GrandParents United DE, Inc.
| Last updated on July 4, 2007 |
Our Mission is to care for the children who are related to our families whom have been deemed at risk due to abuse, neglect or have been abandoned by parents who are unable or unwilling to provide a healthy atmosphere to nurture these children. We also work with caregivers of children who may be in care due to incarceration or death of a parent/ or parents. To insure that all children will be nurtured by caregivers with resources and support. To see a day when all children are supported equally.
Description:
To provide a safe secure home for the children who are deemed at risk while assisting the caregivers with support services. Our grandchildren would be put into the system and with strangers if we did not step to the plate to care for our own. But, there is no support for grandparents who have taken on the responsibility for these children who would otherwise cost the state thousands more than we are requesting. Many children age out of formal foster care but no child ages out of a family.
History:
We formed in 1999, from small support group at Wilmington Senior Center. Did extensive research on the Internet and worked closely with legislators on Delaware deficiencies concerning Kinship Care. We began meeting with Grassroots Citizens for Children on "keeping children safe" issues. We spoke before Senate Committee Hearings on welfare reform. In 2000/2001 Senator Margaret Rose Henry agreed to sponsor kinship care legislation. On 07-17-02 ~ GrandParents United DE formally incorporated. We then developed the GrandParents United DE, Inc. Web Page and started an online support group ~ "Delawaregrands" for 24 hour support. On 03-13-03 ~ Applied for our 501 C (3) status. In April 2003,we produced our first quarterly newsletter, which is distributed to 250 people in Delaware. In October 2003, took bus of caregivers to Washington, DC for the first GRANDRALLY sponsored by AARP, CWLA, GU, CDF. In 2004 GrandParents United DE, Inc. received a Resolution recognizing their accomplishments from the City of Wilmington, presented to GrandParents United DE, Inc. by Councilman T. Gregory.
We have attended three law conferences at Widener Law School. Attended Joint Finance Committee hearings held in Dover. Addressed Dept of Health and Social Service hearings. We are a referral agency for the Food Bank of Delaware. We interact with the Division of Developmental Medicine and Division of Behavioral health at A.I. DuPont Hospital.
In 2004, House Concurrent Resolution No.81 passed recognizing multiple barriers faced by kinship caregivers. On September 14, 2004, we held an Educational/Awareness Seminar on custody, guardianship, permanent guardianship and adoption issues.
2007 is becoming a history making year!
April 2007 by invite of Senator Musto of PA. we presented Delaware Advocacy were 300 people registered.
We are producing our own training CD and DVD subtitle "Are you ready to change your life as well as the child/children you will be caring for?"
July of 2007 with the announcement of Our guardian assistance program "GAP" that will pilot in New Castle County. This program will provide low income relatives with a pro bono attorney for the first time without any state nor federal assistance. We have made much progress but there is so much more we and you can do to make a difference in a child's life.
July 2007 our newsletter takes on a new look with a section called "From Our Kids Connection Desk" for young author who are being raised by caregivers.
Tina Light and Debbie Fales are now your state representatives for GrandFamilies of America. We will attend and represent Delaware Kinship caregivers at the Generation United Conference July 2007 in Washington D.C.
We appear whenever a call and need to talk about our programs and promote our amazing caregivers and their needs.
Services/Programs Provided
GrandParents United DE, Inc. operates an online support group that offers caregivers information and support on an ongoing, consistent basis. We also have to online group for caregiver on yahoo as well as a new project one for the kids who are in our care. The kids group will need a guardians permission and no one over 17 yrs old other then the moderator will be invited to join.
GrandParents United DE, Inc. maintains a web site dedicated to educating, directing, and supporting kinship caregivers in Delaware.
Partnering with the Latin American Community Center to develop a grandparent support group.
We accompany grandparents to appointments with state services to help them understand what services are available to them.
We advocate on behalf of kinship caregivers to make services more grandparent friendly.
We educate the general public to make them aware of the unmet needs of the kinship caregiver.
Demographics Served
We serve any and all caregivers who live in the State of Delaware. We have Chapters in New Castle, Kent, & Sussex County for outreach and support close to home.
In-kind Services
We have operated without major donation but the times are changing and so are the needs and growth of our organization. We are looking to open a office in each county to provide services for all programs we currently have established. We will be looking for financial support to begin our continue efforts and mission. Volunteers are always a need to make any grassroots organization succeed and build. We must not forget without your help we could not met the needs that have grown over the years. We thank each and everyone who has made a difference and continue to support our mission.
Board of Directors
Tina Light, President
Debbie Fales, Vice President
Timothy Sawyer, Treasurer
J. B. Martell, Secretary
Pamela Bushnell
L. Jason Cornell, Esq.
Ginny Lanczkowski
Penny Epps-McIntosh
Pamela Maier
Bob Lennon, Budget Committee
Trudy Shipp
Rev. Anna Cottom
Gwendolyn Jimeniz
Shirley Crockett, Workshop Coordinator
Community Advisory Council
Mayor James M. Baker
Senator Patricia M. Blevins
Senator Margaret Rose Henry
Brother Ronald Giannone
Vincent J. Popitti, Esq.
Leslie Spoltore, Esq.
Contact people:
Address:
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P.O. Box 447
Hockessin, DE 19707 |
Web Site: http://www.grandparentsunitedde.org
Directions:
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Nearest Bus Stop: Corner of Peachtree and Birchtree Lanes, 2-3 minute walk
For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/ |
Miscellaneous Information
| Are court referrals welcomed? |
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Yes
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User Reflections
Post Your Own!
Overall Experience 
Interesting, educational and rewarding experience.
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I volunteered to assist GrandParents United De, Inc. with securing an appropriate web address, redesigned the website, and reworked their logo. It was fun to do the graphics and I learned about this vital organization and the committment of it's members.
posted by Gimbler on May 5, 2005 |
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