The challenges faced by grandparents raising grandchildren will be the topic of a teleconference held at UMass Boston, Jan.12, co-sponsored by the Gerontology Institute. "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Implications for Professionals and Agencies," a national satellite program originating from the University of Wisconsin, will address how professionals and organizations can support grandparents who face the challenges of aging and child raising at the same time. Nationally, 4 million children are living in a grandparent's home. The teleconference will be held at 300 sites around the country.
The program includes a two-hour satellite video and on-site activities. Participants will have opportunities to call in or fax questions to panel members, and time is set aside before and after the video conference so that participants can engage in specialized discussions, activities, and network. Prof. Nina Silverstein of the Gerontology Center and Institute and director of the Undergraduate Program in Gerontology is coordinating the conference on campus.
Featured at the conference will be Dorchester's recently opened Grandfamilies House, the nation's first supportive housing for grandparents raising children. Grandfamilies House provides 26 housing units, and is designed to meet the needs of these special families. "We're very excited that the Grandfamilies House will be featured at the conference," says Wichian Rogawanon, senior program developer/policy analyst at the Gerontology Institute, who organizes a series of free workshops on issues such as nutrition and behavior for residents. The free workshop series is co-sponsored by The Gerontology Institute, with funding from a UMass Boston Public Service Endowment grant. Grandfamilies House was featured on theToday show shortly after its opening.
- - By Anne Joyce-Brandt