Posted
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The event is offered in English and Spanish this year.
On Friday, May 20th from 9:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. the third annual "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Day for You" event will be held at the Hillsboro Washington Street Conference Center on 225 S. First Avenue.
"This event brings grandparents together who are raising their grandchildren to meet one another and share a day of fun and learning, "says Washington County Disability, Aging & Veterans Services Program Coordinator, Deborah Letourneau. "This year the event will be offered in separate English and Spanish sessions for grandparents."
There are more than 4.5 million children living in grandparent-headed households, according to the most recent census. Nearly 38,000 children in Oregon live in grandparent-headed households. 20,735 children live with their grandparents without either parent present. Often grandparent caregivers step forward to raise children because their parents struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration, poor health, mental illness, domestic violence, divorce, unemployment, or because of death or military deployment.
Speakers and topics include: Mark Kramer, J.D., Kramer and Associates and Kaori Tanabe, J.D., St. Andrews Legal Clinic, will address legal issues and updates; Angela Kubin, MSW, Morrison Child & Family Center, Rhianna Delaney, M.Ed., Youth Contact, Lucy Beltran, Oregon Child Development Coalition and Family Literacy Services and Guadalupe Maldonado, Adelante Mujeres, will speak about communication and parenting the second time around; Rick Samuelson and Elizabeth Lopez, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, will present on early childhood development and school readiness; Julie McCloud and Lorenzo Rubio, Washington County Sheriff's Office, will address teens and social networking technology.
Numerous agencies will be represented at a resource fair connected to the event. Free lunch and prizes are also offered. According to Deborah Letourneau, "Many grandparents confront unanticipated financial strain and distinctive stresses that come with the responsibilities of child-raising later in life. Some report they have lost their peer group and feel isolated. This event offers grandparents a chance to meet one another and find they are part of a larger community experiencing similar joys and challenges."
While the event is free, pre-registration is required. Grandparents are asked to call 503-846-3089 for information and to save their space.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Tabra, Program Educator Disability, Aging & Veterans Services503 846-3087
[email protected]