Volunteer Opportunities:

Interested in volunteering with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard? Contact Mary Ann Sterling at 321-631-7776 or email: grg.brevard@gmail.com

We have expressed a need for volunteers and we have not received a very good response. We would appreciate if you have a few hours a month to please call. We would like to have assistance in getting our meeting information into the local news (Florida Today and other publications), sending a welcome letter to all new members, computer input for funding request, answering the phone, cleaning our facility, and many more tasks. Please call 321-631-7776 or 321-848-8006 (cell) if you have some time. Thank you.

Don’t know where to go?

Call the Warm-Line! 321-631-7776

Get answers to questions on custody, guardianship, adoption issues, public benefits, legal services, support with groups and other community services. When you call, be prepared to leave a message and contact number.

WELCOME to the new edition of our newsletter! I hope that you find it to be informative, educational and entertaining.

Mary Ann Sterling, Executive Director

A newsletter for grandparents and other relatives in a parenting role

Tuesday, March 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

Thursday, March 15th

– Club Esteem Support Group Meeting

10:00 – 11:30 am.

Tuesday, March 20th

– Central Brevard Support Group

GRG of Brevard Office, NEW OFFICE– 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 09:30 – 11:00 am

Thursday, March 29th

– Beach Side Support Group.

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

South Brevard Support Group Meeting

This support group is suspended at this time until further interest. Please contact the office for more info.

Tuesday, April 10th

– Titusville Support Group Meeting

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

Thursday, April 12th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting

10:00 – 11:30 am.

Tuesday, April 17th – Central Brevard Support Group

GRG of Brevard Office, NEW OFFICE– 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 09:30 – 11:00 am

Thursday, April 26th

– Beach Side Support Group.

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

**********Club Esteem Meeting Location Change************ Due to the fire at Lipscomb Street Recreation Center, the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group that meets at Club Esteem will now hold their meetings at Grant Street Community Center (the gym), Grant Street in Melbourne. The date and time of the meetings did not change. The meetings are the 2nd Thursday at 10:00 A.M. This will be our temporary location until the damage has been repaired to the Lipscomb Street Recreation Center.

Mark Your Calendars!

Easter Sunday is on April 8th this year and we know that all small children look forward to a visit from the Easter Bunny. Due to the generous giving from Toys for Tots and the Central Brevard Sharing Center we have gifts for Easter Baskets for the small children. If you bring a basket to the office located at 123 Barton Blvd, Suite 102, Rockledge, FL you can make a basket for your grandchild or grandchildren. The toys are for children between birth and 8 years of age. Please call for an appointment - 631-7776 or 848-8006.

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Of Brevard County, Florida Inc.

Issue 131 – Spring 2012

2012 Grant Awards

We have been awarded a grant from the Brevard County CBO in the amount of $ 46,117. This money is allocated for The Child First Program to provide legal assistance, support group meetings, ACCESS / counseling, children’s activities and training.

We have also submitted grant applications for funding from United Way of Brevard, Brevard Family Partnership, The Boeing Company and The Space Coast Community Foundation. Special thanks also to Bob Johnson, Johnson Accounting (Board Member), Jim Proctor (Board Member), Lou Ann Hawes, Pricilla Livingston, Ann Webber, and Alison Bogart who have provided essential information in putting these request together.

IRS Tax Credit /Refund for Adoption

The IRS allows up to $13,170 credit for each child. To apply for this credit, you will need to complete IRS Form 8839 and attach to your tax form 1040 or 1040NR. You will also need to attach the following to Form 8839 to support your claim: (1) Adoption certificate (issued by court) (2) Attorney/court fees (This was all on the invoice from the lawyer). (3) Copy of birth certificate. The cost of the Birth Certificate was $20.00. To claim this $20.00 credit, attach a copy of the cashed check. For more detailed information, go to www.irs.gov and find instructions for completing IRS Form 8839.

Clarification of Documentation Needed to Receive Child Care from Early Learning Coalition

There are two situation which allow you to receive assistance with child care 1. If you have been adjudicated (given custody)

through the court with DCF’s involvement you qualify for child care. There are no stipulations to receiving this service. Child Care last until the child is 9 years of age.

