Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL Inc. Summer 2019
Time Well Spent
Note from Mary Ann When I founded Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 25 years ago, I had no idea we would be able to grow into an organization that would make a difference for so many children. I am passionate about supporting and advocating for kinship families and so grateful for the volunteers who work so hard to create the change we know is needed for relative care families. We hope you find the resources in the newsletter helpful. We are so excited to share our 2018 outcomes. Thank you to every donor, supporter, and partner who made it possible for us to serve over 2,000 children and their families last year. Your efforts are appreciated. More good news the U.S. Congress is working on the Grandfamilies Act of 2019, introduced by Senator Robert Casey and Representative Danny Davis. If passed this bill will provide services that are in the “best interests of the child”. Last year the Family First Prevention Services Act was signed into law to help keep children safely with the families and avoid the traumatic experience of entering foster care; emphasizing the importance of children growing up in families. Beginning October 1, 2019, states will have the option to use Title IV-E funds for prevention services for eligible children at risk of foster care placement and their families. Full law online: https://www.childrensdefense.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/08/family-first-detailedsummary.pdf
Our goal is to raise happy and well-adjusted grandchildren. Children of all ages need time and attention. This needs to be interactive time that is spent with child and adult fully engaged in some activity together. • To make them feel important and loved. • They have the opportunity to model a positive adult. • You can learn about your grandchild’s strengths and weaknesses. • They have a chance to voice their thoughts and feelings. • To develop a stronger bond. • Creates Memories. • Strengthen Healthier Lifestyles. • Relieves Stress Along with the idea of the interactive time, seizing the moment is important. Take the opportunity when it arises to talk or look at some situation that just happened or maybe just a hug or encouraging word. Our time needs to be intentional. Maybe we should start asking questions again? As children, we grow up with curiosity. We’re keen to learn, and understand, so we ask questions that will help us grow and function in the world. But as we get older—Why do we stop asking questions? Taking this opportunity with our grandchildren helps them to see the world differently and opens the door to be encouraged and challenge their lives. Find out what is really important to them and help them to discover new things. Turn off the auto pilot and really ‘Listen’ - be there for them. Be impulsive and inspire creativity. When we learn new things, we push ourselves beyond what we already know. It’s not so much what we do, but why we do it. And as we do—we may even make some changes in our own lives and see life with different eyes.
Mary Ann Sterling Executive Director The Clark Family just adopted their grandson! 1
Support Group Meetings nd
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Friday, Aug 2 and Sep 6 – North Brevard 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) Thursday, Aug 8th and Sep 10th – Club Esteem Club Esteem 3316 Monroe Street, Melbourne 10:00 – 11:30 am (This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month) Tuesday, Aug 20th and Sep 17th – Central Brevard GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge 9:30 -11 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month) Wednesday, Aug 21st and Sep 18th – South Brevard Angels for Kids, 1071 Port Malabar Blvd Suite105-106 Palm Bay 6:00–7:30pm (This meeting is always the third Wednesday of each month) Thursday, Aug 29th and Sep 26th – Melbourne Beach 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) In an attempt to cut cost of mailing and publishing our newsletter it is now only QUARTERLY. If you are unable to attend support group meetings to receive timely information, please visit our website www.grg-brevard.org or call the office at 321-631-7776 to keep current.
Free or Reduced Price Lunch Brevard Public Schools is accepting applications now for free or reduced-price meals. BPS continues to provide a no-cost breakfast to ALL students. Applications are available online at https://www.brevardschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageI D=3473 . or at any public school. Please use Internet Explorer to complete your online application. Your application will not process properly if you use your cell phone, mobile device, or another browser. For families receiving Food Stamps and/or TANF, the grandparent/guardian needs to furnish the child’s name, date of birth, school, grade and Food Stamp or TANF case number only. Your grandchild can receive free meals regardless of your income. Completed applications must be returned to the child’s school and are accepted at any time during the year.
Relative Caregiver Program To aid Florida families who are providing kinship care, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) ACCESS Florida Program has several options to provide temporary cash assistance and relative caregiver cash assistance. What do you need to qualify? • Parents are not living in the home. • Individuals must be US citizens • Individuals must live in the state of Florida. • Child must have a social security number or prove they have applied for one. • Assets - Child's countable assets must be equal to or less than $2000. • Relationship - Relative caregiver must be within the specified degree of relationship to the parent or stepparent of the child. • Relative caregiver must cooperate with child support enforcement to identify and locate the parents. • Children under age 5 must be current with immunizations. • Child age 6 to 18 must attend school. Relative Caregiver payments are not based on family-size but are made for each child. The Relative Caregiver payments are currently: $242 monthly for a child from birth thru age five, $249 monthly for a child age six thru age twelve, $298 monthly for a child age thirteen to age 18 If you want to see if you qualify, we can also help you. Call us and we will help you.
Birthday Assistance Thanks to our generous community we have toys and games for birthday assistance this year. If you need birthday gifts for your grandchild, please contact the office 321-631-7776.
School Supplies If your grandchild still needs school supplies, please contact the office for availability.
Honor Roll Students If you grandchildren received an A-B report card they will receive a $25.00 gift card to Walmart for that accomplishment. Please bring their report cards to the office or a support group meeting. Limited to 2 gift cards per year/per child. 2
Tutoring Available GRG has teamed with Tutor Doctor of Brevard County to provide services to our grandchildren. Tutor Doctor is an approved vendor for Step Up For Students – The Gardiner Scholarship The Gardiner Scholarship allows parents to personalize the education of their children with unique abilities by directing money toward a combination of programs and approved providers. https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-schoolsproviders/how-the-plsa-scholarship-works/ If you have any questions or need help, please contact GRG Office 321-631-7776.
Upcoming Events Please show your support for GRG by attending or volunteering at the upcoming events. .
Autism Taken from the Viera Voice by Brenda Eggert Braderl Forms of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include communication/language difficulties, sensory issues and social deficits. That being considered, whether an adult or child with the affliction, autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. Autism and its associated behaviors occur in about one out of every 59 individuals, according to the Autism Society of Florida. “We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors,” said Janelle Moore of AutismSpeaks.org. “Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently. “Because of that, not everyone with autism has signs that can be clearly recognized simply by looking at someone walking down the street.” Some signs to look for in a person who might have autism include lack of or delay in spoken language, repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerism as in hand-flapping or twirling objects as in repetitive body movements; little or no eye contact, lack of interest in peer relationships, lack of spontaneous or make-believe play (as in a child), and facial expressions.
Radio Stars! Saturday, October 5th, 2019
Mary Ann Sterling and Lillian Hobson were guests on Radio WKQK’s weekly Community Affairs program, “Brevard at Large”. You can listen online at Radio1300.com Search for WKQK.
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
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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
I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent
Date:
______________________________________
Address:
___________________________________ ______________________________________
City/State:
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Zip:
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Phone:
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Email:
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[ ] Annual Membership $20 per family or $10 per caregiver
[ ] 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.
[ ] 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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