Serving Grandfamilies in Libraries by Sarah Gough & Pat Feehan & Denise Lyons

Author:Sarah Gough & Pat Feehan & Denise Lyons [Gough, Sarah & Feehan, Pat & Lyons, and Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Issues-Based Programs

This type of programming series probably requires the most planning and coordination time as well as cost, but is very effective if your grandfamilies are looking for help with specific things, like navigating the legal system, working with the school system, effectively disciplining grandchildren, budgeting for new and unexpected child-related costs, and similar issues rather than simply venting and sharing their feelings. Each meeting session will have a specific theme with planned activities. You can invite community partners with different areas of expertise to host the different sessions, or the librarian in charge of the grandfamily resource center can develop his or her own or use an existing curriculum guide. Take a look at the model programs in chapter 5 to see how different libraries approached programming for their grandfamilies.

If you’re looking to use a preestablished program, we recommend the following comprehensive curriculum guide for support group facilitators from Western Michigan University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences: Second Time Around: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, edited by L. Dannison, A. Nieuwenhuis, A. B. Smith, and J. A. Eichinger (Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University Press, 1996). It costs $75 and includes plans and activities for up to 18 group sessions.

If you want to create your own curriculum, here are some more programming ideas:

Re-Parenting 101: First steps toward establishing a successful grandfamily—what documents you need, what questions to ask, and where to find support in the community.

Grandfamily Book Club: Read Raising Our Children’s Children by Deborah Doucette-Dudman and get together for guided discussion.

You’re Not Alone: Show a video about the experiences of grandparents raising grandchildren, or read some excerpts from the Raising Grandchildren discussion group on AARP’s website (www.aarp.org/online-community/groups/index.action?slGroupKey=Group1882) and discuss. Some video options include: Primetime: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren—The Outsiders (ABC News). 42 mins. Available on Amazon.com for $19.95.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (Fanlight Productions). 22 mins. Available at www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/292_grg.php for $179.

Big Mama (California Newsreel). 35 mins. Available at www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0122 for $24.95 for public library use.

Why Can’t We Be a Family Again? (Filmaker’s Library). 27 mins. Available at www.filmakers.com for $295. Three-year online streaming is also available for $199.

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