What

happens

if...

The Child First Program

Grant Funding Membership & Donations

You

choose to

participate

GRG of Brevard receives grant

funding for activities and services for

the families that participate. We are

required to keep track of sign in

sheets for records and reporting of

how the funds are spent.

With your participation GRG receives

donations from corporations and

organizations that hear about the

great things we have done for our

community. Allowing us to provide

more services to more families.

GRG understands that many families

do not need all of the services all of

the time. However many do. We

believe in paying it forward. If you

have been fortunate to raise your

grandchild or received services why

not volunteer some time to help

others!

You choose

not to

participate

If you choose not to attend support

groups and events; GRG of Brevard

is not qualified to request funding

from agencies and the county to

provide training and resources for the

families in need.

GRG understands that many families

do not need all of the services all of

the time. However many do. We

believe in paying it forward. If you

have been fortunate to raise your

grandchild or received services why

not volunteer some time to help

others!

Supporting Relative Caregiver Families Of Brevard County, FL

Summer 2016

Building Dedication On June 21st at 9:30 am the

Rockledge Community Resources Building(GRG of Brevard Office) 123 Barton Blvd. Rockledge, will be formally dedicated by the City of Rockledge as the Lynda Dawn Center, Mary Ann Sterling’s daughter. Mary Ann raised her grandson Matt from the age of 6; (pictured above with grandma) after the tragic death of her daughter Lynda in 1990. She was hit and killed by a drunk driver who left the scene of the accident and was never caught. Matt is now an attorney at large firm in Orlando and serves on the board of directors for GRG. Mary Ann founded Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard after learning first hand that relative caregivers needed advocacy and support services. Please join us for the dedication.

Summer Fun! School is out and the let the fun begin. What are your grandchildren doing for the summer? GRG was able to support twenty-five families with grant funds for summer camp. Hopefully, we will be able to assist more children as funding permits. We will let you know at the support group meetings.

Our annual summer picnic is scheduled for June 18th (noon - 3:00 pm) at Kiwanis Park Merritt Island. Join in the fun and please RSVP by email grg.brevard@gmail.com or call the office 321-631-7776. GRG will provide drinks and entrees, please bring a covered dish to share.

Try to keep your grandchildren busy! It will be better for your health!

Friday June 3 & July 1 – North Brevard Indian River City United Methodist Church, 1355 Cheney Hwy. Titusville 9:30–11:00 am (This meeting is always the first Friday of each month) NEW SUPPORT GROUP FORMING DATE & TIME TO BE DETERMINED – Cocoa Beach Riverside Presbyterian Church 3400 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach 7:00 – 8:30 pm Thursday June 9 & July 14 – Club Esteem Club Esteem 3316 Monroe Street, Melbourne 10:00 – 11:30 am (This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month) Tuesday June 15 & July 19 Central Brevard GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge 9:30 -11 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month) Wednesday, June 16 & July 20 South Brevard Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay 6:00–7:30pm (Dinner is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the third Wednesday of each month) Thursday, June 30 & July 28 Melbourne Beach Side 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)

Support Group Meetings

Page 1

Connect with Community Resources: FOOD BANKS

Advent Lutheran Church, 7550 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne, FL 321-259-8515 Thursday - 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

• East Coast Christian Center, 680 N. Courtney Pkwy. Merritt Island, FL 321-452-1060 Tuesday & Thursday 10 AM – 1PM Thursday 6 PM – 8 PM

• Faith Fellowship 2820 Business Center Blvd., Melbourne FL 321-259-7200x2 Tuesdays only 5-6:30 PM

• South Brevard Sharing Center 17 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, FL 321-727-8581 (*call) Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 AM – 3:45 PM

• St. Vincent de Paul, 50301 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach, FL 321-799-3677 (new clients call for appt) Monday – Friday 9:30 AM – 1 PM

• Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne FL 321-242-2585 Monday – Thursday 10 AM -11 AM & 1 – 2 PM

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.

MEDICAID COVERAGE Recently word got out that if you claimed your grandchild as a dependent on your income tax you were not eligible for Medicaid. THIS IS NOT TRUE.

Phones calls were made and grandparents raising their grandchildren who file tax with their grandchildren as dependents QUALIFY for Medicaid.

TARGET TRAINING Our recent TARGET Training was a great success. We had a great turn out. The speakers cover issues ranging from legal to community resources. If you missed the training conference and need the information please contact the GRG office.

CELL PHONE BILL If you are receiving FOOD STAMPS you may qualify for a reduced rate by AT&T. The program is called ACCESS (don’t confuse with DCF ACCESS). Your cost may be as low as $12 per month. Call 855-220-5211 for more information.

A Note from Mary Ann To all of you who attend support group meetings and GRG events, I would like to extend my gratitude. We try so hard to give you the information and available services that you may need. It is very rewarding when we can meet and greet you.

