GRG of Brevard

MAY 2014

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC. ISSUE # 155

Page 1

[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

WONDERFUL GRANDMA

Grandma, you’re so wonderful On Mother’s Day I think of you The unconditional love you give,

The sweet and generous things you do You’ve made a difference in my life;

I love you more than I can say. That’s why I give this poem to you’

To wish you

Happy Mother’s Day! One hundred years ago, on

May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress

established the second Sunday of

May as Mother’s Day. The next day,

President Wilson issued a

proclamation urging Americans to

display flags “as a public expression

of our love and reverence for the

mothers of our country”.

Mother’s Day is a time for family

celebration, and a chance to honor

the important role Mothers,

Grandmothers and Aunts play in

children's lives.

OLDER AMERICAN’S

MONTH Each May, the nation celebrates

Older Americans Month to

recognize older Americans for their

contributions and provide them with

information to help them stay

healthy and active. This year,

focusing on injury prevention with

the theme Safe Today. Healthy

Tomorrow!

By the year 2020, the U.S will

have more than 55 million adults

over the age of 65. Older Americans

Month promotes safety across the

lifespan.

Older adults are at a much

higher risk of unintentional injury and

even death than the rest of the

population. Unintentional injuries to

this population result in at least 6

million medically treated injuries and

more than 30,000 deaths every

year. With a focus on safety during

Older Americans Month, the

Administration for Community Living

plans to use this opportunity to raise

awareness about this critical issue.

By taking control of their safety,

older Americans can live longer,

healthier lives.

Regular exercise can help

protect the body from injuries.

During Older Americans Month and

throughout the year, help the older

Americans in your life prevent falls

and increase their strength and

mobility – attend a yoga, water

aerobics, or dance class together.

This May, help ensure that YOU

have a safe today, and a healthy

tomorrow. Safety tips like the ones in

the CDC checklist A Home

Prevention Checklist for Older Adults

http://go.usa.gov/BzXA

GRANDMA (græˌmɑ) n.

1 a grandmother 2 a woman who loves unconditionally 3 one who teaches, motivates, and encourages 4 one who

gives big warm hugs, tells great stories & bakes cookies

-See Also; Saint

Issue 155

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GRG of Brevard

SUMMER CAMP What are your grandchildren doing when school is out for the summer? Have you thought about summer camp?

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren will assist you with summer camp fees. You select the camp, notify GRG of the

registration or intent and cost and we will help you with the expense. You will have to supply us with your receipt and

a copy of the registration. Please contact the office with the child’s name, your name, and the camp that you have

selected with the dates of attendance. 321-631-7776

E-NEWSLETTER Are you interested in receiving an online version of our newsletter rather than a printed version? Please send an

email to grg.brevard@gmail.com and include your name, email address and mailing address to insure we update

your record accordingly!

Thank you for helping us save on printing costs so that more of each dollar can benefit children and families.

UPCOMING EVENTS! Saturday, May 17th GRG will have a table at SPACE COAST MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY. This event is for the

Space Coast to show its appreciation for the veterans and all they have done for us. The hours are from 7:00 AM -5:00

PM at Searstown Mall in Titusville. There will be a 5K run-walk, food booths, marching bands, displays and fun for the

whole family.

Sunday, May 18th The Spectrum Resource Committee presents BEYOND THE SPECTRUM, a resource fair from 1-5 PM

at Palm Bay Senior Center, 1275 Culver Drive NE. The fair offers new ways you can help your children that are

affected with Autism, Aspergers, ADHD and other physical, mental or developmental disabilities. Expert presenters will

be there with information on finding new programs that focus on children with special needs. There will be something

for everyone at the fair. There will be activities for the children. You can win prizes & services from local vendors.

Parents & caregivers and anyone interested in learning are encouraged to attend this resource fair.

****************************************************************************************************************************************** If you are feeling down and thinking you are the only grandparent raising your grandchildren; you are the only

person with that situation…..why not come to a support group meeting! You're Stronger When We're Together!

Come and get support for parenting the second time around!

MAY 2014 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Thursday, May 8th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting

Libscomb Street Community Center 10:00 – 11:30 am.

(This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month)

Tuesday, May 13th – Titusville Support Group Meeting

805 Century Medical Dr, Building B, Titusville. This group is partnered with Parrish Senior Solutions. 10:00 – 11:30 am

(This meeting is always the second Tuesday of each month)

Tuesday, May 20th – Central Brevard Support Group (note time change)

GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 9:30 – 11:00 am

(This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month)

Wednesday, May 21st – South Brevard Support Group Meeting (note DAY change)

Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay 6:00 – 7:30 pm (Dinner is available at member's expense)

(This meeting is always the third Wednesday of each month)

Thursday, May 29th – Beach Side Support Group

Memaw’s Restaurant, Indian Harbour Beach, 9:30 – 11:30 am (Breakfast is available at member's expense)

(This meeting is always the last Thursday of each month)

Issue 155

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GRG of Brevard

PREPARING FOR

EMERGENCIES

Hurricane Season is coming, what

can you do to prepare for an

emergency?

