News Affecting Grandparents

 

WASHINGTON GRANDPARENTS TO MEET WITH CPS OFFICIALS

N.E. WASHINGTON FOR GRANDPARENTS RIGHTS and WASHINGTON FAMILIES UNITED will host a meeting

WED., JULY 16, 2008, at 2:00 PM at THE PIZZA FACTORY
662 S. Main Street - Colville, WA 99114
509-684-5000

for grandparents and extended family members who have relative children who are or have been involved with Child Protective Services (CPS).

The meeting will feature a discussion of state and national laws regarding grandparent rights and relative placement.

SPECIAL GUESTS will be...

SHARON GILBERT and SUSAN MUGGOCH,
Washington State Division of Children and Family Services,
and
LOLA BAILEY, President,
National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights

Contact: Betty Johnson-Tomlin - 509-684-3728 or 509-690-8318

 

Attorney Joins NCGCR Avisory Board

Heidi Redlich Epstein, JD, MSW, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, has become the newsest member of the National Committee of Grandprents for Children's Rights Advisory Bord. Ms. Epstein presented the NCGCR Workshop, "Understanding Your Children's Rights," as one of the organization's pre-event learning opportunities for members and interested others during the GrandRally in Washington, DC, in May 2008.

 

Kinship Kids Tell their Stories - 5th Annual Voices Winners Meet Gov

OLYMPIA - Winners of the 5th Annual Voices of Children Contest met May 27, 2008, with Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. The Voices contest offers kids in kinship care in Washington State the opportunity to write a story or poem or draw a picture to describe how living with a relative other than their parents has made a positive difference in their lives. Shelly Willis coordinates the annual contest. Printed below as they appeared in The Olympian are the winning entries from each age division.

May 28, 2008
Section: News

State students honored for essays about caregivers

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday honored children ages 5 to 19 who wrote about being raised by a relative in the state.

The winners submitted poems, essays and drawings to the 2008 Children's Kinship Care Expression Contest. The winners received a signed certificate from Gregoire, a $100 check and tickets to a Mariners game.

The winning entries:

13-18 age category

Grandfather: My Native American Heritage
Gives me advice
Shows me respect for other living things
Very knowledgeable about many things
Teaches me about family heritage
Has taught me to hunt
Shows kindness to those who provide a service
Listens to my point of view
Teaches me about animals
Teaches me about discipline
Tells funny stories
Ben Davis, 16, Olympia

Uncle Mitch is the fuel that keeps the fire of my heart burning. He has always been there. He has loved me every day since he has met me. Everything he does is for my best interest. I think he deserves more appreciation then he gets. Every time I need a place to go he is there to take me.
Every time I need a way out he is there to save me. If the stress is too much he's there. He's my light in the dark, my warmth in the cold.
I need this warmth, I need his love. I felt unloved by many people for many years. But I always knew he loved me. I always knew he was there for me. He taught me many things in life. But most of all he taught me to love people. I used to be so mean because no one had ever loved me. I was angry at the world. He taught me to forgive. He taught me to love. I love him, I need him.
He is the most important person I have in my life. I love him, because of him the fire of my heart burns on.
Mitchell Cone, 13, Lacey

8-12 age category

With my father imprisoned, life hasn't exactly been a trip to cherry world for me. My grandmother and grandfather have taken extremely good care of me. My mother couldn't afford to take care of me so my grandma got custody of me and told my mom that if she didn't have her life together by the time I was 5, my grandmother would keep me. So here I am. My mom is living in Everett with my little brother who is 4 years old, and my stepdad with my stepdad's parents. I've only seen my father twice, he went to prison when I was 2 months old. Even though my grandparents and I don't always get along, life is really going well for me.
It even scares me to know what my life would be like if my grandparents hadn't stepped up for me. They have taught me that you never see the bad times in a photo album, but the bad times are what get you from one happy photo to the next.
Taylor Ott, 12, Malaga

My cousin, Carrie, is a very nice person. She took my sister and I into her house when we had nowhere to go. When I lived with my mom, I got hungry a lot because my mom slept so much. But I found safety and care when Carrie took me in. Now I am fed better. Carrie even got a new house just so my sister and I could have our own rooms! Carrie makes sure we are fed before she gets food, and she goes to college. I love to read and Carrie gives me lots of books. She is nice, caring, smart, responsible and giving. Those are the qualities that make me appreciate Carrie and all she does for me.
Ariel Lee, 9, Wenatchee

