GRG of Brevard Newsletter 2015

GRG of Brevard

January 2015 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC.

ISSUE # 163

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We had a great year last year and hoping for just as good a year in 2015. We had a wonderful picnic with over 100 people attending.

Our Christmas party was outstanding with over 200 people attending.

More than 225 children received Christmas presents, and 93 families received holiday dinners. Also we supplied over 50 children with backpacks and school supplies.

Our membership is up to 900 members and growing. We are hoping for some legislative changes this year and we have to join together to make this happen. Please attend support group meetings to find out how we hope to accomplish these changes.

Thanks to everyone who assisted in making the Children’s Holiday Party fun for all our grandchildren, A Sporting Chance and a very special thanks to our Santa, Jonathan Hawes.

For assistance with our Christmas Toys and gifts we must thank:  Florida Association of Bankers  Kid’s Without Christmas  The Elks Club  Toys for Tots  Brevard County Sherriff’s Dept.  Brevard Sharing Center  United Way of Brevard  Brevard County CBO

We are wishing each and every one hope for a wonderful 2015. Our organization is growing every day and it is because of you. Thank you also for your response to our membership drive.

Your participation is greatly appreciated.

DCF HAS A NEW DCF SECETARY Secretary Carroll is our third leader of DCF under Gov. Scott. David Wilkins served as Secretary until 2013 and was replaced on a temporary basis by Esther Jacobo.

All three have grappled with heavy scrutiny stemming largely from children’s deaths.

“I am committed to our agency’s mission that every Florida child can live in a healthy and safe home.” Carroll said. “We will continue to find ways to accomplish this goal and serve Florida families better each and every day.”

THANK YOU FROM MARY ANN What a wonderful Christmas you gave me. I want to thank each and everyone for their love and thoughtfulness which you gave to me. You are my family and I felt so grateful for your remembering me. I hope that each and every one of you had as wonderful Christmas as I did. Thank you!

[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

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Issue 163

GRG of Brevard

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 SHOULD KNOW Legacy Club – this allows you to get into all school events with discounts. If you are under 60 you get $2.00 off entrance fee and if you are over that age you get in free. We have application forms at the office so please come by and sign up.

Fingerprinting You will be able to get your grandchildren fingerprinted fee at the Lexus Dealership in Viera. Call the GRG of Brevard office for details 321-631-7776.

The child you care for can get educational services.Every child age 2 through 21 years old identified has having a disability has the right to free special education and related services. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be developed for each individual child with a disability. The IEP specifies the needs of the child and what education and services are necessary to meet the child’s needs.

You should be informed when decisions are to be made. Caregivers must be told when each IEP meeting will occur and are to be present if possible at any IEP meeting.

Your child’s school should be helping solve behavior problems. Schools, along with caregivers as part of the IEP team, must consider the use of positive interventions, strategies and supports to address behaviors that are causing problems for the child or others. The IEP team should develop goals and services related to the behavioral needs. IEP teams can also call for a functional behavioral assessment and determine if a behavioral intervention plan is needed to address the child’s behaviors.

Support Group Meetings for January JANUARY 2015 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Thursday, January 8th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting Club Esteem 3316 Monroe Street, Melbourne 10:00 – 11:30 am.

(This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month) Tuesday, January 13th – 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) Tuesday, January 20th – Central Brevard Support Group GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge 9:30 -11:00 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month) Wednesday,January 21st – South Brevard Support Group Meeting 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, January 29th – Beach Side Support Group Memaw’s Restaurant, Indian Harbour Beach, 9:30 – 11:30 am (Breakfast is available at member's expense)

Hey, you guys are letting me down. Every support group has more members attending than the Melbourne one. We have a speaker from Deveraux coming on January 29th and you can have a great breakfast. Please start off this year by attending a support group. Our grants depend on attendance.

(This meeting is always the last Thursday of each month) ITEMS FOR SALE: Sandy Fehlberg and her husband are moving on 4-1-15. (Furniture and household items) 321-412-0047

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Issue 163

TRAUMA INFORMED

The latest buzz word in the news has been Trauma Informed.

From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Children in relative care have lived through multiple traumatic experiences, which impact their view of the world in profound ways. Relative caregivers play an important role in helping children recover from traumatic events. The more you learn about how traumatic events affect children, the more you will understand the reasons for your child's behaviors and emotions, and the better prepared you will be to help.

What Is Trauma? People often use the word “trauma” to refer to a traumatic event. A trauma is a scary, dangerous or violent event that can happen to anyone.

What Is a Traumatic Event? An event can be traumatic when we face or witness an immediate threat to ourselves or to a loved one, often followed by serious injury or harm.

We feel terror, helplessness or horror at what we are experiencing and at our inability to stop it or protect ourselves or others from it.

Family violence, child abuse and neglect are just a couple of examples. Another is the seperation from a childs home and common surroundings.

What Is Child Traumatic Stress?

When a child has had one or more traumatic events, and has reactions that continue and affect his/her daily life long after the events have

GRG of Brevard

ended, called Child Traumatic Stress.

What can my family do to recover?

If your child is experiencing traumatic stress, you might notice the following signs:  Difficulty sleeping and nightmares  Refusing to go to school  Lack of appetite  Bed-wetting or other regression in behavior  Interference with developmental milestones  Anger  Getting into fights at school or fighting more with siblings  Difficulty paying attention to teachers at school and to parents at home  Avoiding scary situations  Withdrawal from friends or activities  Nervousness or jumpiness  Intrusive memories of what happened Not all children who experience a traumatic event will develop symptoms of child traumatic stress. Children’s reactions can vary depending on their age, developmental level, trauma history and other factors.

What is a trauma reminder? At times, children may feel anxious, nervous, or scared when they encounter places, people, sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that remind them of past traumatic experiences, even years afterwards. These trauma reminders can bring on distressing mental images, thoughts, and emotional/physical reactions.

Family members may each react differently to a traumatic event that a child has experienced. While your world may feel changed forever after a traumatic event, you do have a great ability to heal and return to feeling “normal” again.

You can help your child recover by doing the following:  Be patient. There is no correct timetable for healing. Try not to push your child to “just get over it.”

Instead, reassure him or her that they do not need to feel guilty or bad about any feelings or thoughts.  Explain to your child that he or she is not responsible for what happened.  Assure your child that he or she is safe.  Maintain regular home and school routines to support the process of recovery.  Learn the common reactions that children have to traumatic events.  Take time to think about your own experience of your child’s traumatic event and any past traumatic events you may have experienced, your child's trauma event will influence how you react.  Be patient. Learning to trust again is not likely to happen overnight.  Consult a qualified mental health professional if your child’s distress continues for several weeks.

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Issue 163 Raising Grandchildren Grandparents of Brevard County, FL, Inc. 123 Barton Blvd., Suite 102 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 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

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