Relatives and Grandparents raising other’s children!

The Rowan County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences collaborated with the Rowan County Public School Family Resource Coordinators, State and local police, Pathways and Legal Aid to offer a two-day workshop to educate and support relatives raising children, mostly grandparents raising grandchildren. According to Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, 6% of children throughout the Commonwealth are in the care of grandparents and other relatives, these numbers are the highest in the nation. This statistic does not include those situations that are unreported, which would make the figure much higher. The classes covered; needed information of medical records for the school system, how to meet special education required, internet and phone safety, how to stay healthy with nutrition and exercise and educating the adults with ideas for their mental and physical needs.  Free childcare were utilized.  The demographics were 100% over 50 years of age, female and Caucasian; 17%, were retired, 17% still employed and 66% were unemployed; children’s ages ran 4-15.   End of Class survey revealed, more of these sessions needed with a support group formed. All clients added to the FCS Newsletter list for additional classes and information.  

This class will have an Intermediate Outcome.

100% asked for additional programs

83% would join a support group.

100% asked for childcare during additional meetings.