Our Melbourne Beachside and Titusville support groups really need your support. We do not have many who attend. If you live in the area of Eau Gallie Causeway or North Brevard please try to remember our meetings.

We are also asking the members who request school supplies and holiday assistance to try and attend at least three meetings

and events per year. Thank you! Mary Ann

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. We are looking for sponsors for the printing of the newsletter if you are interested or know of someone please contact the office. Thanks Bob Walters for sponsoring this issue!!!

NEW MEMBER TO GRG STAFF We are delighted to have CHERYL STEWART as a new staff

member. If you call in please be sure and welcome her. For a

period of time Cheryl raised two grandchildren and is on board

with our issues and concerns.

Congratulations to Joshua, grandson of Carolyn Harbin! Joshua won third place for the Brevard County Tax Day Treasure Design Show in his digital art class at his high school.

Summer 2016

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL

www.grg-brevard.org

Phone: 321-631-7776

Email: grg.brevard@gmail.com

Page 2

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard has partnered with Brevard Family Partnership, The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard, and United Way of Brevard to host the 1st Annual Storybook Village event for relative care and foster care children and would love your participation. What is a Storybook Village you ask? Specifically designed exhibits that allow children to experience a storybook theme in a whole new way. Families will visit each of the displays, make a craft, play a game, hear a story, and visit with costumed characters, all related to a specific storybook. Children will learn about the stories through hands-on activities as children’s stories come to life. The event will be held on Saturday, August 13th, 2016 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne. This is free event for foster and relative care children and families of Brevard. Dr. Patricia Nellius, Judge McKibben and Sheriff Wayne Ivey will be guest readers to provide a special story on the storybook stage during the event. Children will receive a free book, lunch and backpack. Please make every effort to attend. More information is available at support group meetings or contact grg.brevard@gmail.com for a flyer.

YOU NEED TO KNOW Please remember that it is important to keep records when you get your grandchildren to raise.

• DATES: When you received your grandchild, record any legal action, visits with parents

• INFORMATION: Child's DOB, SS #, doctor, dentist, therapist, extracurricular activities, physical or mental issues, progress pictures

• DCF: Date DCF became involved, court actions, including dates, case workers names and phone numbers, Guardian Ad Litems name and phone number, and parent's status.

• NON-DCF: Same as above.

• FUNDING / ACCESS: remember to record username and passwords in a safe place,

GRG has a Journal Booklet to help with your record keeping. Contact the office for a copy

HARD CHOICES CHOSING BETWEEN YOUR GRANDCHILDREN’S WELFARE OR YOUR CHILD'S WELFARE. (Taken from Grandparents as Parents A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family, Sylvie de Toledo and Deborah Edler Brown "Putting your child out is the toughest thing in the world." "Some grandparents will talk about the same issues for years and still be unable to act on them. A lot depends on how much support you have from friends and family and how much control you have over your grandchildren. If you kick out the parents, will they - and can they legally - take the child with them? The answer to that question will affect how long it takes you to kick a parent out of the house. Even after you hit bottom, the obstacles are tremendous. You may find yourself facing guilt, embarrassment, and your own protective feelings. This is, after all, your baby. You gave life to and raised this child. You might not like this person, but on some level you do love her/him. Then there are the fears; "Where will my child be? On a park bench? In a crack house? Will I get a call to identify a body found in an alley someplace?" During this period you have to make a decision – do I put my grandchildren’s welfare above my child’s? Hard choice, but a decision that has to be made.

HEALTH INSURANCE If you are raising your grandchildren, one of your biggest worries may be how to keep them healthy and strong. Having health insurance can make it possible for you to get health care for your grandchildren before they are seriously ill. Grandchildren that live with you may be eligible for Florida KidCare. When you apply, your income will only be considered if it will help your grandchildren become eligible for one of the Florida KidCare programs. You can print a Florida KidCare application and instructions from this web site, or call 1-888-540-5437 toll-free and one will be sent to you.

*In 2016 - 8,500 Brevard children living in relative care

– formal and informal

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL

www.grg-brevard.org

Phone: 321-631-7776

Email: grg.brevard@gmail.com

Summer 2016

Page 3

Go it ALONE

or Join OTHERS

Support Groups provide advocacy,

resources and great friendships.

Improve your outlook one step at a time by using the resources provided by GRG

Why not get CONNECTED?

GRG of Brevard holds

support groups throughout

the county at 6 locations

days and evenings.

Get HELP!

GRG of Brevard is an

ACCESS provider; we can

assist with your application

for TANF, Food Stamps,

and Medicaid.

Sharing with others is a great way to learn new ways to help you on your journey to raising a successful grandchild!

Parenting classes provide tools for coping

with the stress of parenting again.

Visit on your computer,

smartphone or tablet grg-brevard.org

Page 4

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 per family or $10 per caregiver

[ ] 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