Are you a Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, older sibling, or cousin raising a child who has temporarily or permanently lost their parents?

You are not alone... Grandparents or nonparent relatives care for well over 100,000 California children.

The greatest reward to your being a parenting grandparent or relative caregiver is knowing that a child is safe and cared for within your family. In spite of this, there are some challenges you may face:

• Changes in lifestyles and routines
• Financial struggles
• Changes in family relationships
• Dealing with feelings of isolation, grief, anger and fear
• Raising a child or children who may have developmental delays, disabilities, health problems, emotional and behavioral issues
• Lack of child care and respite care services
• Lack of information on legal and community resources
• Health problems caused by the pressures of parenting responsibilities

It's important to take care of yourself!

San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) and Stockton Unified School District (SUSD), along with local grandparents and relative caretakers have developed a Kinship Caregiver Forum series. The 10-Session Forums will offer a chance to exchange ideas, gather information and find support to tackle the challenges and responsibilities of raising a relative?s child.

2008-09 Kinship Caregiver Forum Schedules:
First Forum Series--Sep 8, 15, 22, 29; Oct 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov 3 & 17
Second Forum Series--Jan 12, 26; Feb 2, 9, 23; Mar 2, 9, 16, 23; & Apr 7
Third Forum Series--Apr 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18; Jun 1, 8, 15 & 22

Times:
Monday Evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Location:
Head Start

1414 East Park Street

Stockton, CA 95203

Janice Dorr-Johnson--(209) 235-3138

For more information call:
Dan Shepherd, M.A.--SJDC Facilitator and Relative Caregiver
(209) 523-3710

JoAnn Wright--SJDC Facilitator and Relative Caregiver
(209) 613-2439

FKCE

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YESS