Senior Services offers support for grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers
By Joel McIver
Senior Services is initiating a support group for older adults residing in Forsyth County who are raising a minor relative or providing other types of kinship care. Often these individuals are grandparents raising their grandchildren, but not always.
In 2017 Congress enacted the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act to develop and carry out a national Family Caregiving Strategy, which includes strategies for supporting kinship caregivers. According to the federal Administration for Community Living, there are more than 2.7 million children in this country being raised by older family members.
American Community Survey data reveal that there are more than 87,000 grandparents raising their grandchildren in North Carolina. It is important to note that many policy makers and service providers believe the data regarding the number of children being raised in kinship families, also referred to as ‘grandfamilies,’ may be significantly underestimated.
Kinship families often form in response to adverse circumstances resulting in the children being at high risk for emotional and mental health challenges and struggling to thrive in school. Seniors in these relationships sometimes feel overwhelmed by the financial, legal, and educational considerations that accompany raising a young child.
Senior Services welcomes people age 55 or older who are raising grandchildren or other minor relatives under the age of 18 to join their newly formed Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group. Monthly meetings will include the opportunity to discuss both the challenges and joys of kinship care with peers in a safe and supportive environment. A variety of experts will also be invited to attend meetings and provide information about available resources and answer questions.
Meeting will be held monthly from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Senior Services, 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem. For information about upcoming meetings and how to join the group, call 336-725-0907.
Joel McIver is vice president for community engagement for Seniors Services.
