Senior News
March, 2001
Vol. 20. No.  3

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

A unique ensemble: Classical music hosts span the globe and the centuries

ASA: Local executives to present at national conference

Grandparents:New CR program serves those raising grandchildren

Northcoast music treasures: Dixieland Jazz Festival celebrates its 11th year, but that's not all

A cornucopia of music: Leon Berliner had to create his audience

Caregiver:Family Support Series planned

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Grandparents
New CR program serves those raising grandchildren
by Rachel Windsong

From time immemorial grandparents have taken in grandchildren. Sometimes it has been for a short time, sometimes it has been to raise them. But never before have as many done it as today. Almost everyone knows someone, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister or brother, raising another family member's child or children.

In previous times, with a less urban population, another person was more easily absorbed into a household. Houses were bigger, food was home-grown, clothes were hand-made and gym shoes didn't cost upwards of $50. All it took was love, and that was never in short supply.

Today's children are needier, households less expansive, support systems fewer. Grandmothers who used to be home all the time are now working full time or retired and planning a childless life. What that means is that the whole process is harder, one is more isolated, help is more fragmented and harder to identify.

The problem is big enough that the State of California has mandated a new program called Kinship Care. Here it is being implemented in conjunction with College of the Redwood's Foster Care Education Program.

But this time the program is different. It's not part of the state's social service system. The answers have not been decided by others. The people for whom the program is being designed are being asked what they need in the way of help. Legal information, social services, employment and other financial answers, parenting classes, support groups, information about health care and respite care are among the possibilities-but are not the extent of them.

In order to cover the whole county, the program is planning a series of "Tea and Talk" meetings in several communities, making them easily accessible. The purpose of the meetings is to get input from Kinship Care providers about their needs and problems. Everyone is welcome.

The first meeting is in Eureka, March 20, from 10 a.m. to noon. Child care will be provided. The meeting will be at CR's Rick's House (corner 8th and H, Eureka). For more information call me at 707-442-8706 or Michelle Rice, the program director, at 707-476-4339.
Come to the meeting, let's talk, share problems and concerns and seek answers. Hope to see you there.

Rachel Windsong of Eureka is working to launch the Kinship Care program and a member of the Senior News Editorial Advisory Board. Her e-mail is windstar@northcoast.com.