Generations United released our 11th annual State of Grandfamilies & Kinship Care report on September 19, 2024. This report, “Pathways to Success: K-12 Education Support for Kinship and Grandfamilies,” discusses how about 2.5 million children in grandfamilies and kinship families are impacted by educational challenges and actionable recommendations to improve their school support and services. Our goal is to enhance academic outcomes and build a stronger future for these children. Visit www.gureport.org to read the full report.

Highlights include:

• Key findings from the 2024 report
• Conversations with caregivers, a school administrator, and advocates
• Insights into our interactive report website
• Information on the upcoming release of the toolkit offering practical strategies and tools for professionals in the field created by the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network.

Speakers:

• Donna Butts, Executive Director, Generations United
• Jason B. Allen, National Director of Partnerships, National Parents Union (Moderator)
• Michael Robert, Ed.D., Superintendent, Osborn School District, Phoenix, Arizona
• Victoria Gray, Caregiver, Arizona
• Laurie Tapozada, Caregiver, Rhode Island

Special thanks to Humana Foundation for their partnership in developing the video shared during the event and to Centene Corporation for their support.

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Generations United released our 10th annual "State of Grandfamilies" report on November 8, 2023. The report, Building Resilience: Supporting Grandfamilies’ Mental Health and Wellness, outlines the reasons grandfamilies have mental health concerns yet have more trouble accessing mental health services and supports for both children and their caregivers due to lack of availability, lack of legal authority, and limited understanding of grandfamilies’ needs among providers, cost, stigma, and ageism. This situation has been exacerbated by Covid-19, racial violence, and opioid use, the report found. Children who have faced traumatic loss or traumatic situations which led to them growing up in families without their parents are particularly susceptible to experiencing mental health concerns. Additionally, gaps in America’s social safety net make it harder for these children to receive the care they need.

This event highlighted the key facts, findings, and recommendations from the report and included poetry and spoken word from grandfamilies and a powerful conversation with members of grandfamilies and Dr. Joseph Crumbley about the importance of mental health.

The discussion contains information related to mental health and wellness. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This conversation and the referenced report may contain sensitive or distressing material. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek immediate help from a qualified mental health professional or contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing “988” on your phone.

Speakers:
Donna Butts, Executive Director, Generations United
Sonia Emerson, Child Welfare and Social Justice Advocate, ChildFocus Partners
Brittney Barros, Youth Advocate, Michigan
Angela Clements, Generations United GRAND Voice, Wisconsin
Dr. Joseph Crumbley, Trainer, Consultant, and Therapist
Bob Ruble, Generations United GRAND Voice, California

Special thanks to The Brookdale Foundation Group for making this report and event possible, and to Centene Corporation for their valuable support.

Read the report: https://www.gu.org/resources/building-resilience-grandfamilies-mental-health-and-wellness/

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This event co-hosted by Generations United and RRF Foundation for Aging on October 5, 2023, highlighted the recommendations in the new report Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs: Passion, Purpose, and Planning to Drive Equitable Change. This event explored the challenges and successes of organizations embarking on a diversity journey and those already prioritizing cultural responsiveness. We heard from a panel of intergenerational program practitioners whose work focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Speakers:
Jatrice Martel Gaiter, Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Volunteers of America and Vice-Chair, Generations United Board of Directors
Serena Worthington, Senior Program Officer and Director of Equity & Inclusion, RRF Foundation for Aging
Kristi Guillory Reid, Report Author and Independent Consultant
Tony Collins, Executive Director, T.I.H.S. Class of ‘74 Read to Me
Genevieve Leighton-Armah, Executive Director, Bay Area Black Leaders and CoGenerate Innovation Fellow
Nikki Moustafa, Housing Director, H.O.M.E.

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