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Dallas Program Opens First Grandparent Information
Center
KinCare Network
reaches out to help grandparents raising grandkids
Feb. 23, 2006 - Joyce Houston of Dallas, confined
to a wheelchair by a stroke and living on a limited income, is caring
for two active granddaughters, ages 10 and 16. They are two of almost
one-half million minor children in Texas being cared for by
grandparents. One in 12 American children is living in a household
headed by a grandparent or relative other than a parent, according to
the Children's Defense Fund.
Several months ago, Houston's gas was disconnected.
"I was just devastated," she said. Then she learned about the Dallas
County KinCare Network from a flyer her youngest granddaughter brought
home from school.
"With their excellent help, the gas was
reconnected, and now they are helping me get bunk beds and school
uniforms for the girls," said Houston.
The Dallas County KinCare Network was created
through a partnership between the City of Dallas and AARP with funding
from a three-year, minority outreach New York Life Foundation grant.
The project unites AARP and the city with other
non-profit organizations, school districts and the Area Agency on Aging
on projects to support grandparents raising a second generation of
children. "We can accomplish more as a group than we ever could
individually," said Susan Williams, associate state director for AARP
Texas.
It also will open its first Grandparent Information
Center (GIC), Thursday, March 2, 1 p.m., with support from the Dallas
library system, to provide books, KinCare materials, and support groups
for grandparents.
The first GIC will be located at the Audelia Road
Branch of the Dallas public library located at 10045 Audelia Road (Audelia
Road and Church Street).
|
Census 2000
Supplementary Survey: Grandparents with Own Grandchildren Under
Age 18, by Poverty Status During the Previous 12 Months –
Children's Defense Fund. |
|
State |
Number of
grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 |
Number of
grandparents responsible for raising grandchildren |
|
Total |
Number in Poverty |
Percent in Poverty |
|
Alabama
|
87,059 |
50,159 |
10,272 |
20.5 |
|
Alaska
|
9,946 |
5,052 |
869 |
17.2 |
|
Arizona
|
109,577 |
49,274 |
7,917 |
16.1 |
|
Arkansas
|
55,573 |
32,286 |
8,512 |
26.4 |
|
California
|
866,415 |
289,546 |
46,218 |
16.0 |
|
Colorado
|
63,871 |
24,473 |
2,305 |
9.4 |
|
Connecticut
|
60,540 |
20,291 |
1,457 |
7.2 |
|
Delaware
|
20,465 |
8,524 |
-- |
-- |
|
District of
Columbia |
16,316 |
8,092 |
1,670 |
20.6 |
|
Florida
|
327,391 |
127,095 |
23,330 |
18.4 |
|
Georgia
|
197,476 |
85,208 |
18,799 |
22.1 |
|
Hawaii
|
43,985 |
11,605 |
688 |
5.9 |
|
Idaho
|
19,670 |
9,577 |
930 |
9.7 |
|
Illinois
|
266,204 |
103,112 |
16,582 |
16.1 |
|
Indiana
|
104,320 |
42,324 |
8,037 |
19.0 |
|
Iowa
|
32,805 |
15,568 |
1,731 |
11.1 |
|
Kansas
|
35,294 |
18,848 |
1,733 |
9.2 |
|
Kentucky
|
78,318 |
39,386 |
8,880 |
22.5 |
|
Louisiana
|
111,436 |
65,161 |
16,259 |
25.0 |
|
Maine
|
14,486 |
6,017 |
-- |
-- |
|
Maryland
|
118,470 |
51,398 |
7,158 |
13.9 |
|
Massachusetts |
90,957 |
31,078 |
4,092 |
13.2 |
|
Michigan
|
170,575 |
66,350 |
7,903 |
11.9 |
|
Minnesota
|
47,679 |
18,885 |
3,890 |
20.6 |
|
Mississippi
|
71,896 |
39,355 |
10,158 |
25.8 |
|
Missouri
|
111,484 |
52,575 |
7,499 |
14.3 |
|
Montana
|
12,361 |
6,332 |
1,423 |
22.5 |
|
Nebraska
|
18,021 |
9,135 |
1,683 |
18.4 |
|
Nevada
|
41,206 |
18,856 |
-- |
-- |
|
New
Hampshire |
17,779 |
5,988 |
-- |
-- |
|
New Jersey
|
160,773 |
58,906 |
11,492 |
19.5 |
|
New Mexico
|
40,240 |
20,449 |
3,517 |
17.2 |
|
New York
|
410,195 |
139,287 |
32,611 |
23.4 |
|
North
Carolina |
154,928 |
86,482 |
17,959 |
20.8 |
|
North
Dakota |
6,116 |
4,097 |
849 |
20.7 |
|
Ohio
|
181,148 |
83,424 |
15,111 |
18.1 |
|
Oklahoma
|
62,861 |
31,875 |
7,858 |
24.7 |
|
Oregon
|
46,345 |
15,029 |
1,622 |
10.8 |
|
Pennsylvania |
195,890 |
84,081 |
17,381 |
20.7 |
|
Rhode
Island |
16,876 |
4,744 |
-- |
-- |
|
South
Carolina |
96,981 |
53,703 |
14,389 |
26.8 |
|
South
Dakota |
5,383 |
2,353 |
-- |
-- |
|
Tennessee
|
108,742 |
46,060 |
9,917 |
21.5 |
|
Texas
|
534,729 |
243,993 |
62,075 |
25.4 |
|
Utah
|
29,407 |
9,191 |
-- |
-- |
|
Vermont
|
5,965 |
2,960 |
-- |
-- |
|
Virginia
|
135,159 |
62,994 |
9,923 |
15.8 |
|
Washington
|
87,205 |
35,806 |
4,613 |
12.9 |
|
West
Virginia |
39,841 |
20,227 |
6,354 |
31.4 |
|
Wisconsin
|
59,305 |
30,076 |
2,531 |
8.4 |
|
Wyoming
|
6,044 |
3,190 |
414 |
13.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States |
5,605,708 |
2,350,477 |
441,850 |
18.8 |
|
Rate in
typical (median) state |
|
|
18.4 |
|
-- Sample
size is too small to permit a reliable estimate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, unpublished tables. Calculations by
the Children's Defense Fund. |
Special guest will be Dr. Hanoch McCarty author of
Chicken Soup for the Grandparents' Soul. Dr. McCarty will share
heartfelt stories about the awesome power of grandparents and sign free
copies of his book for the first 200 people.
"Grandparents will have access to a wealth of
information," said Williams. "For instance, they can tap into our Dallas
County KinCare Grandparents' warmline at 214-670-1866. People can also
get help from AARP's benefits checkup program where they can find
specific information addressed to their needs."
The need in Texas is great -- some 450,000 children
under the age of 18 are being raised by their grandparents, ranking
Texas second behind California in the number of grandparent-headed
households.
AARP's extensive grandparenting site at
http://www.aarp.org/grandparents has information on caring for your
grandchildren, including those with special needs; spending time with
them; and where to look for resources and assistance.
AARP describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan
membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice
and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and
society as a whole. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that
provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need
with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
Helpful links:
Kinship Care Resource Kit – Children's Defense Fund
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Site provided by FirstGov.gov
Grandparent Magazine
Fun and informative
Generations United
Fact sheets about grandparents and other relatives raising
grandchildren.
National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights
Advocates and lobbies for legislative changes to support grandparents.
Grand Parent Again
Information for grandparents raising grandchildren.
The Foundation for Grandparenting
A non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grandparents.
The Grandparents Association (UK)
AARP Grandparent Information Center
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