Event for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"After the response from grandparents last year, it was clear this should be an annual offering. This is a day for fun, learning, and sharing strengths with other grandparents who have similar joys and challenges," notes Deborah Letourneau, Program Coordinator for Washington County's Family Caregiver Support Program of Disability, Aging and Veteran Services. Letourneau is announcing the second annual day-long event for grandparents, "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Day for You."

The activities will be held on Friday, May 14, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Beaverton Foursquare Church, 13565 SW Walker Road in Beaverton. "We wanted to provide a relaxed event while providing top-rate speakers and a resource fair. And the event, including lunch, is free," says Letourneau.

Speakers include:

• Mark Kramer, a family law attorney, who will address legal trends for grandparent/third party rights
• Julie McCloud, Crime Prevention Officer, Washington Co. Sheriff's Office, Your Grandchild and Cyberspace
• Jacci Jones, Youth Contact, and Katrina Miller, Morrison Child & Family Services, Communication in Parenting the Second Time Around
• Leslie Congleton, Legacy Caregiver Services & Wellspring Yoga, Self Care: Reflect, Reconnect & Relax!

Sponsors for the event are Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services and the Washington County Commission on Children and Families.

30 agencies will be represented at the Resource Fair. They will provide information on a range of topics from childcare to youth activities. There will be breaks to allow grandparents to "network" with each other, too.

While the event is free, pre-registration is required. Call 503-615-4676 for information or to pre-register.

SIDEBAR

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in the USA:

2,468,498 The number of grandparent households raising grandchildren*

+11.2 The percentage of grandparents who are rearing grandchildren**

18.2 The percentage of those grandparents who live in poverty**

*http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Profiles/Single/2002/ACS/Tabular/010/01000US2.htm **http://www.census.gov/acs/www/acs-php/quality_measures_alloc_2008.php .

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