Kinship chronicles, spring 2007

KINSHIP CHRONICLES

SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

Submitted by Sandra Leonard, DHR Division of Public Health

May 2007

Keeping your grandchildren safe may seem like a fulltime job, and at times it will be. However, by establishing good safety practices this summer, you are not only setting a good example, but you are protecting your grandchildren from potential harm.
The following are tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
FUN IN THE SUN:
Wear lightweight clothing, and a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
Avoid direct sun exposure, specially between 10:00am and 3:00pm

HEAT STRESS IN CHILDREN
Never leave your child unattended in the car. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees in minutes
Make sure your grandchild is hydrated, drinks plenty of water before a sporting event or prolonged physical activity
POOL SAFETY
All pools should have a fence 4-feet high around the pool

The fence should not

have openings that a Spring Issue 2007 young child could get

into

BICYCLE SAFETY

Next Issue: July 2007

Always make sure they Special Points of Interest:

wear a correctly fitting

helmet. When buying a helmet, look for the label Legal Advice for Grandinside that says the hel- parents

met meets CPSC safety Office of Child Support

standards

Helps Grandparents

LAWN MOWER SAFETY Caregiver Updates

Do not allow children to Area Agency on Aging

ride as passengers on

Support Groups

ride-on mowers

Use a mower with a control that stops moving Inside This Issue:

forward if the handle is

released

Getting to the Heart of a

2

Kinship Care Support Group

CLIFF'S NOTES: CAREGIVER UPDATES
Submitted by Cliff Burt, DHR, Division of Aging Services

Kinship Care In the Georgia 2 Mountains
Confessions of a Relative 2 Caregiver Coordinator

From the National Center on Caregiving: Study: Does High Caregiver Stress Lead to Nursing Home Entry?"
A study for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Plan-

ning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released "how informal care, paid formal care, and stress or burden experienced by caregivers relates to nursing home placement". The

study found that the more stress a family caregiver

Four Important Documents 3 for Relative Caregivers

experienced, the more likely Snack Tips

3

the care recipient would end

up going to a nursing home.
Child Support Services Hero 3
For more information: visit: of the Month Helps Grand-

http://www.os.dhhs.gov/ Golden Nuggets of Wisdom 4

GETTING TO THE HEART OF A KINSHIP CARE SUPPORT GROUP

Submitted by Kerrie Sirmans, Heart of Georgia Altamaha Area Agency on Aging

Support groups are standard prac- the Toombs Central Elementary

tice in the fields of social services School in collaboration with their

to provide an outlet for people to school counselor. These groups

come together, share their experi- highlight topics such as resources

ences, learn new ways to cope and available, coping strategies, and

to reduce stress. The goals of the stress reduction, to name a few. It

"GRAND GATHERING" support also provides relative caregivers an

groups in Heart of Georgia Al- opportunity to just talk about their

tamaha AAA region reflect this experiences and socialize. Grand-

ideology.

parents have frequently mentioned

There are three support groups feeling alone in their struggles, so it currently available to grandparents is a comfort to attend a "GRAND raising grandchildren-- Appling GATHERING" and find out they
county, Wayne county and one at are not alone.

We have a saying that maintains the focus of the groups during our "GRAND GATHERINGS"- "In union there is strength." The grandparents of the Heart It has helped me to of GA re- the fact, that after I gion will have gone to a group, certainly be I feel less depressed. strong with --Ms. S. a Heart of the help of GA Altamaha each other. GRAND
GATHERING support group member

KINSHIP CARE IN THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS

Submitted by: Julia Jessie, Legacy Link, Inc. Area Agency on Aging

Kinship care support groups in Rabun, Habersham, Lumpkin and Forsyth counties continue to amaze me. They are the epitome of what sharing groups are all about. The participants are taking ownership of the meetings and embracing new members with open arms.
Many grandparents moved to the GA Mountain area upon retirement to be

near children and grandchildren with Medicaid, who are the best counselors, the intent of becoming weekend grand- and the best places to take children for parents. Needless to say, they have hiking or picnics. been called upon to become full-time The vast amount of information shared caregivers for their grandchildren. As between these grandparents is incredinew resident/retirees to the area, they ble. All reports they are in a better posiare now quickly learning from local tion to deal with every day problems residences of the support groups where just in knowing there is someone else they can find the best resources, like they can call on for help. which counseling facilities accept

CONFESSIONS OF A RELATIVE CAREGIVER COORDINATOR

Submitted by: Irma Garcia Rose, Grands Who Care , A program of Mercy Senior Care in Rome

Last week, my co-worker and I went to the nursing home to visit one of our clients from Grands Who Care. Let me tell you about her. She has been raising her granddaughter since birth. Her granddaughter has been growing as expected of a child, to become a beautiful, intelligent, and according to the grandmother, very talkative teenager. At a particular support group meeting,

issues arose surrounding how to tell their grandchildren about their biological parents. The grandmother opened up and shared her fear about her granddaughter not loving her if she knew the truth. It took may talks and individual counseling sessions before the grandmother was able to tell her granddaughter that she was adopted. Two Christmases ago, the

grandmother called excited and crying that her granddaughter still loves her after she told her she was adopted.
Standing by her bed in the nursing home, I was reminded of all of these conversations and realized once more how much I have learned from her about love and family commitment.

