Parenting
is a life-long endeavor; full of great beauty, intense struggle and plenty of
surprises. There are times when we are not expecting to parent, but life has
other plans.
In
Vermont, 2,400 grandparents report they are responsible for raising their
grandchildren. That number is nearly 2.5
million nationally. This means that over 5,500 children within the state of
Vermont and 5.8 million children nationally are being raised in
grandparent-headed households, also called “Grand Families,” according to AARP.
Generally speaking, this is called kinship or adaptive care.
“Kinship
care is when an adult relative cares for a child under the age of 18, either on
a temporary or permanent basis. The relative is most often a grandparent,” but
can also be another relative or a family friend (Vermont Resource Guide
for Relatives Caring for Children).
The
situations leading to kinship care are many and may include: substance abuse,
economic hardship, divorce, domestic violence, incarceration, a sudden death in
the family, mental health issues, military service or the parent is unable to
provide safe, appropriate care for his or her children. There are times when
many of these situations overlap, causing great stress and uncertainty within
the family.
While
kinship can be joyous and exceptionally gratifying, it can also be
overwhelming; emotionally, legally and financially. In some situations, “You’re
trying to parent two people; an infant child and adult child,” said Betty
Holton, a grandparent, during an interview on WCAX television.
Fortunately,
there are resources and peer support for grandparents navigating the
complexities of kinship care, including a local group called “Circle of Support
for Kinship Caregivers.” Below is a list of resources and support tailored for
foster/kinship families.
· Vermont 2-1-1. Dial 2-1-1 from your
phone or go to www.vermont211.org to find
resources, support, legal or financial services.
·
Vermont Resources Guide for
Relatives Caring for Children. Resource guide including financial and legal
information as well as a directory of local and state organizations. http://bit.ly/141gqxw
·
Local support of kinship
caregivers. Circle of Support for Kinship Caregivers. Meets every other
Thursday from 10-11:30 at Parks Place in Bellows Falls. For more information,
contact Deb Witkus at 802.463.9927 ext 212 or gfpc4parents@gmail.com
·
http://voicesatthetable.wordpress.com/. This
bi-weekly blog is a forum for kinship, foster, and adoptive families to share
with one another. Created by the Child
Welfare Training Partnership. The partnership also offers trainings and
resources for adaptive/kinship families.
·
Promotes public
policy that enhances the lives of children and youth in Vermont. www.voicesforvtkids.org
Chad Simmons is the media coordinator
for the Greater Falls Prevention Coalition. It is
the vision of the Greater Falls
Prevention Coalition to build a healthy, nurturing and supportive community.
Our mission is to connect the community of Windham Northeast by inspiring
and empowering people through education and collaboration to promote wellness
and prevent the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
