[HCCN] PR: 2 Relatives as Parents Groups in Ellsworth

[Candy Eaton]

January 4, 2010; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Candy Eaton, Program Director
* *
*"NEW Relatives as Parents SUPPORT Groups"*
 
The Hancock County Children's Council will start the new year offering 
two (2) Relatives As Parents Support groups for the convenience of 
grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousin or other family members 
caring for a relative's child or working toward that goal.  Our monthly 
evening group will meet on Tuesday, January 12^th , 2010, from 5:30pm to 
7:30pm, and our new monthly daytime group will meet on Wednesday, 
January 13^th , 2010 from 10:30am to 12:30pm.  If you are interested in 
participating in either of these FREE mutual support groups to be held 
at Downeast Health Services, 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, please 
call Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261.
 
Are you one of the following types of grandparent caregivers?
·         Custodial grandparents have legal custody of their 
grandchildren; they provide daily care and decision-making tasks.  The 
focus on this type of care-giving is on the grandchild and providing 
them with a sense of security.
·         "Living with" grandparents provide daily care for their 
grandchildren, but do not have legal custody.  The child's parent may or 
may not live in the home.  These grandparents focus on providing an 
economically and emotionally stable environment for the child, and often 
on helping the parent.  Because the grandparent does not possess legal 
custody, he or she has no way of protecting the child from an unsuitable 
or dangerous parent.
·         "Day care" grandparents focus on helping the child's parent 
and on fulfilling their own needs.  These grandparents tend to be the 
least affected by their caretaking role because the children return home 
at the end of the day. 
 
The Hancock County Children's Council, a program of Downeast Health 
Services Inc., in partnership with /Maine Kids-Kin, /seeks to support 
families who are raising their relatives' children in Hancock County.  
Many families have recently undertaken the unexpected responsibility of 
caring for a relative's child.   In Maine, over 11,000 children with 
their grandparents, aunts, uncles, or with another relative who are not 
their parents. Even so, many relatives feel they are in this alone.  
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.   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.
 
The Hancock County Children's Council collaborates with many local 
partners to strengthen Maine's families.  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, child development and family resources available in Hancock 
County. 
 
/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>
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