Page 2

KINSHIP CHRONICLES

FOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS EVERY RELATIVE CAREGIVER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Submitted by Lindsay Verity, Atlanta Legal Aid Society Grandparents/Relative Caregiver Project

At the Atlanta Legal Aid Society's

his or her wishes are carried out.

3.

Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Pro- 1. Financial Power of Attorney

ject, one of the most common con-

permits the caregiver to choose an

cerns is what happens

agent to manage all of

when a relative care-

their financial and property

giver is no longer able

matters in the case they are

to raise the children in

unable to.

their care. Drafting some important docu-

2. Durable Power of 4.

ments now can help

Attorney for Health

relieve some of their

Care--the caregiver

worries. While the relative caregiver is

The Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project is a compo-

chooses someone to make health care decisions for

still alive, there are

nent of Atlanta Legal Aid

the caregiver when he or

four important docu- Society

she is unable to do so.

ments that can ensure

Living Will-- states whether the caregiver wants life sustaining or death delaying treatments to be applied. It allows the caregiver to determine if he or she wishes to discontinue artificial life support ( such as a respirator)
Standby Guardianship--gives legal authority to someone else to care for the child. If the relative caregiver has adopted the child and is still living, the caregiver has the right to name a guardian to care for the child in the event the caregiver cannot care for the child.

SNACK TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR GRANDCHILD

Information provided from Centers for Disease Control, Fruits and Veggies Matter Website

Adopted from



www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/tips

website, consider the following helpful snack tips:

Try hummus and whole wheat pitas
Encourage your child to choose his or her own fruit when shopping

Try baked tortilla chips with black bean and corn salsa
Look for fruit without added
sugar or syrups
Store cleaned, cut-up veggies in the fridge at eye level and keep low-fat dip on hand

Pick up readypacked salad greens from the produce shelf for a quick and easy snack anytime
Drink a fruit smoothie with whole fruit, ice cubes and lowfat or fat-free yogurt

CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES HERO OF THE MONTH NOMINEE HELPS GRANDPARENTS

Submitted by Sheila Brown, DHR, Office of Child Support Services

In April, a grandmother came in care. Anita assured them

from OCSS staff. The two

the office with her two grand- OCSS only wanted to help

grandchildren loved their toys.

sons ages 9 and 7. They had them and not take their

Efforts are still being made to

been living with their grandpar- grandchildren away.

provide further assistance to

ents after being abandoned by Anita assisted in the appli-

the grandfather and the grand-

their mother when the youngest cation process by complet-

sons. The grandfather has been

was 2; their father was currently ing all parts she could( the

referred to other agencies for

in jail. The grandparents had grandfather could not read

other resources, but has not yet

not applied for any services to or write) Anita also assisted Anita Janes, Establishment applied for OCSS assistance;

help care for the children be- with getting the children Agent in the Gainesville office he is still scared of

cause they were afraid the state donated toys during Easter has been with Child Support "government agencies."

would remove them from their

Services for 10 years.

Spring Issue 2007

Page 3

Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Aging Services 9th Floor 2 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 657-5258
Coming Soon: DHR web link for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren !

The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services administers a statewide system of services for senior citizens, their families and caregivers. We work with other aging agencies and organizations to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of elderly Georgians. DAS meets the challenge of Georgia's growing older population through continued service improvement and innovation.
The Division of Aging Services vision is to assist older Georgians in Living Longer, Living Safely, Living Well.

GOLDEN NUGGETS OF WISDOM FROM GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

Submitted by: Leslie M. Sessley, DHR, Division of Aging Services

Over the past two years I have been

with the DHR, Division of Aging Ser-

vices, there are "golden nuggets of

wisdom" that I learned through speak-

ing with grandparents and other rela-

tives raising children.



Here are a few lessons I picked up

and would like to share with relative

caregivers:

Do not underestimate the power in small numbers. It does not

take a lot of people to start a

"power house." You do have the

power to make a difference in

your life and your grandchildren's

lives, but it is up to you.

If one person has a dream, two or more can make it happen.

Don't be afraid to share your pas-

sions and desires for your family

with other relative caregivers. You may find out that other people may share the same goals you have when it comes to raising your grandchildren.
Find a connection. Get " plugged in"

be helpful to you and your grand-
child. Support groups or profes-
sional counseling may be of assis-
tance.
Allow others to share their love to you, as you have done

and find resources

for the children in

that will help you. Use resources that you are familiar with so that you may find support. Newspapers, TV, schools, malls, an healthcare facilities may help.

your care. What you

have done is out of

love and concern for

your grandchildren.

This is very com-

Caption describing picture or mendable, but also

graphic.

allow someone to

show you the same love and con-

It is healthy to ask for help when

cern. You also deserve love given

needed. Once you get connected,

by others through acts of support

you may find that just talking over

and assistance.

problems in a supportive place may