BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA 
 
A PROCLAMATION 
SENIOR AWARENESS DAY 
 
WHEREAS: 
 
Across the United States, more than 5.8 million children are living with their grandparents. These grandparent-headed households, or "grandfamilies," provide secure and healthy environments for their grandchildren, often without the involvement of biological parents; and 
 
WHEREAS: 
 
There are currently over 102,126 grandparents in Georgia and over 6,000 grandparents in Atlanta who have grandchildren living with them fulltime. Almost 2 5 percent of these families live in poverty; and 
 
WHEREAS: 
 
As grandparents take on a new and often difficult role of providing, they most often lack critical information about support services, resources, programs, benefits, laws, and policies available to help them successfully fulfill their care giving role; and 
 
WHEREAS: 
 
Project GRANDD remains the only program in Georgia to provide intensive care, support, and resources specifically to relative caregivers raising grandchildren with disabilities, chronic illness, and behavior or learning difficulties; and 
 
WHEREAS: 
 
Through participation in Project GRANDD, grandparent caregivers increase their knowledge of resources and support for their grandchildren with disabilities and benefit from connecting with other grandparents. Through group counseling meetings and home visitation, grandparent caregivers increase access to formal and informal supports, obtain needed referrals for grandchildren, increase wellbeing for them, and reduce feelings of stress and isolation. Participants feel a sense of community and strength; now 
 
THEREFORE: 
 
I, NATHAN DEAL, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim February 20, 2014, as SENIOR AWARENESS DAY in Georgia and encourage increased understanding and support of grandparents raising their grandchildren in our state. 
 
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Executive Department to be affixed this 27th day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen. 
 
GOVERNOR 
ATTEST 
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