GRG of Brevard

June 2014

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC. ISSUE # 156

Page 1

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

SAVE THE DATE – JUNE 6TH

The Florida Department of

Children and Families (DCF) will be

meeting with us on the above date.

The DCF's Staff attending will be Bill

A'uito, Director of Circuit 18,

Stephanie Weis, Family Safety and

Community Services Director with

Circuit 18, Chuck Puckett, Program

Administrator for Central Brevard's

Abused Children's Investigation

Division, Katie Guemple, Program

Administrator for South Brevard's

Abused Children's Investigation

Division and several others.

This meeting is to discuss DCF's

new Child Protection Transformation

Project. The new project has

implemented a new procedure -

when children are removed from a

dysfunctional home the children are

put into joint custody with the

grandparents and the parents. This

procedure gives the parents 3-6

months to correct the reason the

children were removed. GRG of

Brevard feels that caregivers cannot

effectively provide safe and stable

homes to these abused children

when encumbered by joint custody.

If you have been involved with

this new procedure or have

concerns please plan to attend to

make your concerns known.

YOU NEED TO KNOW Brevard Family Partnership has

made a major case management

transition from Devereux and the

Children’s Home Society to

IMPOWER effective July 1, 2014.

Brevard Family Partnership, who

subcontracts to DCF to provide

Case Management for children who

have been placed through the

Dependency Court, has awarded

IMPOWER a four-year case

management contract valued up

to $4.5 million annually. Through a

competitive process, IMPOWER was

awarded the right to negotiate and

operate all case management

services in Brevard County. The initial

contract term begins July 1, 2014

and runs through June 30, 2018.

Amanda Dawson is managing

the transition. Lisa Summers Peyton,

LMFT, Chief Operating Officer will

assist in the transition.

The Florida Department of

Children and Families (DCF) has a

new interim secretary, Mike Carroll,

managing director of DCF’s

Suncoast Region in the

southwestern part of the state has

been appointed the eighth

secretary or interim secretary at the

beleaguered agency since 1999.

Carroll follows Ester Jacobo, who

was appointed by Governor Scott

as interim secretary in July after

David Wilkins resigned in the wake

of a series of child deaths from

abuse and neglect.

Those deaths are still very much

on lawmakers minds, and Carroll’s

appointment came as the

legislature is close to passing a

proposal (SB 1999 and HB 7169)

aimed at fixing the state’s long-

troubled child welfare system.

The Florida Senate has passed a

sweeping bill seeking to overhaul

the child welfare system by hiring

new investigators & emphasizing

child safety above family

reunification. The bill passed 37-0.

Issue 156

Page 2

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.

CONGRATULATIONS Congrats to Noah and Vincent Hobson, and Lexie Pidegen for being outstanding students. Each won prizes for

their hard work they put into their studies. How are your grandchildren’s grades? Let us know; maybe they will win one

of our outstanding student awards!

Congrats to Joyce Wright, the winner of this month’s bean recipe.

BEANS & RICE CASSEROLE: 1 pkg beans & rice, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 5 chicken bouillon

cubes, 2 tablespoons butter, 6-8 cups of water, Parmesan Cheese

Pour water into a sauce pan. Add salt, chili powder bullion cubes & butter, bring to a boil. Add beans & rice.

Lower heat & simmer for 20 minutes. Add seasoning mix from beans & rice pkg. Stir well to mix. Pour into casserole

dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm

We still have a supply of beans & rice in the office Please stop in and pick up a package or two, or three. If you

have a recipe for the beans & rice please share it with us. You could be our next winner.

You're Stronger When We're Together! Come and get support for parenting the second time around!

JUNE 2014 ~ SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Tuesday, June 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

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

Thursday, June 12th – 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, June 17th – 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, June 18th – 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, June 26th – 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 156

Page 3

GRG of Brevard

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Parents are invited to bring their

children & child safety seats to be

checked for proper selection,

installation & fit. Checks will be

conducted at the UF/Institute of

Food & Agricultural Science Brevard

County Extension Office in Cocoa

and the Turnquest Community

Center in Melbourne. Call 321-633-

1702 to schedule an appointment

time. Child safety seat checks are

free. Checks will be performed in

Cocoa on the following dates &

times: June 2 & June 16, from 1 p.m.

to 4 p.m. Seat checks will be

performed at Turnquest Community

Center, 1686 Marywood Road in

Melbourne on June 5 & June 19

from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, June 17th at 10:00 A. M.

we will have a special meeting in

the Commissioners Meeting Room

at Rockledge City Hall, 1600

Huntington Lane. Our speaker will

be Judge Michelle Baker. Judge

Baker has been a Brevard County

Judge since January 2009 and an

Administrative Judge since 2012.

She was a family practice lawyer.

Judge Baker will be addressing

issues that affect relative caregiver

families. Please come to this

important meeting and bring your

questions.

On Wednesday, June 18th we will

be taking a field trip to Camp

Chance. You as well as your

grandchildren will have to sign a

release form for this trip.

Grandchildren must be between

the ages of 6-18. You will have to

bring a sack lunch, beach towel

and swim suit. Females must wear a

one piece suit. If you want to go on

this trip call the office at 631-7776 or

Karen Mills at 321-693-5136 to sign

up. You will have to accompany

your grandchildren on this trip.

Transportation will be provided.

Camp Chance is run by Brevard

County Sheriff Department.

On Thursday July 17th 12:00 noon

till 3:00 p.m. we will host “The Reality

Check Program” with Lawrence

Lawton. The Reality Check Program

is designed to prevent pre-teens,

teens and young adults from

making bad choices and heading

down the wrong path in life. Call

631-7776 to register your

grandchildren for this program. You

are encouraged to attend with your

grandchildren. We are asking $10.00

per family to help cover Mr.

Lawton’s expense. Snacks will be

provided.

SUMMERTIME FUN! For most children school is out, and

they can hardly wait for the summer

fun to begin. While an occasional

movie or trip to the library is an

option, there are lots of other things

to do in the summer! Play-dates: If

you have school-aged children, you

may notice them missing their

school friends as the summer

continues on. Set up a few play-

dates where they can get together

and socialize!

Plant a Garden: Gardening is a

great outdoors activity for children

to take part in. Not only is it fun, it’s a

confidence-booster to children that

get to see their hard work pay off!

Go to the Park: Children are used to

keeping busy with their daily

routines, so they’re likely to have a

lot of energy. Why not take them to

the park? Bring along a few snacks

and always pack plenty of water to

make sure the children stay

hydrated in the summer heat.

Arts and Crafts: Sometimes, it’s just

too hot to play outside. Why not

enjoy part of the day inside with

some arts and crafts?

Get in the Water: Go to the beach,

or why not check out your local

recreation center. It’s extremely

important to always keep an eye on

the children when they’re in the

water. It’s your responsibility! Going

swimming and getting to play in the

water is a great summer activity the

children will enjoy. Don’t forget

sunblock, towels and floaties.

No matter what you decide to do,

be sure to keep you and the

children safe and hydrated. Have a

great summer!

THANK YOU! Thank you to our volunteers! We

really appreciate the help that you

give us:

Karen Mills, Bill & Lillian Hobson

Lou Ann & Jonathan Hawes,

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.

Issue 156

Page 4

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