5-7 age category

I like to live with my grandparents because we do fun things together like go fishing in the summer and going to the wellness center. When we go fishing I get to hunt for night crawlers for bait. I like to drive in the woods to the lake. When we get there we go out in the boat. My grandpa taught me to row the boat, set the anchor and cast my pole. My grandpa also taught me how to use my knife to clean the fish. My favorite part is reeling in my own fish. At the wellness center, I love to go swimming. It's lots of fun but also good exercise. It's fun to jump off the side and cannonball her. The slides are fun because I go really fast, and it scares my belly a little. It is nice to know everyone loves each other. My grandparents really raise me to feel loved. I wouldn't like to live anywhere else because of how much I love them and how much they love me.
Caleb Ziesmer, 7, Usk

I live with my grandma and grandpa because my mom and dad do drugs - that makes me sad. My grandma and grandpa make me happy. We do homework together. Me and grandma make tomato soup. Me and Grandpa go to the park. They teach me about healthy food. They keep me safe. They love me and take care of me. I feel safe and loved living with them.
Morgan Wockner, 6, Yakima

 

April 23 @ 2:00pm EST, CWLA Radio Program: Family Matters: Kinship Caregivers Nationwide Convene at the Capitol

On Wednesday, May 7, grandparents and other relatives raising the children of family members will converge at noon on the West Grassy Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, for the Third National GrandRally. This historic gathering of kinship caregivers from across the country is a call to action for increased support services and financial resources for kinship caregiving--a parental paradigm that allows children to live with and be cared for by their kin in a safe and stable family environment that maintains their well-being.

In support of the coming Grand Rally at the Capitol, CWLA’s radio program will feature a timely discussion to raise awareness about the tireless efforts and imperative needs of kinship caregivers--family members who care for millions of children when their parents are unable to do so.

Scheduled Guest include Dr. David Rubin MD, Director of Research and Policy for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Safe Place: Center for Child Protection and Health, who has an active practice that includes kinship care families; Joseph Crumbley DSW, Family Therapist and Consultant; Brigitte Castellano, Executive Director for the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights (NCGCR).

The call-in number is 347/326-9411. Visit www.blogtalkradio.com/CWLA-Radio.

 

Linda James, NCGCR Treasurer, was presented with the Excellence in Child Abuse Prevention Award

On April 7th, Linda James, NCGCR Treasurer, was presented with the Excellence in Child Abuse Prevention Award at the Prevent Child Abuse Conference held in Albany New York. We are very proud of the fine work Linda is doing on behalf of grandparents and children and congratulate her on this award.

 

NCGCR Co-Founder Wins Public Office

Ellen Anadio, elected to represent the Fourth Ward on the City Council in Gloversville, NY

GLOVERSVILLE,NY - Ellen Anadio, co-founder of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights (NCGCR), was elected on Tues., Nov. 6, to represent the Fourth Ward on the City Council in Gloversville, NY, her home. This is the first time Ms. Anadio has run for a public office.

Her candidacy grew out of advocacy work that began four years ago when she lobbied and gathered signatures in support of New York's groundbreaking legislation for grandparent visitation. As a co-founder and secretary of records for NCGCR, Ms. Anadio went on to attend the Grand Rally held in Sept. 2005 in Washington, D.C.

"I learned that making a difference means getting involved," she says. "Saying we need change is just not enough. I believe that our council can be improved through hard work and openness. I am not a stranger to either."

Ms. Anadio adds that her present goal is "to bring some stability and logic" to the City Council position. "Our council and our city are at a crossroads. This is not the time for argument or anger. It is an opportunity for change and progress."

 

Two National Organizations Join to Keep Kids with Families

STONY BROOK, NY and WASHINGTON, DC – Two national organizations have formed a new partnership for the purpose of keeping kids with their families.

Leaders of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights (NCGCR) and the National Association of Former Foster Care Children of America, Inc. (NAFFCCA) introduced the partnership as a collaboration of mutual interests to promote public policy and action that emphasize out of home placement with relatives for children and youth who lack parental support. The two organizations’ focus on relative placement also includes strong advocacy for nurturing stronger family bonds for children in out of home placement through ongoing visitation with relatives.

“We’re very pleased to announce this partnership,” said Brigitte Castellano, executive director of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights. “It is an association that reflects our organizations' mutual commitment to supporting the needs of children who lack parental support.”

