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Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

  Related news: Executive Order Expands Access to Community Living Services, Supports Family Caregivers

“Both kinship and grandparents provide leadership, loving and stable homes for millions of children, those with disabilities, those who cannot — who remain with their household and it is important that we recognize that.” —Secretary Xavier Becerra

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2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

Strategy Cover Page

On September 21, 2022, the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was delivered to Congress. The Strategy includes nearly 350 actions the federal government will take to support family caregivers in the coming year and more than 150 actions that can be adopted at other levels of government and across the private sector to begin to build a system that ensures family caregivers – who provide the overwhelming majority of long-term care in the United States – have the resources they need to maintain their own health, well-being, and financial security while providing crucial support for others. The strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils established by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Act, with extensive input from family caregivers, the people they support, and other stakeholders.

Previous Releases

SGRG Act Initial Report to Congress

On November 16, 2021, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren released its initial report to Congress. This report outlines the joys, challenges, gaps, and unmet needs faced by kin and grandparent caregivers. It also describes federal programs currently available to assist them and provides 22 recommendations for better supporting kinship families and grandfamilies. The recommendations will inform the development of the National Family Caregiving Strategy, which will include action steps to increase recognition and support for kin and grandparent caregivers.

SGRG Finalizes Recommendations

On October 20, 2020, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Advisory Council finalized 22 recommendations intended to advance change and improve supports to kinship families and grandfamilies of all ages.

Advisory Council Year One Progress Report

The report highlights council activities since the passing of the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, including member selection, subcommittees, key meetings, and the future report to Congress.

COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide for Kinship Families and Grandfamilies

During emergency circumstances, including natural disasters or pandemics, challenges are amplified for kinship families and grandfamilies. Recognizing this, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren developed the linked COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide.

Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The number of grandparents and other older relatives who are caring for children is significant and growing, in part due to the opioid crisis. Although caregivers' lives are enhanced by the experience, providing full-time care to children can decrease caregivers' abilities to address their own health and well-being needs.

Recognizing that these caregivers would benefit from improved coordination of resources intended to support them, as well as better dissemination of information about those resources, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act established an Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

The Advisory Council will identify, promote, coordinate, and disseminate to the public information, resources, and the best practices available to help grandparents and other older relatives both meet the needs of the children in their care and maintain their own physical and mental health and emotional well-being.

Full Statute - SGRG Act  

Advisory Council Responsibilities

The Advisory Council will develop a report that includes best practices, resources, and other useful information for grandparents and other older relatives raising children. This report will be delivered to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Congress, and the state agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs.

The Advisory Council will establish a process for obtaining public input to inform the development of both the initial report and the subsequent update.

Advisory Council Mission

The mission of the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) is to identify, promote, coordinate and disseminate information, resources, and best practices to help grandparents and older relative caregivers of children meet the health, educational, nutritional, and other needs of the children in their care, while maintaining their own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As part of this vision, all recommendations will consider the needs of members of Native American tribes and families affected by the opioid crisis.

Advisory Council Vision

The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) will be a leader for identifying and sharing resources to support, educate, empower, and advocate for kinship families and grandfamilies. The Council will increase awareness and understanding of the needs of these families to ensure they are treated with respect and dignity. By honoring cultures, values, and diversities, we will create a better future so that families can flourish.

Advisory Council Membership

The SGRG Act specifies that the Advisory Council will include at least one grandparent who is raising a grandchild and at least one older relative caring for children. In addition, the Council includes representatives from federal departments and agencies who play a role in these issues.

Grandparents and older relatives

Coming soon.

Members appointed because of their professional expertise

Coming soon.

Federal members

Coming soon.

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    RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council

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    Last modified on 07/21/2022

    Next Full Advisory Council Meeting

    To be announced

    Past Full Advisory Council Meetings

    September 2022

    On September 21, 2022, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council held their second joint meeting to announce the release of the first-ever National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.

    January 2022

    The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council held their first joint meeting on January 25, 2022 to begin the development of the National Family Caregiving Strategy.

    November 2021

    On November 16, 2021 the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren announced the release of the report to Congress during its fourth convening. The council Co-Chairs gave a presentation on overarching themes discussed in the report to Congress, including the five priorities which guided the Council’s work. Generations United gave an overview of ACL’s newly funded National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship Families and Grandfamilies. The third highlight of the meeting was an open forum for Council members to reflect on the report and shifting focus to the development of a National Family Caregiving Strategy that closely aligns with the Council’s five goals. For a detailed summary, see below.

    September 2020

    The SGRG Council met virtually for its third meeting on September 15, 2020. In recognition of the one year anniversary of the council, the Secretary of Health and Human Services provided welcoming remarks and thanks to the council’s hard work in improving the lives of caregivers within Kinship families and Grandfamilies. The council was presented with an analysis of the 2019 public Request for Information (RFI), covering major areas of concern faced by Kinship and Grandfamilies within the U.S such as legal and financial resources. To conclude the meeting the council was able to come to a consensus on recommendations covering the span of five areas of concern that will be applicable to the National Caregiver Strategy and wellbeing of Kinship families and Grandfamilies.

    Please visit the links below to view the meeting presentations, live stream recording, and a summary of the meeting outcomes.

    April 2020

    “The SGRG Council met virtually for its second meeting on April 23, 2020. During that meeting, Council members solidified their vision and adopted a set of guiding principles that will shape their work on their Report to Congress and other efforts they undertake to improve our nation’s response to the needs of grandparents and older relative caregivers.” (May 01, 2020 Blog Post) -Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary on Aging)

    Please visit the links below to view the meeting presentations, live stream recording, and meeting summary.

    August 2019

    On August 28th and 29th, 2019, Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council (SGRG) convened for the first time to discuss their guiding values, establish priorities, and determine how to best identify and disseminate information to the public on resources and best practices that will assist grandparents and older relatives.

    Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, and Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized the importance of the Council’s work and the significance of federal investments in support of grandparents raising grandchildren.

    Speakers shared personal experiences, results, resources and strategies from advocacy efforts, national research, and state/local initiatives to support grandparents raising grandchildren.

    Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council Attendees

    Please visit the links below to view the live stream recording and other meeting materials:

    Agenda and Slides

    Live Stream Recordings

    Meeting Summary

    Additional Materials

    Meeting Pictures

     


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