KINGWOOD — Following the success of its first grandfamily training class, Preston County has formed the Preston County Grandfamilies Coalition to continue offering help.
It is aimed at grandparents raising a grandchild. The program offers an eight-week training course set for 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the Terra Alta Senior Center.
“We are thrilled that the first training session will be held at our Terra Alta site,” Tina Turner, CFO of the Preston County Senior Citizens said. “I am excited to see how the program can help the grandparents of Preston County.”
Over the past decade, grandfamilies have become the hidden victims of the opioid crisis, according to Healthy Grandfamilies. Healthy Grandfamilies is a free initiative led by West Virginia State University (WVSU) in partnership with the WVSU Department of Social Work. The program provides information and resources to grandparents raising one or more grandchild.
Susie Huggins, project director of Preston County After School Explorers, said the Grandfamilies Coalition began this year in Preston County with staff at Preston High learning about the grandfamilies issue. Huggins said community members participated as well.
“This is the first training event of the newly formed Preston County Grandfamilies Coalition,” Huggins said. “There is a large uptick in the number of children being raised by grandfamilies here in Preston County. One study shows that 62.5 percent of school-age children are being raised by grandparents. We have to help our grandfamilies raise our next generation.”
Those completing all eight sessions will have access to a social worker for help with questions that may arise along with a certificate of completion.
Bonnie Dunn, WVSU Healthy Grandfamilies program director, previously told The Dominion Post that West Virginia was fourth in the nation in 2015 in the number of children being raised by their grandparents. By 2017, West Virginia tied for second place with Arkansas. Mississippi is No. 1.
According to Healthy Grandfamilies, grandparents are likely to be female (74 percent); about
63 years old; not employed (71 percent); have low to medium incomes (80 percent); and are managing at least one chronic health condition.
Grandchildren are likely to struggle with hyperactivity (19 percent), behavior problems (19 percent), obesity (18 percent), mental health issues (12 percent), and/or substance misuse (12 percent). The average number of grandchildren per household was 1.82. A majority of grandparents (56.8 percent) have been caregivers for three years or more.
The first grandfamilies training session Tuesday will include learning about parenting in the 21st century, with Kelsey Schmidle from Parents as Teachers. The April 16 session will feature communication via social media, cyber-bullying and technology trends, with David Hartley from WVU Extension.
The April 23 session will discuss navigating the school system, with Stormy Matlick from Preston County Schools. Tim Craig will be the featured presenter April 30, addressing stress.
Other sessions will be: Health literacy and self-care for the caregiver, with Kim Liston from Preston Memorial Hospital, May 7; family response to Addiction, with Tim Craig and Rita McCrobie from the State Attorney General’s Office and the USC peer recovery coach, May 14; legal issues that many grandfamilies face with Angie White, May 21; and nutrition, with Karen Bright of
WVU Extension.
To register for the Healthy Grandfamilies training, call Preston County Senior Citizens at 304-329-0464.
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