Grandparents raising grandchildren. It may be more common than you think.
In San Diego County, about 24,000 grandparents or other relatives have primary responsibility for raising and caring for their grandchildren. Raising children a second time around comes with rewards as well as some challenges.
To help people in this situation take on the challenges of raising a young family member, the County Health and Human Services Agency’s South Region is sponsoring a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren forum. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, 590 K Street. To register, call 2-1-1 or visit the 211 San Diego website. The event is free and Spanish interpretation will be available. Lunch and childcare will be provided to all participants who register for the entire forum.
“Raising grandchildren full time isn’t easy in today’s fast-paced world and events like this give grandparents some support and guidance to help them make a difference in the lives of their grandchildren,” said County Supervisor Greg Cox, who will give welcoming remarks at 9:30 a.m.
At the event, grandparents and relatives raising young family members will have a variety of learning opportunities.
The keynote speaker is Lorena Avitea from the Chadwick Trauma Informed Systems Project at Rady’s Children Hospital. Her presentation will be on “Real Life Superheroes: The Power Grandparents Have to Change the Course of Trauma in Their Grandchildren’s Lives.” In addition to discussing the impact that trauma can have on children’s lives and how it can impede their development, she will also talk about the pivotal role grandparents can have in the life of the child.
Attendees can join three of six workshops:
1. “Empowering Relatives Who Care for Children”
This workshop will focus on how grandparents can meet their needs and the needs of the child in the community and while dealing with Dependency Court. Melissa Brooks from the YMCA Kinship Program and Jennifer Turner with the Dependency Legal Group of San Diego will lead this session.
2. “Let’s Talk About It”
Led by Casie Johnson, Judi Park and Raquel Delgado—all from San Diego Youth Services—this workshop will address ways in which grandparents and caregivers can find innovative and creative ways to communicate important matters to children and teens.
3. “Changing the System”
Angie Schwartz and Bob Ruble from Alliance for Children’s Rights will talk about how you can change the system so that children can have stable homes and live in an environment where they can thrive.
4. “Grandparents and Caregivers Networking Session”
Elena Quintanar from the County’s Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) South Region will lead this session, specifically designed to allow grandparents and other kinship caregivers to meet one another and discuss means to provide each other support beyond the event.
5. “The Legal and Financial Responsibilities of a Legal Guardian vs. a Legal Parent”
What is the difference between being the legal guardian and the legal parent of a child? Natasha Hood from County Foster and Adoptive Resource Family Services will answer this and many other questions on the difference between being a legal guardian or parent of an underage child.
6. “The Invisible Suitcase”
A child being raised by a grandparent or kinship caregiver may carry an “invisible suitcase” packed with many negative emotions as well as false expectations and hopes. Lorena Avitea from the Chadwick Trauma Informed Systems Project at Rady’s Children Hospital will teach you how to unpack this suitcase, and fill it up instead with positive beliefs.
Grandparents and other kinship caregivers will have the opportunity to visit and connect with over 20 exhibitors, including legal experts, public benefits programs, support programs and more. Free health screenings will also be offered, along with fun entertainment for the whole family.
In partnership with HHSA, San Diego Workforce Partnership will also be holding a College and Resource Fair between 10 a.m. and noon for youth between the ages of 16 and 24.
“The college and resource fair will be very helpful for young people preparing to go to college or seeking employment,” said Barbara Jimenez, director of HHSA’s Central and South Region. “They will be able to find out information on how to apply and pay for college and meet local employers, practice their interviewing skills and learn about summer job opportunities.”
