[HCCN] PR: 9.14.10 RAPP groups resume

[Candy Eaton]

August 25, 2010; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
...........................................................................................*a 
pdf poster is available upon request*
CONTACT:  /Candy Eaton, Program Director
Hancock County Children's Council, a program of Downeast Health Services 
Inc.
52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME  04605/
/207-667-5304, ext. 261; //children at downeasthealth.org/ 
<mailto:children at downeasthealth.org>
 

* *

*"Relatives as Parents Monthly Meetings Resume"*

The Hancock County Children's Council, a program of Downeast Health 
Services, is pleased to announce that our monthly Relatives As Parents 
group meetings will resume on the second Tuesday of each month, 
beginning _September 14^th from 1:30pm-3:00pm_.  If you are interested 
in participating in these FREE mutual support groups, please call Candy 
Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261. 

Each month, we will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss 
and learn from each other about a specific topic specific to "Parenting 
the Second Time Around".  Topics scheduled are:

·         September 14^th :  "It Wasn't Supposed to be Like This"
·         October 12^th :  "Getting to Know You"
·         November 9^th :  "Rebuilding a Family"
·         December 14^th :  "Discipline is Not a Dirty Word, But It May 
Look Different Today"

There is not a single 'typical' grandparent-headed household. Across the 
United States:

.       One out of every 12 children (more than 6 million children 
nationwide) lives in a household headed by a relative other than their 
parent. 

.       More than one-third of grandparents raising grandchildren live 
in households without either of the children's parents present.   2.4 
million grandparents report being responsible for their grandchildren 
living with them.

.       Seventy-one percent of grandparents raising grandchildren are 
under the age of 60, while only 29% are age 60 or older.  
Grandparent-headed households are the fastest growing type of family in 
the U.S.

.       Most of the grandparents raising grandchildren (62.5%) are 
married couples, including couples that are separated, but 37.5% of the 
grandparents are unmarried, widowed, or divorced.

.       People of all different races report being responsible for 
grandchildren.  Nearly 40% of these families live at or below the 
poverty line, even though close to half have at least one caregiver who 
is employed.

Even though each story is unique, most of the children living with 
relative caregivers share a common experience of sadness or confusion 
about losing their birth parent, whether it is due to substance abuse, 
physical or mental illness, or other circumstances. It may be a 
temporary or permanent loss, or as often happens, an unpredictable one 
as a birth parent moves in and out of the child's life. Because of this, 
some children wonder if their parents love them and why they are not 
there for them. Many children know the fear and instability of not being 
sure if someone will take care of them or if they will be safe.

Despite the relatively high number of "grandfamilies", many of the 
caregivers do not know others who are in similar situations. This can 
lead to feelings of isolation, which can be magnified for families who 
are already living in sparsely-populated rural areas.   These difficult 
life experiences faced by "grandfamilies" are countered by the joy of 
being part of the child's life, the relief of knowing the child is safe, 
and the satisfaction of seeing the child thrive as his or her life 
becomes more stable.

Downeast Health Services Inc., seeks to support the many families who 
have recently undertaken the unexpected responsibility of caring for a 
relative's child.  These relatives' lives are complicated, yet they are 
experienced parents and bring history and past lessons to a new 
relationship with their relatives' children.  Throughout Hancock County, 
there are others who share many similar experiences and feelings.  
 Please call 667-5304 ext. 261, email children at downeasthealth.org 
<mailto:children at downeasthealth.org> or visit our website at 
www.downeasthealth.org <http://www.downeasthealth.org> for additional 
information on parenting classes, support groups and family resources 
available in Hancock County.   To learn more about Maine Kids-Kin and 
its services, visit www.mainekids-kin.org <http://www.mainekids-kin.org> 
or call 1-866-298-0896.

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