[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network How Head Start Can Help Head Start

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 2 Learning Outcomes As a result of this learning experience participants: Develop strategies to support Grandparents raising their grandchildren Have resources for themselves and the families they serve Create a plan for recruiting and maintaining services for grandparents raising young children

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 3 Picture this In the past, expectations of a grandparent was someone who welcomed and spoiled grandchildren with great joy, visited on holidays, celebrated family events, and provided occasional assistance during a special need. Today’s reality is that a growing number are taking the role as parents when parents are unable to fulfill their role.

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 4 Numbers Nation wide: 1 in 12 children live with grandparents 2.4 million grandparents have the primary responsibility for their care In Missouri: There are over 70,000 children living with grandparents 40,000 of them without either parent in the home 15% are living in poverty

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 5 Good news Grandparents have a lot to offer When children are with grandparents: They retain their family culture and relationships with extended family that might otherwise be lost The strength and love of a family connection often overcomes negative issues They have some history with the children which supports understanding and may make the transition to a new home easier Lessons learned often provides a depth of wisdom and perspective

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 6 The not so good news Some grandparents may be angry or disappointed that their lives have been disrupted with new responsibilities. They may have health issues or limited financial resources There may be difficult relationships between grandparents and their adult children Depending on the circumstances, grandparents may have multiple issues to deal with They may experience depression and grief

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network What is happening in Your Program? What percentage of your families are headed by grandparents? What strategies are you currently implementing?  Services or support especially for grandparents  Recruitment strategies for reaching grandparents  Staff training around working with grandparents  Using community resources or partners 7

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 8 What to do? Review your program and community assessment to identify the scope of the need and possible community resources and partners Form an internal leadership group that includes family members, direct service staff and community partners to create a plan for services to respond to the identified need

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 9 Perspectives on programming Supporting the family Supporting the child Find out as much of the child’s history as possible. Be prepared to address attachment and abandonment issues that produce challenging behavior Use child assessments wisely Provide individualized support for the child through the regular curriculum as well as supplemental materials and resources as needed Celebrate the child! Listen and learn Engage in a needs assessment process Develop an individualized plan in collaboration with the family Have appropriate materials and curriculum around specific child and family issues related to attachment and grief Identify appropriate resources in the community and make effective referrals Celebrate every success!

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 10 Prepare staff Working with grandparents offers some specific challenges. It is essential that staff have skills, resources, strategies, and support to be effective.

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 11 What do staff need? Local resources and support groups to share with grandparents Knowledge of grief and how it might be expressed Clarity regarding attachment including cause for concern, sharing concerns with the family, suggestions for supporting attachment, and resources for referral when needed Strategies for grandparents to support the child’s development Resources for grandparents establishing legal status

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 12 Finding and inviting grandparents Consider developing a brochure or information sheet to be provided to local support groups and Senior Citizen groups Put together a brief and colorful slide show that features a grandparent being served through Head Start Start a support group within your agency for grand- parents of Head Start children Consider specific staff skills and experience for providing leadership for reaching grandparents

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 13 Resources parentlink.missouri.edu grandfamilies.missouri.edu (The Magic of a The AARP Foundation The Brookdale Foundation Group Casey Family Programs Child Welfare League of America Children's Defense Fund Generations United

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Missouri GRANDFamily Coalition Serving Relatives as Parents

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Missouri GRANDFamily Coalition The mission of the Missouri GrandFamily Coalition is to raise public awareness of issues facing relatives as parents; to educate and promote fair and equitable access to resources. 15

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Missouri GRANDFamily Coalition The Coalition is organized for the purpose of supporting relatives as parents, providing statewide leadership to this population and: Educating/Disseminating sound information Convening for action on relevant issues Incubating new ideas Serving as a repository for assistance Promoting/Sharing best practices with relatives as parents, and Developing and increasing a diverse relative caregiver leadership base 16

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Membership of Coalition Coalition members include representatives of agencies, organizations, relatives as parents and, other individuals who are committed to GRANDFamily concerns. These agencies and individuals represent the following: 17

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Membership of Coalition * AARP * St. Louis Area on Aging * Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office * Parents As Teachers * The Children’s Home Society of Missouri * 4-H * Department of Corrections * Missouri Children’s Division * SEMO Area Agency on Aging * Family Support Division * Legal Services of Eastern Missouri * Missouri Child Care Aware * Internal Revenue Service * Practical Parenting Partnerships * Department of Health and Senior Services * Children’s Mercy Family Friends Program * Midwest Foster Care and Adoption * Mid-East Area Agency on Aging 18

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network GRANDFamilies Support by Region Missouri GRANDFamilies Coalition divides the state into ten regions. Members can access information about what resources are available to them in their part of the state by visiting grandfamilies.missouri.edu 19

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network USA Gov Website Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Benefits and Assistance Health and Safety Resources Benefits and Assistance AARP Grandparent Information Center Benefits and Government Assistance Eligibility ToolBenefits and Government Assistance Eligibility Tool Child Care Locator and Information Children's Bureau Children and Families Programs from HHS Kinship Resources for Federal Employees National Center on Grandparents Raising ChildrenNational Center on Grandparents Raising Children Social Security Benefits for Grandchildren Student Loans and Grants Health and Safety Resources A Grandparents Guide for Nurturing and SafetyA Grandparents Guide for Nurturing and Safety Bullying and Your Child Child Abuse and Neglect Food Safety Automated Questions and AnswersFood Safety Automated Questions and Answers Health and Safety in Child Care Mental Health of Children and AdolescentsMental Health of Children and Adolescents Sex Offender Registry: National Search Toy Safety Publications Travel Safely with Children Vaccination Schedule for Children and AdolescentsVaccination Schedule for Children and Adolescents 20

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Data and Publications USA Gov. website cont. Books Suggested for Grandparents and Grandchildren Census Facts on Grandparents Child and Adolescent Health Data Grandparents As Parents: Facts and Tips Older American Facts Older American's Act Programs State Fact Sheets for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren More Publications for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren All of the resources mentioned during this presentation are available on the Missouri Head Start Association Website. 21

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Next Steps As you consider the information shared today, what are your preferred next steps?  Additional webinars on this subject  Additional webinars on other subjects relating to family engagement  On site training or technical assistance related to family engagement 22

[contractor] A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Missouri State Based TA Office Rhodanne M. Schiller MS Ed Center Manager/ECE Specialist ICF International Home Office: 416 S. Leonard Liberty, MO Telephone: Sarah Mills ECE Specialist ICF International Home Office: 6324 Southwood Avenue #2-E Clayton, MO Telephone