Posted
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Day for Grandparents Who Raise Their Grandchildren
"In Oregon, over 20,000 grandparents have stepped forward to raise children because their parents struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, domestic violence, divorce, unemployment or military deployment," notes Deborah Letourneau, Program Coordinator for Washington County's Family Caregiver Support Program of Disability, Aging and Veteran Services. Letourneau is announcing the agency's first annual day-long event for grandparents, "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Day for You."The activities will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Beaverton Foursquare Church, 13565 SW Walker Road in Beaverton. "We wanted to provide a relaxed event – we'll have free chair massages – while providing top-rate speakers and a resource fair. And the event, including lunch, is free!"
Speakers include Mark Kramer, a family law attorney, who will address legal trends for grandparent rights; John Bennett, from the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center, on how to advocate for your grandchild in school; Gary Gitner, from the Social Security Administration, on Social Security benefits for grandparents who are raising grandchildren; and Virginia Sponsler, MSW, LCSW, on taking good care of yourself as a caregiver.
20 agencies will be represented at the Resource Fair. They will provide information on a range of topics from child care to youth activities. There will be breaks to allow grandparents to "network" with each other, too.
While the event is free, pre-registration is required. Call 503-615-4676 for information or to pre-register.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Oregon: The Numbers37,536 children live in grandparent-headed households (4.4% of all children in the state). There are another 14,081 children living in households headed by other relatives (1.7% of all children in the state). 22,103 grandparents report they are responsible for their grandchildren living with them: 3% of these grandparents are African American; 9% are Hispanic/Latino; 3% are Asian; 3% are American Indian or Alaskan Native; 79% are White. 13% of these grandparents live in poverty. U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000, updated for 2008 from the Website: http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Oregon%2008%20New%20Template.pdf |
Media Contact:
Deborah Letourneau, Program Coordinator503-615-4676
[email protected]