In the event of a natural disaster,

it is important to follow the direction

of local authorities. Have a

discussion with children in the event

of a disaster, sharing facts and plans

to keep them safe. However, the

CDC also says that seeing repeated

images in the media over and over

again may cause distress in children

and recommends that parents

consider limiting the amount of

exposure to these images.

•Make sure you identify an “In Case

of Emergency” in- state and out-of-

state contact, and keep this

updated for your social/case

worker.

•Go over your evacuation plan with

every child who lives with you. Make

sure all children know how to call

911.

•Practice your evacuation plan with

your family.

•Make sure you are CPR and First

Aid trained and certified.

•Put together an emergency supply

kit. The Centers for Disease Control

(CDC) recommends an emergency

supply kit for your home and your

vehicle. A list of what should be in

the kit can be found here:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/prepare

dness/kit/disasters/

Remember

•to rotate your supplies and replace

batteries.

•Learn where your gas, electric and

water shut-off locations are for your

home, and how to shut them off.

•Make sure your fire extinguisher is

maintained and family members

know how to use it.

The National Institute of Mental

Health has a website with helpful

recommendations about what

parents can do to help children and

adolescents cope with violence

and disaster:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/to

pics/copingwith-traumatic-

events/index.shtml

The National Child Traumatic

Stress Network also has a great deal

of information about how to help

children manage stress related to

disasters, community violence or

child abuse and neglect. You can

find additional information here:

http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/a

udiences/parents-caregivers/what-

is-cts

YOU NEED TO KNOW: We have received a supply of

infant and children’s socks. There

are various sizes and colors. Thanks

to Dr. Valerie Allen and The National

Association of School Psychologists

for their generous donation. The

socks are first come first served

basis. We also have some infant and

small children sandals, too. Come to

the office if your grandchild needs

these items.

In order to stretch your EBT

(SNAP) dollars purchase your fruits &

vegetables from the Farmer’s

Market, 2500 Parkway Drive,

Melbourne on Thursday evenings

from 3 to 6 p.m.

FROM THE HEART OF LEXIE

When I lived with my mom she did

bad things, such as drugs. That

brought me down a lot and it also

brought her down. She wasn’t the

mom she was supposed to be. So

when I moved in with my

grandparents I made my life the

best it could be. My mom went to a

bad place for a while, then she

moved away to Texas. All I can do is

think of the best times we had and

hope she will be okay. I realize it isn’t

what happens to you in life. What

counts is how you take it, and what

you make of it. Thank you,

grandmamma & granddaddy for

loving me.

Lexie is the granddaughter of

Ronnie & Robbie Black

RENEW YOUR GRG

MEMBERSHIP! Don't miss out! Join GRG of

Brevard for important support and

events focused on informing and

improving the lives of relative care

families in Brevard County

GRG of Brevard provides

programs and services to meet the

urgent and ongoing needs of

grandparents and other relative

caregivers raising children at risk.

THANK YOU! A great big THANK YOU to all

that attended Target Training. I

hope that you were informed about

changes and things that are

affecting your life. If you missed this

session of Target Training; don’t be

sad, we will have another session in

August and September. Believe me

you will learn something new. DCF is

making changes as we speak.

Creating a world where children and families are nurtured, valued and safe.

Issue 155

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GRG of Brevard

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge, FL 32955

HELP THE GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OF GRG OF BREVARD BECOME A MEMBER AND/OR FRIEND

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County FL, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

All gifts are deductible on corporate, foundation and individual tax returns to the extent provided by state and federal laws.

Members of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

receive our newsletter and invitations to events where they can meet others

in similar situations

Name

Date:

Address:

City/State:

Zip:

Phone:

Email:

[ ] Annual Membership $20 [ ] Annual Corporate Membership $500

I want to be a friend of the GRG of Brevard and enclose an additional

donation of: [ ] $25 [ ] $50 [ ] $75 [ ] $100 Other: $

I am raising children who are not

my own I am their:

[ ] Grandparent

[ ] Aunt / Uncle

[ ] Sister / Brother

[ ] Other (please specify)

[ ] I am not in this situation but I

want to join GRG of Brevard

because I am interested in

what you do.

Please make your check payable to:

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard

NON-PROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MELBOURNE FL

PERMIT NO. 495