Resources, Support Provided to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Afternoon sessions were presented by Michele Lane who shared her life story being raised by two loving grandparents and Lew Polivick, Esq., director of Legal Services of Southern Missouri, focused on “Legal Issues for Grandparents.”

“Both conferences provided offered immediate support to those parenting the second time around,” Hall commented. She added, “These ‘grandfamlies’ need community understanding and access to information and resources.”

The Rolla gathering was sponsored by AARP Missouri in collaboration with The Centre and University of Missouri Extension. Poplar Bluff conference partners were AARP Missouri, University of Missouri Extension, Butler County Health Department, Physicians Park Primary Care, RSVP, SEMO Behavioral Health, and members of the Family and Community Education Club, and ILCSEMO.

Books for libraries

In conjunction with the grandparenting conferences, AARP donated books to libraries in both Rolla and Poplar Bluff: To Grandma’s House, We… Stay by Sally Houtman, MS; Finding the Right Spot: When Kids Can’t Live with Their Parents by Janice Levy; When I Miss You by Cornelia Maud Spelman; and All Families Are Special by Teresa Flavin.

“AARP strives to be relevant in the lives of our members,” Hall concluded. “Providing resources and information for these special families targets a growing segment of our members,” Hall concluded.