GRG of Brevard
June 2014 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC.
ISSUE # 156
SAVE THE DATE – JUNE 6TH The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) will be meeting with us on the above date. The DCF's Staff attending will be Bill A'uito, Director of Circuit 18, Stephanie Weis, Family Safety and Community Services Director with Circuit 18, Chuck Puckett, Program Administrator for Central Brevard's Abused Children's Investigation Division, Katie Guemple, Program Administrator for South Brevard's Abused Children's Investigation Division and several others. This meeting is to discuss DCF's new Child Protection Transformation Project. The new project has implemented a new procedure when children are removed from a dysfunctional home the children are put into joint custody with the grandparents and the parents. This procedure gives the parents 3-6 months to correct the reason the children were removed. GRG of Brevard feels that caregivers cannot effectively provide safe and stable homes to these abused children when encumbered by joint custody.
If you have been involved with this new procedure or have concerns please plan to attend to make your concerns known.
YOU NEED TO KNOW Brevard Family Partnership has made a major case management transition from Devereux and the Children’s Home Society to IMPOWER effective July 1, 2014. Brevard Family Partnership, who subcontracts to DCF to provide Case Management for children who have been placed through the Dependency Court, has awarded IMPOWER a four-year case management contract valued up to $4.5 million annually. Through a competitive process, IMPOWER was awarded the right to negotiate and operate all case management services in Brevard County. The initial contract term begins July 1, 2014 and runs through June 30, 2018. Amanda Dawson is managing the transition. Lisa Summers Peyton, LMFT, Chief Operating Officer will assist in the transition.
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has a new interim secretary, Mike Carroll, managing director of DCF’s Suncoast Region in the southwestern part of the state has been appointed the eighth secretary or interim secretary at the beleaguered agency since 1999. Carroll follows Ester Jacobo, who was appointed by Governor Scott as interim secretary in July after David Wilkins resigned in the wake of a series of child deaths from abuse and neglect. Those deaths are still very much on lawmakers minds, and Carroll’s appointment came as the legislature is close to passing a proposal (SB 1999 and HB 7169) aimed at fixing the state’s longtroubled child welfare system. The Florida Senate has passed a sweeping bill seeking to overhaul the child welfare system by hiring new investigators & emphasizing child safety above family reunification. The bill passed 37-0.
[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]
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Issue 156
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.
CONGRATULATIONS Congrats to Noah and Vincent Hobson, and Lexie Pidegen for being outstanding students. Each won prizes for their hard work they put into their studies. How are your grandchildren’s grades? Let us know; maybe they will win one of our outstanding student awards! Congrats to Joyce Wright, the winner of this month’s bean recipe. BEANS & RICE CASSEROLE: 1 pkg beans & rice, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 5 chicken bouillon cubes, 2 tablespoons butter, 6-8 cups of water, Parmesan Cheese Pour water into a sauce pan. Add salt, chili powder bullion cubes & butter, bring to a boil. Add beans & rice. Lower heat & simmer for 20 minutes. Add seasoning mix from beans & rice pkg. Stir well to mix. Pour into casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm We still have a supply of beans & rice in the office Please stop in and pick up a package or two, or three. If you have a recipe for the beans & rice please share it with us. You could be our next winner.
You're Stronger When We're Together! Come and get support for parenting the second time around!
JUNE 2014 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Tuesday, June 10th – 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, June 12th – 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, June 17th – 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, June 18th – 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, June 26th – 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 156
GRG of Brevard
UPCOMING EVENTS! Parents are invited to bring their children & child safety seats to be checked
for
proper
selection,
installation & fit. Checks will be conducted at the UF/Institute of Food & Agricultural Science Brevard County Extension Office in Cocoa and
the
Turnquest
Community
Center in Melbourne. Call 321-6331702 to schedule an appointment time. Child safety seat checks are free. Checks will be performed in Cocoa on the following dates & times: June 2 & June 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Seat checks will be performed at Turnquest Community Center, 1686 Marywood Road in Melbourne on June 5 & June 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 17th at 10:00 A. M. we will have a special meeting in the Commissioners Meeting Room at
Rockledge
City
Hall,
1600
Huntington Lane. Our speaker will be Judge Michelle Baker. Judge Baker has been a Brevard County Judge since January 2009 and an Administrative Judge since 2012. She was a family practice lawyer. Judge Baker will be addressing issues that affect relative caregiver families.
Please
come
to
this
important meeting and bring your questions. On Wednesday, June 18th we will be taking a field trip to Camp Chance.
You
as
well
as
your
grandchildren will have to sign a release form for this trip. Grandchildren must be between the ages of 6-18. You will have to
bring a sack lunch, beach towel
Go to the Park: Children are used to
and swim suit. Females must wear a
keeping
one piece suit. If you want to go on
routines, so they’re likely to have a
this trip call the office at 631-7776 or
lot of energy. Why not take them to
Karen Mills at 321-693-5136 to sign
the park? Bring along a few snacks
up. You will have to accompany
and always pack plenty of water to
your
make
grandchildren
Transportation
will
on
this
be
trip.
provided.
busy
sure
with
the
their
children
daily
stay
hydrated in the summer heat.
Camp Chance is run by Brevard
Arts and Crafts: Sometimes, it’s just
County Sheriff Department.
too hot to play outside. Why not
17th
On Thursday July
12:00 noon
enjoy part of the day inside with
till 3:00 p.m. we will host “The Reality
some arts and crafts?
Check
Lawrence
Get in the Water: Go to the beach,
Lawton. The Reality Check Program
or why not check out your local
is designed to prevent pre-teens,
recreation
teens
from
important to always keep an eye on
making bad choices and heading
the children when they’re in the
down the wrong path in life. Call
water. It’s your responsibility! Going
631-7776
your
swimming and getting to play in the
grandchildren for this program. You
water is a great summer activity the
are encouraged to attend with your
children will enjoy. Don’t forget
grandchildren. We are asking $10.00
sunblock, towels and floaties.
per
Mr.
No matter what you decide to do,
Lawton’s expense. Snacks will be
be sure to keep you and the
provided.
children safe and hydrated. Have a
Program”
and
with
young
to
family
to
adults
register
help
cover
SUMMERTIME FUN!
center.
It’s
extremely
great summer!
THANK YOU!
For most children school is out, and they can hardly wait for the summer
Thank you to our volunteers! We
fun to begin. While an occasional
really appreciate the help that you
movie or trip to the library is an
give us:
option, there are lots of other things to do in the summer! Play-dates: If
Karen Mills, Bill & Lillian Hobson Lou Ann & Jonathan Hawes,
you have school-aged children, you
We have received a supply of
their
infant and children’s socks. There
summer
are various sizes and colors. Thanks
continues on. Set up a few play-
to Dr. Valerie Allen and The National
dates where they can get together
Association of School Psychologists
and socialize!
for their generous donation. The
Plant a Garden: Gardening is a
socks are first come first served
great outdoors activity for children
basis. We also have some infant and
to take part in. Not only is it fun, it’s a
small children sandals, too. Come to
confidence-booster to children that
the office if your grandchild needs
get to see their hard work pay off!
these items.
may school
notice
them
friends
as
missing the
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Issue 156 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
I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle
Date:
[ ] Sister / Brother
Address:
[ ] 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.
City/State: Zip: Phone: 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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