2. If you have a Power of Attorney, no Power of Attorney or Custody through the Family Court and are raising your grandchild you may receive child care from the Early Learning Coalition organization under the following conditions:

You are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid

Child Care last until the child is 5 years of age. You must provide documentation from DCF that you are receiving the above benefits. Method of getting this documentation: After you apply for TANF, Medicaid, and Food Stamps you will receive a letter from DCF stating that you are eligible or ineligible for funding. If you are eligible you will receive a case number that starts with a number “1.” You can go on the ACCESS website and establish an account which will enable you to print out a statement that you are receiving benefits from DCF. Our office will assist you with this if needed. Call to schedule an appointment 321-631-7776. You must meet the requirements of a Purpose of Need. A Purpose of Need is established by you and your spouse meeting one of the following categories:

Be over 65 years of age

Working for 20 hours a week earning minimum wage

Be a full time student

Be declared permanently disabled

SPRING BREAK CAMP AVAILABLE AT FIVE LOCATIONS IN SOUTH BREVARD Registration has begun for Brevard County Parks and Recreation's South Area Spring Break Camps, which will be held March 26-30 at five locations in South Brevard. For children in kindergarten through 6th grade, will be held at Viera Regional Community Center, located at 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera; Max K. Rodes Park Community Center, located at 3410 Flanagan Avenue, West Melbourne; Ted Whitlock Community Center, located at 1951 Malabar Road NW, Palm Bay; South Beach Community Center, located at 501 Old Florida Trail, Melbourne Beach and South Mainland Community Center, located at 3700 Allen Avenue, Micco.

Activities include sports, group activities, games, arts & crafts and special daily activities such as a picnic, field day, ice cream party, and more. There will be no camp held at Wickham Park this year; however, there will be a drop-off and pick-up site at pavilion #1 inside the park, located at 2500 Parkway Drive in Melbourne. Daily drop-off will be between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. and pick-up will be between 4 and 4:30 p.m. There will be no before or after care at Wickham Park. Campers will be shuttled to Rodes Park for the duration of the day. Registration is underway at each individual camp location and at the South Area Parks Operations Office located at 1515 Sarno Road, Bldg A, Melbourne. The fee for the week is $60 per child. Before and after care are available for an additional cost. For more information, please call the South Area Parks and Recreation Office at (321)-255-4400. Minimum enrollment is required. Page 3

We would like to contributions to Parent Support Services Society of BC

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All supplies are new. Please take advantage of these wonderful items.

Diapers

Strollers

Cribs

Bottles

Accessories for baby care

Call the office for more information 321-631-7776.

Helping Hand Resources

Tax Return Assistance

Did You Know?

One in every ten children in the US lives in a household headed by someone other than their parents.

13% of Brevard’s children are being raised without a parent.

Less than 20 percent of low-income grandparents with pressing legal problems are financially able to obtain the assistance of an attorney.

TARGET Training was a HUGE Success

Over 60 people attended the TARGET training course. The comments were very positive about the content contained in the program. Next time we will try and get information on ADHD (the speaker got the time mixed up and arrived late for the session) and someone from Social Security. Thank you all for your participation and we look forward to another training session later this year.

Health Insurance

for Children

Do you know of any children under age 19 without health insurance? FloridaKidCare offers quality low-cost or free health insurance for uninsured children. Contact www.floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-KIDS.

United Way of Brevard has informed us that low-to moderate income families, individuals and seniors with total earnings of less than $50,000 can get free tax assistance from United Way through April 15, 2012.

Sites and times are:

Melbourne - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Mondays (except March 5 and April 2), Goodwill, Melbourne Job Center, 795 S Babcock St., Melbourne, FL.

Melbourne – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays, Salvation Army, 1080 S. Hickory St., Melbourne, FL.

Titusville - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesdays, Brevard Workforce, 880 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL.

Rockledge – 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Wednesdays, Brevard Workforce, 295 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge, FL.

Palm Bay - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursdays, Brevard Workforce, 5275 Babcock St., Palm Bay, FL

For information, call 321-632-6688 or www.uwbrevard.org. (This information was also published in Florida Today Newspaper.)

Thank You!

We would like to thank the following organizations for

their contributions to GRG of Brevard!

And Special Thanks To: MeeMaw’s Restaurants & Club Esteem who provide meeting space for our monthly support meetings. Our community partners who work by side with us to create a better world for children and families. Thanks too to our faithful volunteers and donors across the county.

We have infant/toddler

supplies available.

These items were made possible by our

grant from the Brevard County CBO.

Help the grandparents and children of GRG of Brevard

Become a Member and/or Friend Members of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc. receive our newsletter and invitations to events where they can meet others in similar.

Name Date:

Signature:

Address:

City/State: Zip:

Phone:

Email:

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.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge, FL 32955

[ ] Annual Membership $20 [ ] Annual Corporate Membership $500 I want to be a friend of the GRG of Brevard and enclose an additional donation of: $100 $75 $50 $25 Other: $

Please make your check payable to: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard (GRG of Brevard),

123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955

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.

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