Transcript Slide 1

Grandparents and other
relatives raising
kin children in
Aotearoa/New Zealand
GRG TRUST NZ
 Founded by Diane Vivian in 1999
 Membership 5,212 caregivers
 48 Support/Coffee Groups from Far
North to Invercargill
 Run by a Board of Trustees
 Auckland office
GRG staff
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2 fulltime equivalents
Geoff Lawson: CEO
Diane Vivian: Member Support Manager
Diana East: training facilitator (Wgtn)
Nola Adams: prison/youth justice, self
representation in court /advice (Napier)
 Sharon Lee: counseling/dealing with
challenging children (Auckland)
 Tricia Corin: WINZ and IRD
advocate/benefits (Thames)
What we do
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Provide information, advice, advocacy
New member welcome pack
GRG Handbook
Support groups/training
Bi-annual members conference
0800 Help/Support Line 24x7
Picnic
Camps for kids working with
KidsAcool/Respite care
What we do continued
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Monthly Newsletter
Website www.grg.org.nz
Facebook page
E-coffee groups using Skype
Research – major studies in 2005 and
2009
 Policy development & lobbying
 Strategic partnerships
Newsletters
“They (the
newsletters) are
most gratefully
received I can
assure you and
help so much
when we are
feeling
overwhelmed by
the responsibility
we have taken
on.”
GRG Picnic
“Just to mention I had
a fantastic time
meeting people at the
local GRG picnic. 2012
saw 240 families
attend.
GRG Picnic
GRG Support Groups
“I am so glad I did join GRG, it has been so
good for me...and I have met some lovely
people. Thanks again for all that you do for us
and the children.”
GRG Coordinator Training Day
“Thank you for the wonderful two days. The seminar was so
informative and also made us realise we don’t stand alone”
Children’s Camps
“Thank you very much for
arranging a camp. We really had
fun thanks. Our whole family
really appreciated it so much.”
“At camp I seem to be more
confident than I am.
Sometimes I must overcome
something that scares me like
swimming in open water, which
was definitely fun.”
Facts & Figures
 11,899 children receiving the UCB
 163,000 or 15% of children classified as
“vulnerable”
 $100m+ savings to taxpayers by
grandparents raising grandchildren
 $250,000 cost of raising a child to 18 =
$14,000 or $270 per week
 Average UCB = $169 GAP = $100 per
week
Facts & Figures continued
 $340 National Super per week for 50% of
GRGs who are solo caregivers
 2,633 phone calls per year to GRG head
Office = 50+ per week
 33% = GRG members without the
internet
The battle for parity
 Important issue and major focus for GRG
 GRGs do not receive the same level of support
as foster carers receive
 This is morally wrong
 We will continue to fight this battle
 However other battles are more winnable at
this time!!!
 This presentation and GRG’s current strategy
is focused on the things we can do
Doing better by them at the
grassroots
 Operating for over 13 years has taught
us many things but the essence of what
we have learnt is this:
 Grandparents raising grandchildren
need grass-roots support in the area
in which they reside as well as
national support
Doing better by them at the
grassroots continued
 This support needs to be practical,
easily accessible, local and provided in
a safe, secure, caring and nonthreatening environment.
 This presentation identifies the key
needs of grandparents raising
grandchildren and provides an
innovative framework for doing a better
job in meeting those needs.
Why the grandparents
 Generally considered the best
environment for the grandchildren
 “Blood”/whanau connection is very strong
 Love and commitment
 Sense of obligation
 Because the alternative is basically
unacceptable to many
What happens when the
grandchildren arrive
 Often unexpectedly and quickly
 At times only with the clothes (or
pyjamas) they are standing in
 Children are scared and scarred
 Sometimes grandparents are unprepared
and often ill-equiped to cope with raising
children in this modern world
Grandparents circumstances
 More often than not a solo grandmother –
around 50% of our members
 Living in a small house/flat/unit
 Often retired
 National super as their only source of
income ($340 per week for solo
caregivers)
Impact on Grandparents
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Brings unexpected and difficult life changes
Unattained dreams
Changes in family circumstances
Negative impact on mental and physical health
Issue of Self care – who cares for the carers
Shame and grief
Economic vulnerability
Net effect = stress & uncertainty
Priorities
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Safety, security, stability
“Normalising” the grandchildren’s lives
Getting them to school
24 x 7 x 365 care (i.e. very little respite)
Accessing entitlements
Challenges
 Securing entitlements
 Understanding the school system
 Helping with homework; what on earth is
NCEA!!