“As a former foster child who grew up without the benefits of being close to members of my own birth family, I must say that I am committed to improving the quality of life for children and youth who are currently experiencing out of home placement,” said Louis Henderson, president and founder of the National Association of Former Foster Care Children of America, Inc. “Our new partnership with the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights can make a big positive difference for these kids and their families.”

As partners, NCGCR and NAFFCCA plan to advocate for family-friendly child welfare policy and placement. The two organizations also plan to seek additional public and private funding to support such legislative initiatives.

 

NCGCR Leaders Appointed to New Family Caregivers Council

ALBANY, NY - Two leaders of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights (NCGCR) have been appointed to the new 21-member New York State Family Caregiver Council. Brigitte Castellano, executive director of NCGCR, and Linda James, the organization’s treasurer, were named to the council by Michael J. Burgess, director of the New York State Office for the Aging.

In making his announcement of the new council and its membership, Burgess credited the more than 2 million caregivers in New York State with voluntary or family caregiving valued at $24 billion annually. He estimated that at least 80 percent of long term care in this state is provided by family or other informal caregivers.

The Council is charged with completing a review of key policies and practices related to family caregiving; completing a comprehensive review of existing services and needs of family caregivers; proposing new and innovative services and/or policy changes to strengthen family caregiving; and identifying ways to strengthen local agencies’ abilities to reach, assess and support caregivers’ needs.

“State support and assistance to family caregivers – whether they are helping meet the needs of a frail relative, friend, neighbor, member of a faith community, special needs child, or a child whose parents are not able to fulfill their parental obligations – are essential services that must be enhanced in order help people of all ages remain in their homes or communities of choice,” Burgess said. “Through the work of this Council, we will focus our efforts on identifying how to sustain and strengthen the informal supports provided by family caregivers of all kinds.”

 

Kin Carers Deserve the Same Support as Foster Carers Now

Wednesday, 5 September 2007, 3:34 pm
Press Release: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The Government should fund grandparents raising grandchildren/kin carers with the same support they fund foster care-givers, says Grandparents Raising Grandchildren™ Trust NZ Founder, Diane Vivian.

“Grandparents are desperate for the extra support they see foster care-givers get as a matter of right.

Ms Vivian is commenting on questions asked in the Parliamentary today by United Future’s Judy Turner.

“It’s not fair that grandparents receive less money from the Government than foster care-givers for raising the same children.

Diane Vivian supports United Future’s questions to the Minister of Social Development, Hon Steve Maharey.

“We’re delighted to find at last some support for the cause of grandparents raising their grandchildren and kinship carers in Parliament. Our grandparents/carers do hard work without full financial assistance, respite care, counselling for troubled children or legal aid for ongoing custody battles.

“Grandparents Raising Grandchildren™ Trust NZ will continue to work for to achieve equity with foster care-givers for all kin carers, says Ms Vivian.

 

NCGCR Co-Founder, Lola Bailey, Quoted in NY Times Story

NCGCR president, Lola Bailey, is quoted in the following story from the New York TImes. To read the complete story, click on the link.

The New York Times - FASHION & STYLE | September 2, 2007
My Child's Divorce Is My Pain
By MIREYA NAVARRO
Parents put their lives on hold, and dig deep into their pockets.

FEATURE EXCERPT:
A RETIRED couple, Lola and Bill Bailey, lost touch for seven years with their two grandchildren after their daughter divorced her husband and he got custody. “When they came back to us, we had to mourn the children that we lost and we had to start from scratch,” Ms. Bailey said.
During those years, Ms. Bailey helped organize the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights, an organization that lobbies for laws that recognize children’s rights to keep in contact with their grandparents after a divorce. Despite a few legislative victories in states like New York, where grandparents can pursue visitation rights in some cases, Ms. Bailey, who travels with her husband on a motor coach around the country on behalf of their organization, said most grandparents are still at the mercy of the custodial parent and judges if they would like to keep seeing their grandchildren.

 

NCGCR treasurer, Linda James, featured in Child Welfare League Publication

NCGCR treasurer, Linda James, tells her first person kinship care story in the Summer 2007 edition of the Kinship Reporter, a publication of the Child Welfare League of America. Linda's story is on Page 5. Click on the following link to open the publication: http://cwla.org/programs/kinship/kinshipsummer2007.pdf

 

NCGCR Co-Founder Seeks Public Office

GLOVERSVILLE,NY - Ellen Anadio, co-founder of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights (NCGCR), is making her first run for public office. Ms. Anadio is seeking a seat on the City Council in Gloversville, NY, her home.

