west virginia state university healthy grandfamilies program · jackson mason putnam braxton lewis...
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West Virginia State UniversityHealthy Grandfamilies Program
Another EPIDEMIC in our country an EPIDEMIC in West Virginia!
GRANDFAMILIES a new community!
Bonnie Dunn, MS
West Virginia State University
West Virginia State University
Healthy Grandfamilies
HISTORY / BACKGROUND
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What is a Grandfamily?
A GrandFamily is a special kind of Kinship arrangement. Different from kinship and foster care because of the
genetic/biological connect.
Grandparents are:
A treasure, founders of a loving legacy, greatest storytellers, keepers of traditions, strong foundation.
Special love sets them apart from all others.
They keep a family close at heart.”
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National Trends• Over 2.5 million grandparents are responsible
for their grandchildren
• For every 1 child in the foster care system, 25 are being raised by grandparents or relatives outside of the system
• Grandfamilies save tax payers more then $6.5 $4 billion by keeping kids out of foster care
Source: Generation United, 2017
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Statewide Trends
WV ranks 2nd among all states in the % of grandparents responsible for their
grandchildren.
Source: Kids County 2016
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Source: WVRHA/WV Health Data Portal
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Common reasons for grandparents raising their grandchildren
• Death of parent
• Abandonment or neglect
• Incarceration
• Substance abuse
• Unemployment and/or financial problems
• Mental Illness
• Divorce
• Teen pregnancy
• HIV/AIDS
• Abuse, family violence
• Military deployment
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Challenges Faced by Custodial Grandparents
• Legal status
• Financial support
• Health care/mental health care
• School
• Child behavior
• Family relationships
• Support services
• Fair & equal treatment
• Often dealing with addiction of adult child
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Program ModelIntervention
Grandparents receive:
• Education/Action Plan (3 months)
– Weekly Discussion Groups for grandparents delivered in the community in which they live.
– Child care
– Refreshments
• Family Support Follow-up (3 months following Discussion Groups)
Total Intervention = 6 months
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Discussion Topics
1. Communication
2. Parenting in the 21st CenturyWe must not have gotten it right the first time or we wouldn’t be raising our grandchildren!
3. Family Relationships
4 . Self Care Health Literacy
5. Stress
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Discussion Topics
6. Nutrition
7. Technology, Social Media,
Cyber-bullying
8. Navigating the Legal System
9. Navigating the School System
10. Family Response to Addiction
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Additional Topics
• Trauma Informed Care
• ACE’s
• Counselling Services
• Others as needed
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“Healthy Grandfamilies” Be It Known That
John Lomlompgger
Successfully completed this program which focused on:
Communication, Parenting in the 21st Century, Family Relationships, Self-Care/Health Literacy,
Stress, Nutrition, Legal Issues, School System, Social Media and Family Response to Addiction.
16 hours’ class time
Healthy Grandfamilies Coordinator Date
Social Worker Date
Andy and Debbie Adoption
2 GrandchildrenAges 5 yrs - 4 months
Baseline Characteristics (N=125)
from the Pilot Project
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• Age range: 39 – 82 (67.4% age 60+)
• 73.4% female
• 88.8% Caucasian/White (78.4% grandchildren Caucasian/white)
• 66% Married
• 44.8% some college or college degree
• 32% with incomes $10,000 – $24,999
• (45% $25,000 - $49,999
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Placement Reasons
2 Average # of grandchildren in
grandfamily household:
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Primary reasons for placement:
– Drug-related 84.8%• Addiction
• Death of parent
• Incarcerated parent
• Child removed by DHHR
– Financial reasons 6.4%
– Parent has disability 4.0%
– Military deployment 1.6%
– Parent is a teenager 1.6%
– Other 1.6%
Health Status
• Grandparents’ chronic health conditions:
➢At least 1 100%
➢Top 3: arthritis, heart disease, chronic pain
• Self-reported health of grandparents:
➢Excellent 60.8%
➢Good 32.0%
➢ Fair/Poor 7.2%
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Chronic Conditions of Children
• Grandchildren’s chronic conditions:
➢At least 1 22%
➢Top 4:
✓Hyperactivity
✓Behavior Problems
✓Obesity
✓Learning Disability
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19.2% reported to have behavioral problems19.2% diagnosed with hyperactivity12.0% diagnosed with a mental health condition
Grandfamilieswith
7 grandchildren8 grandchildren9 grandchildren
Are you prepared to take on such a daunting task?”
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Family Support Follow-up (3 months)“Social Work in Action”
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What is the current statusof WVSU HGP?
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2 year post follow-upSurvey’s were mailed to the original participants of the Pilot Project. With 49% of the survey’s from the follow-up results are:
Percentages 93% – 96% “strongly agree” “agree”
That the overall participating in the program made a positive impact on their family.
Comments: “I would highly recommend this program to any grandparent involved in raising a grandchild. “I found that the program is phenomenal. Everyone on the HG team was extremely knowledgeable and helpful…”
Training the 54Harrison County was trained 2017
during the Pilot Project
22 Trainings805 participants
1 Social Work Training22 participants
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Replication of WVSU HGP
TrainedKentucky
New HampshireGuam
GRANT
HAMPSHIRE
HARDY
PENDLETON
FAYETTEGREENBRIER
MERCER
MONROE
NICHOLAS
WEBSTER
LOGAN
MCDOWELL
RALEIGH
WYOMING
BOONE
CABELL
LINCOLNWAYNE
CLAY
KANAWHA
JACKSON
MASON
PUTNAM
BRAXTON
LEWIS
RANDOLPH
TUCKER
MONONGALIA
PRESTON
TAYLOR
TYLER
BROOKE
HANCOCK
OHIO
WETZEL
ROANE
RITCHIE
WIRT
WOODTUCKER
MARION
MINERAL
Healthy Grandfamilies
December 2019
Trained
Active Programs
in 28 counties
Testimony from a Grandmother
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Kairosis a time that requires a conversion from people.
Kairosis extraordinary time, requiring interpretation. The capacity to
read the signs of the time.
Bill & LillieBlackhurst
my Grandparents
Rand, WV1948
Contact Information
Bonnie Dunn, MS, Extension SpecialistFamily and Consumer [email protected]
o. 304-204-4007c. 304-541-1654
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