GRG of Brevard

July 2013

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC. ISSUE # 146

Page 1

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

UPCOMING EVENTS Happy 4th of July

On Saturday, July 27th, our 8th

Annual Children’s Picnic will be held

at the Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island

just east of the Merritt Island Mall on

State Rd. 520 from 12:00 to 4:00PM.

There will be a large water slide,

snow cones, hot dogs, hamburgers,

organized children’s games, bingo

and door prizes. Once again the

River Cruise will be provided by

Capt. Mark & 1st Mate Michelle!

Please note this is a date

change. Mark your calendars there

is something for everyone. For a day

of fun don’t forget to bring bathing

suits, a towel, sun-block, and a

covered dish to share.

During the month of July all GRG

of Brevard support group meetings

will include children’s activities.

Please plan to bring your

grandchildren.

We still have spaces open for

assistance with summer camps. You

must find where you want your

grandchildren to attend. GRG of

Brevard will provide the payment to

the camp you have chosen and

you will be responsible for getting a

receipt for these activities to our

office.

We have two passes to the

Brevard Zoo for 2 adults and up to 6

grandchildren in free of charge.

If you are interested you must

request the pass and have it back in

an allowed amount of time, so that

others can utilize this passes. Please

call the office at 321.631.7776.

Thanks to YOU, our donors,

volunteers and supporters, Your support is essential to the

success and continuation of our

programs. Our community partners

work by side with us to create a

better world for children and

families.

And Special Thanks To:

MeMaw’s Restaurants, Parrish

Senior Solutions & Club Esteem who

provide meeting space for our

monthly support meetings.

Thanks to our faithful volunteers

and donors across the county. Your

support is essential to the success

and continuation of our

organization.

Issue 146

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GRG of Brevard

THE EVANS FAMILY A few years ago a tragedy took place in our community; three young girls lost their mother when she died suddenly

on her way to attend the funeral of a family member. Sandra Evans, the girl’s aunt that was here visiting for the

funeral became their guardian angel. She has left her job and home to relocate to Brevard County to be their

relative caregiver.

It's hard to ask others for help. As a caregiver you are pulled in many different directions all at the same time. You feel

like your world is being manipulated by outside forces and is out of your control.

The three girls are not typical in any way; the 16 years old has sickle cell anemia, the 14 year old has Type II diabetes

and the ten year old is in a wheelchair with a feeding tube. Her diagnosis is developmentally delayed impairment,

hypoxic encephalopathy, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy and seizure disorder.

Sandra has to be with the youngest child 24-7 and receives very little assistance to help her with the care of these

children. The oldest child has to be taken to Arnold Palmer routinely and Sandra has no family in this area to assist

with care for the youngest child.

The family was living in a Habitat for Humanity home. This home became unlivable when rain damage caused a

mold concern. They had to move out and live with friends. This was 4 months ago. Sandra has tried desperately to

fulfill the requirements for these repairs to be made and has been unsuccessful in getting the repairs completed.

I hope you'll join GRG of Brevard in raising awareness and sending love and support to this family. For information on

how you can donate to the Evans Family please contact Mary Ann Sterling, Executive Director GRG of Brevard at

321-631-7776 or email grg.brevard@gmail.com Subject: Evans Family.

SENIOR COUNSELING ~ A REMINDER Cliff Valentine has offered senior counseling. Cliff is a certified counselor and has offered his services each Friday

from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Each client will receive an hour of counseling free of charge. If you are interested in using

his services please call 631-7776 for an appointment.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS A celebration was held on June 20, 2013. After 5 years custody was

finally granted for Dolores Collins for her grandson, Tavarious. Dolores has

weathered the storm. We lost count of the times we have been to court on

this pursuit. We share in her happiness for this event.

DID YOU KNOW? The US Department of Agriculture estimates it costs in the range of $11,000 to

$14,000 per year to raise a child at a mid-level standard of living. Child Support can be an important resource to help

you with the daily living costs of raising a child. The child (or children) you are caring for may already be entitled to

receive child support from one or both of their parents. Or, it may be that a child support case was never brought

against either parent.

