GRG of Brevard
October 2014 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Due to a high demand for legal assistance we are implementing some new guidelines. Every day we are seeking funding to assistance grandparents in obtaining custody, guardianship and adoption of their grandchildren. The new guidelines are as follows: If it is determined that legal assistance is needed, a signed agreement between you and GRG of Brevard will be necessary to receive a consultation with our attorneys, Culmer & Davidson. The consultation fee is $150.00. We are requesting that you pay $25.00 at their office for the consultation and GRG will pay the remainder. After the consultation you are requested to call our office to discuss the recommendation by the attorneys. If the attorneys determine that you have a case and they provide you with an estimated cost. You will then receive services based on your annual income with first attention given to our lowest income families with at risk children. Once we have established the assistance level you will be responsible for the remainder of the bill. The HHS poverty guidelines are published by the
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Federal Government annually. More specific information will be available at the office and support group meetings. We are implementing this program to enable GRG to assist more caregivers in their efforts to receive custody, guardianship or adoption. Thank you for your cooperation.
DCF FUNDING ALERT
Some of our members have had their cash assistance (TANF) reduced. After talking with David Chioma, DCF Economy SelfSufficiency Div., we have found the reason for these cuts. In "Section G -Expenses" of the application we must state that our grandchildren are an expense of $51.00 a month. This is for each child. If you need assistance in making this change to reinstate the right amount of $180 for the first child and $61.00 for each additional child, please call 631-7776 for an appointment.
TARGET TRAINING
Thank You for your participation in our TARGET Training Sessions. We hope that the information that we presented will help you as you reach your goals of raising and being the best parents for your grandchildren.
[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]
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Issue 160
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.
HOLIDAY SUPPORT
The holiday season is right around the corner. Planning is underway for the Children’s Holiday Celebration. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Lou Ann Hawes at grg.brevard@gmail.com or the office 321-631-7776. GRG of Brevard will have a limited amount of holiday meal assistance for Thanksgiving and Christmas; please sign up early at the office or support group meeting to ensure availability. If you are requesting toy assistance for the holidays you will need to have attended at least two support group meetings or training classes during the year. Please contact us at 321-631-7776 with grade/age/gender of child(ren) first name of child, grandparent’s name, clothing size, and wish list. We will be sponsored again this year by the Elk’s Club, Toys 4 Tots, and Kids Without Christmas. More information will be available at the upcoming support group meetings and in the November newsletter.
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.
You're Stronger When We're Together! Come and get support for parenting the second time around!
OCTOBER 2014 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Thursday, October 9th – 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, October 14th – 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, October 21st – 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) Thursday, October 25th – 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) Wednesday, October 30th – 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) PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE Page 2
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UNPLANNED PARENTHOOD
Grandparents raise grandchildren for one reason: because the children need someone to raise them. It was true a hundred years ago, and it is true today. Most grandparents had other plans for this stage of their lives; raising another child was not a part of them. There are many reasons why children need their grandparents. One writer pinned the cause on what he called the four D’s: drugs, divorce, desertion and the death of a parent. Other factors that contribute to children needing their grandparents are child abuse, incarceration, teen pregnancy, joblessness, economic insecurity and military deployment can all create need for grandparental support. (taken from Grandparents As Parents). Grandparents, we commend you and we support you for stepping up and do the best that you can for your grandchildren.
GRG of Brevard
FALL EVENTS
Just a reminder: please be sure that your grandchildren’s costumes are safe and someone is with them while going out.
Pumpkin Patches & Events http://www.pumpkinpatchesand more.org/FLpeastcentral.php Oct 10 – 26th Boo at the Zoo October 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. http://www.brevardzoo.org Sunday, Oct. 19 1 to 5 p.m. Scarecrow Stroll & Harvest Festival Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Center. Free event with a harvest maze, pumpkin patch and the Zucchini 500 car race, where children build their own racers from actual aerodynamic green squash with axels and wheels. Live music, an all-foods-pumpkin cooking contest, bounce houses, children's face painting and pumpkin painting are also free, with fun fall foods available for purchase. Friday, Oct 24th Kids Klub Costume Party Crane Community Center Melbourne 1440 Mosswood Dr., Melbourne Fall Fun Night Lipscomb Community Center 3316 S.Monroe St., Melbourne Saturday, Oct 25th Our Saviour's Annual Fall Festival Church Of Our Saviour Cocoa Beach 5301 N Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach
Sunday, Oct 26th A Night with The Great Pumpkin Grace United Methodist Church Merritt Island 65 Needle Boulevard Merrit Island Friday, Oct 31st Halloween in the Village Historic Cocoa Village and the Riverfront Park. Don’t miss out on the spooktacular a KIDS COSTUME contest! The movie, Where the Wild Things Are, beginning at 7:15pm. To participate in all of the kid’s activities including the bounce houses, slides, kids area games, hay rides, pumpkin decorating and much more there is a $5.00 activity band fee. Trick or treating, stage entertainment, costume contests and the movie are always FREE.
SHINING STAR!
Congratulations to our grandson, Jacob Scott attended 6th grade at Apollo Elementary this past school year and in March he received a first place ribbon for the book he wrote Apollo Missions 1963 -1972. At the end of the year, Jacob received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement for obtaining all A’s and not more than 3 B’s for fourth through sixth grade. Jacob has been accepted into the Cambridge Program at Andrew Jackson Middle School. We want to thank GRG of Brevard for your support and guidance the past six years. You are always ready to help whenever we need you. You have truly been a blessing. We are so proud of Jacob. Thank you so much! Phil & Carol Fortin
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Issue 160 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:
City/State: Zip: Phone:
I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle [ ] Sister / Brother [ ] 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.
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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