Her candidacy is in large part a result of advocacy work that began four years ago when she lobbied and gathered signatures in support of New York's groundbreaking legislation for grandparent visitation. As a co-founder and secretary of records for NCGCR, Ms. Anadio went on to attend the Grand Rally held in Sept. 2005 in Washington, D.C.

"I learned that making a difference means getting involved," she says. "Saying we need change is just not enough."

Ms. Anadio adds that her present goal is "to bring some stability and logic" to the City Council position. "I am definitely a firm believer in knowing who you are voting for," she says. "Are they working to make this country or even your community a better place for everyone?"

 

International Summit for Grandparent and Kinship Caregivers

First Internatioanl Summit for Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers took place on May 6-8, 2007 in Brooklyn, NY and was a great success.  Please click here for more information and photos from the event…

 

NCGCR Summit Is Subject of UN News Conference

Click on the links below for coverage of the NCGCR Summit news conference at the United Nations in New York on Apr. 2, 2007: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/02/news/UN-GEN-UN-Grandparents-Summit.php
http://www.buanews.gov.za/view.php?ID=07040311151006&coll=buanew07
http://www.un.org/webcast/pc2007.htm
http://www.un.org/av/photo/detail/0142141.asp?sid=&browse=/av/photo/index.asp

 

Sioux City Journal - March 19, 2007
Iowa Senate appoves grandparents visitation rights, 12:20 PM

By Dan Gearino Journal Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES -- The Iowa Senate took action today to underscore the rights of grandparents to visit their grandchildren and the rights of foster children to visit their siblings.
"This has been a work of love and it's been a joy," said Sen. Dave Mulder, R-Sioux Center, lead sponsor of the grandparents' bill.

Earlier this morning, Mulder phoned his 11-year-old grandson to wish him happy birthday. He said he cherishes his time with his grandchildren and is saddened that some grandparents are torn away from their grandchildren because of divorce or other family turmoil.

The bill allows grandparents to petition the court for the right to visit their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The wording of the bill responds to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that threw out a previous attempt to codify grandparents' rights.

The bill's co-sponsors said they are satisfied that the measure balances the rights of parents, grandparents and children in a way that is unlikely to be overturned in court.

The sibling-visitation bill says that when siblings are separated in the foster care system, foster parents and social workers must make attempts allow visitation or give a reason why visitation might be harmful to the siblings.

Jewel Barnes, 18, of Des Moines spoke at a news conference before the vote about her experience trying to keep in touch with her twin brothers, who are 14 and live in a separate home. She is active in Elevate, an advocacy group for foster teens.

"Siblings are the most important people in (foster children's) lives and that's who you know all of your life," she said.

Her mother voluntarily relinquished parental rights which led to the children being placed in the foster care system.

The grandparents' bill and sibling-visitation bill both got unanimous approval on the Senate floor. The bills now head to the House.

The bills originated in the Senate Human Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City. She spoke at the news conference to a roomful of Elevate members.

"This is an exciting day. What it says is that we've been listening," she said.

Dan Gearino can be reached at (515) 243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.

 

Newslinks about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The second time around
Kansas City Star - MO,USA
Recently, more than a dozen grandparents raising their grandchildren met at St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City. They filled out paperwork to ...

Grandmother in bind to provide necessities for grandchildren*
Cherry Hill Courier Post - Cherry Hill,NJ,USA
"I'm raising grandchildren," Eagle said. "At one time I had seven; now I have one. When I started taking care of my grandchildren, I didn't even know there ...

 

NCGCR Receives National Kinship Advocacy Award

WASHINGTON - The National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights (NCGCR) has received the 2007 Kinship Care Advocacy Award from the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). Presented on Feb. 28 during CWLA's national conference in Washington, DC, the award recognizes NCGCR's "continuous advocacy and commitment to making kinship caregivers a national priority."

"We are very pleased to receive this award because it recognizes the work our organization does on behalf of grandparents and other relative caregivers nationwide," said Brigitte Castellano, NCGCR executive director.

CWLA also honored NCGCR treasure Linda James with the 2007 Kinship Caregiver Award.