Subcommittee on Local Support for Grandparents Across the State

Local Support Subcommittee Overview July 2011

Goal:

To maintain and establish support groups across the state of Massachusetts so they can provide support and information to all grandparents raising kin.

The subcommittee on local support to grandparents will work on parallel tracks:

Establish support groups from within DCF to support those involved with the Department.
Establish support groups in the community for grandparents not involved with DCF.
Provide information and support to the existing groups.

The membership in these groups is not exclusive; it is open to any and all grandparents/kin raising kin children.

Steps:

Identify existing groups across the state.
Check the contact information of all groups, for accuracy.
Identify areas where the need exists.
Identify resources available to start new groups where needed.
Provide information pertinent to grandparents to local groups in a consistent manner.
Assist groups in action steps regarding legislation that affects them, or other actions that will benefit grandparents raising kin.

Subcommittee members:

Manuela DaCosta, Commissioner
Margo Chevers, Commissioner
Sheila Donohue-King, Elder Affairs
Joan Stiles, Community Connections – DCF
Colleen Pritoni – Ongoing Social Worker - DCF
Richard Learned – Grandfather
Monica Dean – Director of Community Organizing & Resident Services – Nuestra Comunidad.

Update:

Identify existing groups across the state and check the contact information of all groups, for accuracy

Joan, Sheila and Colleen called the list of existing groups across the state to confirm their viability/status. These are the results:

Existing groups:

Athol

Arlington

Boston

Bellerica

Bourne

Brimfield

Brockton

Chelmford

Chicopee

Dochester

Lowell

South Boston

Jamaica Plain

Lynn

New Bedford

Pittsfield

Plymouth

Quincy

Reading

Salem

Springfield

Stoneham

Taunton

Wakefield

Woburn

Worcester

Most of these groups meet once per month with the exception of one group in Dorchester facilitated by Harriet Jackson Lions and one group in Weymouth facilitated by Colleen Pritoni that meet every week.

No response to query:

 Danvers

 Lancaster

No longer in existence:

 Beverly

 Barnstable

 Jamaica Plain

 Gloucester

 Leominster

 Melrose

 Medford

Identify areas where the need exists:

Looking at the map that identifies the existence of support groups these are the areas that most need a support group, or to support the existence of a successful support group.

Barnstable – no group
Weymouth – successful group
Framingham – no group
Lawrence – no group
Greenfield - no group
New Bedford – no viable group
Pittsfield – no group

The subcommittee would like to start the work for the implementation of support groups in these areas/with the support of DCF Area Offices and with Weymouth as the model to follow. The most important characteristic of the Weymouth is the fact that they meet every week and they have a skilled facilitator with clinical background. These factors are of the utmost importance for the type of complexities that grandparents raising grandchildren face.

These are the areas for this fiscal year, in collaboration with Community Connections and DCF and based on the model from the Weymouth group:

 Lawrence – no group

 Framingham – no group

 Barnstable – no group

 New Bedford – no viable group

 Athol – existing group

 Weymouth – Model group

 Lynn – existing group

The subcommittee is in the process to secure funds to support these groups. Following Weymouth’s model, $5,000.00 per group will provide the following:

 Baby sitting

 Food

 2 yearly events

 Guest speakers

 Field trips

 Leadership Development

The facilitation is not paid for, it will be provided by a social worker (like Colleen – or we so desperately hope).

Margo developed a draft template (included in this report) on how to start, develop and sustain a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren. Grandparents across the state said that a group that meets every week is what they need. Monthly meetings are not sufficient because if they miss one month they go a long stretch without support.

Elements of a Successful group:

Meet weekly
Trained facilitator
Co-facilitation with a grandparent
Have babysitter available
Have food
Provide incentives for participation (ex: gift cards for stop and shop)
Do fundraising
Write grants
Provide outings – social activities
Address transportation challenges

Provide information pertinent to grandparents to local groups in a consistent manner and assist groups in action steps regarding legislation that affects them, or other actions that will benefit grandparents raising kin.

The Subcommittee for I&R created a website where any information that may be of help to grandparents will be posted. The website is massgrg.com

Starting a Grandparents with Custody Group

Promotion

 Flyers (example see attached)

 Places to leave flyers:

Sr. Centers
Daycare
Schools – ask to have it placed in their newsletter
Churches
pediatrician offices
hospitals
mental health agencies
DTA office
DCF office
correspondence with politicians offices,
family lawyers

 Press Release Sample (Attached)

 Local Cable TV

 Media for interviews

 If you invite the media to a meeting let them know that everything talked about is confidential.

Meeting format (See attached documents on Productive Meetings and Ground Rules)

 There are many ways to format your meetings.

Guest speakers (see list of suggestions for subjects)
Time for sharing issues
Facilitator – if your purpose is to provide a support group, it is suggested you have a facilitator who is acquainted with grandparent issues.
Pot luck suppers
With or without children at the meetings.

 If you are going to have children at the meetings you will need a babysitter. Suggestions of places to contact for babysitters

High School guidance councilors
Senior Centers

Suggestions for meeting topics

Helping children deal with trauma
State legislators
Family lawyer
Dealing with difficult kids
Discipline
Domestic violence
How neglect affects children,
Childhood development
Visitation supervision
Financial
Legal
DTA
DCF

Gatherings:

 It is beneficial to have events where the families can gather together so the children can see others in similar situations.

Beach party,
Holiday party
Halloween summer party
Going to ball games
Museums
Children’s museum
Aquarium
Science Museum
Swim parties

Communication Strategies:

 Members interested in keeping in touch an email list is the easiest way of letting the members know of upcoming events. Include:

Anyone who inquires about the group,
All members,
Area state politicians
The grandparents commission
All area media

 Keep a list of people’s names and phone numbers.

Welcome package for new members

Welcoming letter with contact information
Flyer about your group stating days, times and contact information about your group
Resource guide from the Commission
Flyer from Commission
DTA sheet of information about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (found at www.mass.gov/dta)
Suggested reading for Grandparents & Grandchildren (
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (
Handouts from speakers who present to your group

 Information pamphlets (should be pertinent to the area. Example for Weymouth)

Safe Home Checklist (Mass Dept of Public Health)
Foster Children and WIC (www.mass.gov/wic
Safe Sleep for my Grandbaby (US Dept of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
MSPCC Project Connect (www,mspcc.org)
Navigation through the Probate and family Court (www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/norfolkprobmain.html)
Camp Fire USA Summer Camps (
Kinship Care (
Frequently asked questions about civil commitment of substance abusers and other options (Bureau of Substance Abuse Services MA Dept of Public Health)
Bay State Community Services (
7 Ways to protect your teen from alcohol and other drugs (800-952-6637)