Participants: Cheri Peters (Host), Annette Washington, Pam Talley
Series Code: CLR
Program Code: CLR000102C
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00:01 The following program discusses
00:02 sensitive issues related to addictive behavior. 00:05 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:06 may be too candid for younger children. 00:14 Welcome back. 00:15 This whole segment is about grandparent as parents 00:18 and we've talked with Pamela from the Gap Organization. 00:22 We've talked to her and know about the way 00:23 of raising her five grandchildren 00:25 and what was amazing to me is just about everybody 00:28 in the cafe had a connection. 00:30 Is they were raised by a grandparent 00:32 or they were raising some one 00:33 like what I've said right before the break. 00:35 And so you know, Pamela, 00:37 what else do we need to know about this situation. 00:40 Well, this situation is widespread. 00:44 Last year the Pew Foundation 00:45 said that about 2 million children were being raised 00:48 by grandparents who were the primary care takers. 00:51 When I went online and found that stat. 00:53 I knew for sure, we had to do this program. 00:55 Two million children and they think that's a low estimate. 00:58 And that's a low estimate 00:59 because as we talked about before 01:02 many don't talk about the fact 01:03 that they're raising their grandchildren. 01:05 Many of these children are in and out of their life, 01:09 so it's many more at any given time, absolutely. 01:13 I also want you to know that as Ronald said earlier, 01:17 he was raised by grandparents. 01:19 But even the president of United States 01:21 was raised by his grandparents, so. All right. 01:23 So-- and they were not poor. 01:25 They were not poor, absolutely. 01:27 So this is not an economic issue. 01:28 It's not an economic issue at all, absolutely. 01:32 But the issue surrounding grandparents, 01:34 they are complex and they're very emotional 01:39 for the grandparents and the grandchildren. 01:42 The grandparents at any given time 01:44 just make the decision to do it, 01:46 because it's the right thing to do. 01:48 But what I want to say is that, 01:50 we as a community need to understand 01:54 the issues of these families and provide more support. 01:59 Every state is different in terms of the support 02:03 they provide and at what point they intervene. 02:07 I would just encourage people 02:08 to be aware of what their state is doing. 02:11 We're in a State of Missouri 02:13 that only if the kids have gone through the court system 02:18 or have been in DYS or Divisional View Services 02:22 or Department of Mental Health can the grandparents get help? 02:26 Even if the kids are placed 02:28 in the grandparent's home by the state, 02:32 if they don't go through court 02:33 there is really not very much assistance. 02:35 You know I've heard some people 02:37 talk about the assistance was maybe 02:39 a couple of hundred dollars a month. Yes, yes. 02:40 And I am thinking really a couple of hundred a month? 02:43 Yes. It's a couple of hundred a month. 02:45 It's less than what a foster parent would get. 02:49 And I know our big advocacy is that we're saying, 02:53 to give them the same level of support 02:56 and help that you give to foster families. 02:59 Exactly. 03:00 I want to say to you, 03:02 thank you so much for being on the program. 03:06 And I know that, if anybody is out there 03:10 that needs help, needs education, 03:12 needs some kind of encouragement 03:14 that they can call an organization like yours. 03:16 Yes. 03:17 And so how would they get a hold of you online? 03:20 I know that-- that's how I found you. Right. 03:22 Grandparent As Parents online. Support project. 03:24 And so what is really important is that you say something, 03:29 reach out to somebody, 03:30 don't do this on your own and there is lot of times 03:34 that families are gonna be exhausted. 03:37 So if you know of anybody, 03:39 if a family member is trying to do this, 03:41 make sure you take some time and step in. 03:45 Can I have the kids for dinner? 03:46 Can I take them to the beach? 03:48 Can I do anything? 03:50 Can I drop off and bring them to church, 03:52 any of that kind of stuff. 03:53 Know that these are not gonna be easy, kids, 03:55 and don't expect them to be easy, kids, 03:57 you are the answer. 04:00 You know, some times on this program we can-- 04:03 we can put a topic out there and just be a voice for someone. 04:07 But you got to be the hands and the heart of this. 04:08 And so pay attention to who's around you. 04:11 If there's grandparent raising their grandchildren, help out. 04:13 And if you're out their, God bless you. 04:17 I just want to say, thank you for joining us. 04:19 Always remember that God is crazy about you, me too 04:22 and especially if you're out there raising your grandkids. 04:26 We see you and God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17