Giving your time, love and resources makes all the difference in the world,

especially for the children and families served by GRG of Brevard

Issue 146

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GRG of Brevard

YOU NEED TO KNOW Just the facts…

You need to know if the

Department of Children and

Families (DCF) removes your

grandchildren from your child’s

home and places them into your

care.

If you don’t insist that DCF puts

them into your custody. They will say

the children are safe and walk

away. This will mean a difference in

your benefits and ability to keep

your grandchild safe. Also be aware

that if you apply for funding the

state will go after the parents for

these funds.

If DCF agrees to put the children

into your custody there are seven

steps before the grandchildren are

adjudicated into your permanent

custody or guardianship.

Shelter Hearing – 24 hours after child

is removed from home.

Arraignment Hearing – 28 days of

the shelter hearing

Adjudicatory Hearing (trial) - If the

parents or legal custodians deny

any of the allegations in the

petition, an adjudicatory hearing

occurs within 30 days of the

arraignment hearing.

Disposition Hearing – should occur

within 15 day of the arraignment

hearing or within 30 days of the

adjudicatory hearing.

Case Plan Approval – Within 30 days

of the disposition hearing a judge

will review the case plan

Judicial Reviews – within 90 days of

the disposition hearing.

Permanency Hearing – must be held

no later than 12 months after the

date the child was removed from

the home or no later than 30 days

after a court determines that

reasonable efforts to return a child

are not required, whichever occurs

first.

For a booklet on this information

please call 631-7776.

.

SHINING STARS Congratulations to Diamond,

granddaughter of Lillian Sanders

and Carleton (C.J.), grandson of

Priscilla Livingston for being

accepted into Stone Middle

School's Science and Technology

Choice Program.

The Science and Technology

Choice Program endeavors to

provide students with educational

activities that integrate various

technologies in a greater degree

than a standard middle school

curriculum. The goals of the

program are: 1) High Student

Achievement/Preparation 2)

Unique Learning Opportunity

Integration Inquiry Science and

Technology 3) Positive/High

Interest Learning Environment and

4) Attract /Retain Students.

To be accepted into the

program a student must maintain

a “C” average or above and

scored level III-V on FCAT Math

and FCAT Reading. Diamond and

C.J. are two of the 110 7th graders

to be accepted into this program

for the upcoming school year.

Congratulations them again for all

the hard. And wish them well on as

they begin their journey into

Middle School.

JULY 2013 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS During the month of July all GRG of Brevard support group meetings will include children’s activities.

There are also extra meetings, please plan to bring your grandchildren.

Thursday, July 9th – North Brevard

10:00 am - RIVER LANES BOWLING, 800 Cheney Hwy., Titusville

Wednesday, July 10th – South Brevard

10:00 am - SWIMMING, 3400 Monroe St., Palm Bay

Thursday, July 11th – South Brevard Support Group Meeting (Morning)

10:00 am – BOWLING, Call for location

Tuesday, July 16th – Central Brevard Support Group

10:00 am – KAYAKING, Kiwanis Park, Merritt Island

Thursday, July 18th – South Brevard Support Group Meeting (Evening)

6:00 pm – MOVIE – Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay

Wednesday, July 24th – Central Brevard Support Group

10:00 am - ARTS AND CRAFTS GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge

Thursday, June 25h – Beach Side Support Group

10:00 am – BOWLING, Brunswick Harbour Lanes, 1099 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne

Wednesday, July 31st – Central Brevard Support Group

2:00 pm – PLANETARIUM, BCC Cocoa Campus

Help is just a Call Away:

Office: 321.631.7776

Cell: 321.848.8006

123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge FL 32955

www.grg-brevard.org

GRG of Brevard offers information

and referral to assist you, support

and discussion groups to connect

you and educational workshops

to inform you.

Issue 146

Page 4

GRG of Brevard

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge, FL 32955

Address Label

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