 Coping with technology; internet safety –
that’s if they have a computer
 Coping with the CYF, WINZ and the
Family Court
Entitlements
 Unsupported Child Benefit
 Range $140-$196 per week
 The GPs must demonstrate that there
has been a family breakdown which can
be frustrating and time consuming
 The GPs must “prove” that they will be
caring for the children for more than 12
months. Often not easy
What are GRG doing to help
 Free membership to GRG
 Information and advice
 Advocacy particularly with respect to securing
the UCB and dealing with CYF, WINZ and the
Family Court system
 0800 Helpline – 24x7x365
 4 Field Officers = 1 FTE
 48 Support Groups/Coffee Groups that provide
safety, security, confidentiality, empathy, love
and support
 Training
GRG Funding
 A constant battle as we all know
GRG is grateful to receive funding from:
 Community Organisation Grants Scheme
(COGS)
 CYF
 Local councils
 NZ Lotteries
 Private trusts/ philanthropic organisations
 Donations
 Commitment to fund = Certainty
Strategic Partnerships
 GRG places great emphasis on working with
other “fellow travellers”
 Our partnership with The Parenting Place has
been hugely successful
 Morning teas/training sessions for
grandparents
 Delivery of “Parenting” magazine to all GRG
members
 Major initiative was the launch of the
Grandparents Toolbox
Grandparents Toolbox
 Significant initiative led by TPP
 Modelled on the hugely successful “Parenting Toolbox”
 Features a 9 hour instructional DVD programme plus
manual
 Tailored specifically to the needs of grandparents
raising grandchildren
 Provides specialised and practical grandparenting
advice
 Features 5 GRG members with their family stories
including one grandchild who is being raised by her
grandparents
 Delivered free of charge to all GRG members
GRG Toolbox Promo
What have we learnt from the
Toolbox exercise
 Real stories/real experiences
 What our grandparents need
 What our grandchildern need – an area
that has not received enough attention =
research priority
 That there is a great diversity of needs
What they are saying about the toolbox
 We have learned so much even from the bit we have
seen. I am longing to be able to sit down now and
finish it!
 I made my partner John sit down and watch it with
me. Now John, is an old, grumpy but a lovable rogue
and a hard nut to crack, and when the Tool Box arrived
he absolutely rubbished it without even looking at
it! But, all the way through he was saying "Oh, yes, I
can see how that would work, or yes, that's a great
idea" so I am thrilled. John is now the greatest fan! So
congratulations to all of you concerned.
 I was absolutely desperate to get this resource as I
have been at my wits end.
What they are saying about the toolbox cont.
 I am very happy with it.
 I have recommended it to other family who are raising
and they have joined GRG to get the DVD and more
information
 My friend and I are sharing the DVD’s, fabulous.
 It’s real and so great that real grandparents are in it
also. That has impact.
 Not easy raising troubled children and this has given
me different strategies, thank you.
 Something just for US…….
Training & Development - SALT
 Sharing and Learning Together
 Started in 2011
 One day workshop involves small groups
(up to 15) working with 2 professional
facilitators
 10 workshops held so far
 Represents a significant investment by
GRG in informal learning based on adult
learning principles
SALT workshop content
 Focuses on finding the key strengths
within
 Allows our members to grow stronger
 Identifies and uses the strength of
resilience
 Provides tools for self-improvement
SALT feedback
 “Great information given very sensitively by real
professionals”
 “Well worth the effort GRG has put into providing the
workshop”
 “I came along wanting confidence and have gained that
and a lot more. I discovered there is nothing I would
change in my circumstances, what I am doing, except
my attitude. I now don’t feel a ‘victim’ or so alone and
helpless. I feel stronger and confident that I am doing
well in coping with the circumstances I have found
myself in”
What needs to be done?
More of the same plus
Raising our profile
Trumpeting success
Acknowledging the ribbon of grief while emphasising
what helps grandparents cope
Ensuring that our support groups are well led and
resourced and have a solid framework of good practice
principles
Providing specialist learning opportunities
Equiping our families with the right tools
Raising our profile
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Spreading the word
Using social media/FB page
Media exposure
Strategic partnerships
Greater diversity of fundraising
Localising fundraising/engaging local
businesses and service groups
 Making it easy to donate from our web
site
Trumpeting success
 Focus on highlighting and promoting
success rather than the negative sides
 Revamping the GRG web site to reflect
this
 “Happy Stories”
 8 is enuf - we have a family where a
couple (extended whanau) are raising 8
children – this is a wonderful success
story
Ribbon of grief
 It’s important to acknowledge what we
call the ribbon of grief
 The “unspoken” grief that is the “loss” of
a son or daughter – often not even
thought of
 Coping with addiction and mental illness
 Shame and blame
 Recognising the grieving process
 Emphasising what helps grandparents
cope
Support group development
 Moving from support groups that have
“just grown” to a support group structure
based on a solid framework of good
practice principles
 Ensuring they are well led and
adequately resourced
 Providing training and on-going day-today support for coordinators
Support groups in our towns
 Anchoring support groups in our towns
 Reaching out as a community;
establishing a “community coalition”
 Networking and engaging with local
service organisations
 Encouraging community “self-help”
 Establishing a register of volunteers to
assist grgs – property maintenance,
repairs, carpentry, handyman jobs,
shopping, respite care
Increase “Strengthening
Families” capability
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Wonderful MSD initiative
Very empowering
Work to make SF universally available
Greater collaboration with other
agencies/ngos
Learning opportunities
 Continuing our Support Group
Coordinators training programme, noting
that the SGCs are themselves
grandparents raising grandchildren and
time is precious
 Providing more specialist learning
opportunities for grandparents
 Continue the SALT programme
Providing the right tools
 One third of our families do not have
internet access
 We need to put computers in homes
 We need to find a way of providing free
internet access
 Major focus for GRG and a key driver of
our community coalition initiative
 This has a major impact on learning
opportunities
What do we need to do it?
 Gain certainty of funding
 Make a greater investment in advocacy
 Need to put the resources into the towns
where the GRGs reside
 Adopt a “community based” rather than
an “organisation based” approach in
each town = community coalition
Finally
 Thank you so much for your attendance
and attention today
 We are all part of the community which
must “do better by them”
 When we next come to you, you will
know exactly what we want to achieve
 You are an integral part of the solution
 Let’s give these children what most of us
take for granted everyday