|
Economic Development and Quality of Life for People and Communities
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Issue
One in ten grandparents has been the primary support of a grandchild
at some time in his or her life. Currently, six percent of children
live in a grandparent-headed household. Many organizations that provide
services for both generations are not prepared to deal with the special
needs that may arise. Legal options are limited and emotionally draining
and financially expensive.
What has been done?
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Southern Arizona Coalition (GRGSoAZ)
was formed in 1999 as an outgrowth of the National Satellite Conference
on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Coalition members, and representatives
from grandparent support groups in Pima, Maricopa, Cochise, Graham and
Yuma counties worked together to determine needs and priorities through
focus groups and the development of a strategic plan. The coalition
includes 34 agencies providing services to grandparents and grandparent
caregivers. The number of monthly support groups for grandparents has
increased from 1 to 7, and the coalition now offers an annual conference
for grandparents and/or satellite conferencing.
Program objectives were to establish a network of professionals; to
explore core issues and concerns of grandparents raising grandchildren,
to collaborate with other agencies to develop a resource notebook, and
to develop a model to establish support groups.
Impact
In 2000, twenty coalition members gave approximately 1,032 volunteer
hours to complete 700 resource notebooks, a top priority. These resource
notebooks contain material and community resources available in the
following areas: support groups, legal and financial issues, childcare
and school support, parenting tips, and nutrition and health issues.
Notebooks were distributed free to grandparents raising grandchildren;
agencies providing assistance to grandparents; family resource and wellness
centers associated with schools in five school districts; public libraries;
and to collaborators upon request. Quotes from grandparents and agency
representatives providing assistance to grandparents:
“ I found the resources at the beginning of resource notebook
to be the most useful especially the section on problem solving and
child care school support.”
—program specialist at Area Agency on Aging.
“This resource notebook has been like a Bible to me and there
isn’t anything else like it in the community.”
—grandparent at a Tucson support group meeting.
“The resource notebook is wonderful and I wish there had been
a resource like this when I first received custody of my grandchild
eight years ago. There was no place to turn for help at that time.”
—Tucson grandparent raising her grandchildren.
Funding
Arizona Cooperative Extension and more than 30 local community agencies
Contact
Linda Block, assistant agent
Pima County Cooperative Extension
The University of Arizona
4210 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719-1109
Tel.: (520) 626-5161, FAX (520) 626-5849
Email: lblock@ag.arizona.edu
Return to
the Title Page
Return to the Table of
Contents
|