Healthy KinShips & Grandfamilies Training Coming to Preston County
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Name:Healthy KinShips & Grandfamilies Training Coming to Preston County
Date:May 14, 2019
Time:10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Event Description:
Healthy KinShips & Grandfamilies Training Coming to Preston County
Are you an adult suddenly raising a Grandchild? Niece? Nephew? Cousin? Younger Sibling? Foster? Need help finding resources and services?
The discussion group on Healthy Kinship Care will be continuing on Tuesday May 14th at the Terra Alta Senior Center on 212 E. Washington Avenue in Terra Alta.
The Tuesday discussion groups for help will run until until the end of June. The next session will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 am on Tuesday May 14th.
Participants are welcome to stay for a free lunch. Lunch is provided thanks to a grant from the Caroline Haase Foundation.
“This training is new to Preston County and the newly formed Preston County Grandfamilies Coalition” according to Susie Huggins with After School Explorers. Huggins goes on to add, “There is a large uptick in the number of children being raised by non-parents here in Preston County. One study shows that 62.5% of school age children are being raised by Grandparents. This program offers help and services to those who are now parents of others. We have to help our community raise our next generation.”
The Preston County Grandfamilies Coalition is in the county thanks to the efforts of several groups which include Bonnie Parsons with Healthy Grandfamilies from West Virginia State University, Audra Hamrick and a group of West Virginia University Public Health students, Preston County Senior Citizens, the Preston Prevention Partnership, the Preston County Family Resource Network, After School Explorers and Preston County Schools.
The Grandfamilies Coalition began this year in Preston County with a kick off with the staff from Preston High School learning about the Kinship issues through a Professional Development day thanks to the efforts of PHS Assistant Principal Laura Shaffer. The training welcomed community members to participate as well.
The Kinship Care discussion group will feature the following topics: Parenting in the 21st Century with Kelsey Schmidle from Parents as Teachers; Communication via-Social Media, Cyberbullying and Technology Trends with David Hartley from WVU Extension; Navigating the School System with Stormy Matlick from Preston County Schools; Tim Craig will be the featured presenter on addressing stress.
Other sessions kick off with Health Literacy and Self-care for the caregiver with Kim Liston from Preston Memorial Hospital; Family Response to Addiction. This hot topic will be presented by Tim Craig, Rita McCrobie from the WV Attorney General’s Office and the USC Peer Recovery Coach. Another discussion will feature the legal issues that many extended and grand families need help with Angie White from Legal Aid. Finally, the last session will address nutrition with Karen Bright from WVU Extension.
Those completing the sessions will have access to a Social Worker to help with ongoing questions that may arise along with a certificate of completion from the program.
To register for the Healthy Grandfamilies Training call Preston County Senior Citizens at 304-329-0464.