Build support, discuss topics related to challenges, celebrate successes, broaden areas of knowledge, and educate others through lived experience. 10/5/21
Who We Are:
BC Grand families support group is run by grandparents for grandparents and other relatives raising the children of loved ones. We advocate for grand families; build support; discuss topics related to challenges; celebrate successes; broaden areas of knowledge, offer resources, speakers and educate others through lived experience. We serve beyond Bucks County.
2018 Inception:
Feeling alone and isolated. Being unable to find this support anywhere in BC
Roberta had been raising her granddaughter at that time by herself. Myself & my husband had been raising their grandchildren for three and a half years.
-We have partnered with Access Services, Michaela Smith, Director of Family Support Programs at Bucks County LIFE Program She came alongside us and assisted us in collecting resources, speaker ideas and with our FB page.
2019 Partners
We are a support group of Lenape Valley Church where we generally have our meetings on the first and third Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 March through May and September through November.
-This Support Group was modeled after an existing support group in Chester County that had been meeting for 10 years
-Meals are provided for the grandparents/care takers as well the children. Babysitting is available. -Both are provided at no cost to the families
-Sixteen families attend the Support Group during the first three months, March ~ May of 2019
By that fall, twenty five families attended. Community:
I was a speaker on April 2, 2019, at Be Part of The Conversation, a Community Support Group in Montgomery County. On April 4, 2019, we both spoke at the third annual Bucks County Blitz kick off sharing our grandparent experiences of “The Collateral Damage of the Opioid Crisis”. It was held at the Doylestown Justice Center and was attended by 70 local officials including Law Enforcement, State Reps, the BC Drug and Alcohol Commission and the District Attorney. This is an opioid awareness function with emphasis on networking and system involvement during an annual month-long saturation of events. After which the BC Grand Families Support Group was mentioned in The Daily Intelligencer Newspaper article which covered “The Blitz”. We also were interviewed that morning and appeared on the PBS Channel 39 news on Monday, April 7. We also both spoke again that evening at the first of dozens of monthlong events hosted by Robert Whitley, Esquire who is the founder of “The Blitz”, about the Collateral Damage of Drug and Alcohol usage to families. The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging has partnered with our support group by connecting us with their volunteer adult babysitters for our first few months. The Central Bucks YMCA provided babysitting for BC Grand Families Support Group for up to 4 hours a month per child at no cost to our families.
-NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Bucks County advertises our support group on their website.
-We were invited, attended and had a resource table on May 22, 2019, at the Bucks County Resource Fair and Conference sponsored by Magellan Health Services, Inc. and the Bucks County Department of Human Services.
-After being a part of the planning, we supported the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission in hosting their first Grand Family Expo –on June 19, 2019 at Christ Home.
-The Support Group was highlighted in the BC LIFE Newsletter in fall 2019
-In October 2019, several grandmothers met with State Representative Todd Polinchock in
2019 SPEAKERS:
-BC LIFE spoke on Compassion Fatigue for Caregivers;
-A Counseling group spoke on Trauma;
-A representative came from Senator Steve Santarsiero’s office attended to access the needs of grand families raising grandchildren.
-Bethany Christian Services spoke about respite
-BC Area Agency on Aging shared their Caregiver Support Program which offers monthly reimbursements for Caregivers.
-Big Brother/Big Sisters share about how their organization could benefit our children.
-In December the Milton Hershey School hosted us by hiring a bus, an informational session, tour of Milton Hershey School as well as a fun filled time at Hershey Park at no cost to our families.
2020
On February 22, 2020, Roberta was invited and sat on a panel discussion hosted by CB School District in cooperation with The CB Cares Educational Foundation, Doylestown Hospital and the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission for the 2nd Annual Drug & Alcohol Awareness Event at Central Bucks High School South from 5:30 – 8:30. We offered a resource table to the public and Roberta as a panelist voiced a glimpse into our lives. She discussed the collateral damage and trickle-down effect of the current increase of Drugs and Alcohol usage toward grand families.
-Having an extremely full life, Roberta resigned from her Co-Facilitator The first support group in
-As Covid shut down the country, zoom meetings began on the second March meeting.
-Support Group met again twice through Zoom in May.
-In May we had a speaker, Nancy Larkin-Taylor, Esquire Family Law answering pertinent question for Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren.
-Summer of 2020, five of our Grand Families were supported by having their grandchildren attend the YMCA Camp. Fall of 2020 – still covid
Speaker PA Kin Connector sharing their knowledge and resources for families in our situation, on Zoom also in person.
2021 Zoom & In Person Meetings
-Speakers:
Family Services Association of Bucks County.
-Janine Kiah, Esquire, , Senior Law Center’s Pursuing Justice for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in PA
Penn State Extension RAPP (Relatives as Parents Program) Professor Matthew Kaplan and Darlene Sansome,
Over the Summer months we will have informal monthly meetings with support at local playgrounds. The adults can catch up as well as receive resources and support while keeping eyes on the kids. Fall Regular in-person support group & Speakers
-September, I hired a magician for entertainment for the children.
-October 15 -- A 4H High School Senior is coming to a meeting to complete an award. She will be sharing crafts, games and bring animals.
-Cyber Safety for Parents by NOVA
- “Holidays that Matter” – Anita Bell, Pastor of Lenape Valley Church
