Programs Now Available to Support Grandparents
Raising Young Grandkids
Focus on “second-time” parents critical to help build strong families
Southwest Maricopa, Arizona (February 6, 2013) – Imagine reaching your golden years and then suddenly finding yourself raising your infant, toddler or preschool-age grandchildren.
This is an increasingly common experience for grandparents, especially in the Southwest Valley. In fact, according to a community report commissioned by the First Things First Southwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council, 13.4 percent of children ages 5 and younger in the region are being raised by their grandparents, a rate slightly greater than the Maricopa County rate of 12.5 percent.
“For many older adults, it’s been 20 or 30 years since they raised an infant or toddler. We know so much more now about how young kids develop and learn, and how critical those early years are to their success in school and in life,” said Eric Santiago, Regional Director of the FTF Southwest Maricopa region. “There is clearly a need in our area for programs that give grandparents the information they need to make the best choices for the education and health of their grandchildren.”
In order to address this growing need, the FTF Southwest Maricopa Regional Council is funding community-based programs targeting grand-families. A series of free support groups, parent education sessions and family activities are all being offered now in the Southwest Valley.
These will address some of the particular issues faced by second-time parents: finding opportunities for their young grandchildren to socialize with other children, developing coping skills for the change in the family unit, financial and legal issues, updating parenting skills and information and referral to access other needed services.
Duet, a not-for-profit organization, is administering the program in the Southwest Valley in partnership with Surprise-based non-profit, Benevilla. Rosalind Polston, Kinship Care Specialist, leads the program, which is free and open to any grandparent raising grandchildren.
Along with the regular support meetings listed below, there will also be a free Grand-families Conference held on March 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the AASK Building, 15396 N. 83rd Ave., Suite A100, Peoria. To register, contact Polston at 602-274-5022.
In addition, the Birth to 5 Help Line – 1-877-705-5437 – offers free answers to the toughest parenting questions to any caregiver of a child 5 and younger. The line is staffed by nurses and child development experts.
List of support meetings:
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Sharing Group - Buckeye
Fourth Tuesday of the month
From 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Buckeye Community Center, 210 E. Center Ave., Buckeye
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Sharing Group - Avondale
Fourth Tuesday of the month
From 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Care 1st Avondale Resource and Housing Center, 328 W. Western Ave., Avondale
For more information about First Things First and the Southwest Maricopa Regional Council, please visit azftf.gov/southwestmaricopa.
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About First Things First – First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit azftf.gov.