3rd Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Community Supporters and Providers Conference
There was standing room only at the 3rd annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Community Supporters and Providers Conference on June 16, 2014 at Worcester StateUniversity. The day began with opening remarks by John Lepper, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Maureen Power, Professor of Urban Studies and Executive Director of the Intergenerational Urban Institute at Worcester State (a conference collaborator), Sue Temper, Assistant Director of Programs & Operations at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (a conference sponsor), and Erin Deveney, Interim Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families (also a co-sponsor).
Immediately following the opening remarks was the annual presentation of the Harriet Jackson-Lyons Leadership Award. This year’s recipient was Earl “Skip” Stuck, CEO of Family Continuity and co-chair of the Information and Referral Committee of the Commission. Skip has a long and illustrious track of accomplishments, but his dedication to grandparents raising grandchildren, the work of the Commission, the oversight of this website, and his constant willingness to roll up his sleeves and dig in without fanfare is what caught our attention and our respect. He exemplifies the true spirit of leadership and what can be accomplished through teamwork! He is also an amazing public speaker, delivering our keynote address last year, not to mention an entertaining and meaningful appreciation speech this year!
The day continued with this year’s keynote, the Honorable Gail Garinger (ret.), from the Office of the Child Advocate, and continued with panel discussions focused on the challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren. The panelists included:
*Kevin Barboza, Director of the Office of the Ombudsman, DCF
*Patricia Casey, Deputy General Counsel, DCF
*Carol Flaherty, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Middlesex Juvenile Court
*Lynn Girton, Chief Counsel, Volunteer Lawyers Project
*Honorable Patricia Gorman, Associate Justice of Middlesex Probate and Family Court
*Sarah Stuart, Asst. Director of Program Implementation, Transitional Assistance
*Margo Chevers, Commissioner on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, facilitator of Grandparents in the Know
*Kerry J. Bickford, Commissioner, facilitator of Cape Cod GRG, and co-chair of the I&R
*John Lepper, Chairman of the Commission on Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The afternoon session, following lunch, featured a World Café, conducted by Commissioner John Laing. The World Café format encourages participants to move from table to table while discussing key points and strategies that were preselected. The results of this discussion are posted here and will help the Commission to focus our work over the coming months and years.
Thanks to all who attended the conference, and especially to Colleen Pritoni and the Support Committee, for another outstanding event!!
The following links will take you to additional Conference information:
Message from the Chairman / World Café Results