being our signature sponsor again this year. Thanks to all the donors, and volunteers for making this event possible. On a roll – grants awarded this fall; United Way of Brevard, Brevard County CBO, City of Palm Bay CDBG, Harris Corporation Community Foundation for Brevard, and Wells Fargo. We appreciate all donations big and small. This funding will provide services for the coming year.
Led by Commissioner Curt Smith the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners Unanimously Approved a proclamation honoring Grandparents Raising Grandchildren at the August board meeting “We are thankful for their devoted efforts, contributions, and accomplishments to their grandchildren and their community.”
• • • •
• • • • • •
YOU NEED TO KNOW Please remember that it is important to keep records when you get your grandchildren to raise. • DATES: When you received your grandchild, record any legal action, visits with parents • INFORMATION: Child's DOB, SS #, doctor, dentist, therapist, extracurricular activities, physical or mental issues, progress pictures • DCF: Date DCF became involved, court actions, including dates, case workers’ names and phone numbers, Guardian Ad Litems’ name and phone number, and parent's status. • NON-DCF: Same as above. • FUNDING / ACCESS: remember to record username and passwords in a safe place, GRG has a Journal Booklet to help with your record keeping
Become a STAR! Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
Commit to: S- Spend time with my grandkids by having dinner together T- Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs and alcohol A- Answer their questions and listen to what they say R- Recognize that I have the power to help keep my grandkids substance free! Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting November 10th, 2017 – 12:00 -1:00 pm This meeting will be at the GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd. This meeting is open to all GRG of Brevard members, you are welcome to attend
E-NEWS for Members Monthly news bulletins for all members who receive our information by email. If you currently receive information by postal service just update your preference to email Please email your updated details to GRG.Brevard@gmail.com
Page 3
All Smiles Here! Did you know supporting GRG of Brevard is as easy as shopping on Amazon? Sign up for Amazon Smile and a portion of your purchase benefits GRG of Brevard! First, visit AmazonSmile and select the option “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc. from the list of charitable organizations Second, sign in to AmazonSmile from your desktop, tablet, laptop or mobile phone browser. Third, shop as you normally would and support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL Inc. in the process! Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase directly to GRG of Brevard!
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:
I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle
Address:
[ ] Sister / Brother
City/State: Zip: Phone: Email:
[ ] Other (please specify) [ ] I am not in this situation but I want to join GRG of Brevard because I am interested in what you do.
[ ] Annual Membership $20 per family or $10 per caregiver [ ] 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