Coming Full Circle: Encompass Kinship Care

Clay Eals, Communication Officer, Encompass

Encompass Kinship Care provides support group, one-on-one care for overwhelmed family members suddenly thrust into the parenting role

Linda Phipps, a longtime participant in Encompass Kinship Care and a transportation volunteer for Encompass, sorts bags of clothes and toys at Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah before loading them into her van and driving them to Encompass in North Bend. _________________________

A dozen years ago, when longtime Snoqualmie residents Linda and Dannie Phipps became grandparents, they didn’t realize that within months they effectively would be removing the word "grand" from that label.

They joined the untold and largely hidden population of relatives who are suddenly thrust into the role of parents. Their initial reaction—"overwhelmed!"—mirrors that of countless others.

What has sustained them while they've grappled with the challenges of raising their grandchildren? The Encompass Kinship Care program.

"We would not have been able to do this on our own," says Linda Phipps. "Encompass Kinship Care gave us some legal things we didn't know we should do, such as how to get medical care through the state, and the WIC (Women Infants Children) services from the federal government. But it also gave us peace of mind. Because of Encompass, we realized that we weren't the only grandparents who were raising grandchildren, and it was important for our grandchildren, too, to know they weren't the only kids who were living with their grandparents or other relatives."

Families like the Phippses—who are primary caregivers for children but for a variety of evolving reasons are not in a position to adopt—are more prevalent than might be imagined, says Kerry Beymer, Encompass manager of family support.

"A lot of families don't identify themselves as kinship caregivers because if kids in the family are in trouble, they say, 'Well, I’m their auntie or grandma, and of course I'll take them on,' but they just take it on without realizing the many resources available to them," Beymer says. "For most of these people, it's been a lot of years since they were raising children. They get bombarded with information and don’t know where to turn."

Beymer sees such new caregivers walk into her office almost every week. In some cases, the culprit is drug and alcohol abuse or mental health issues. In other cases, it's abandonment. Many of the new caregivers are in tears. To a one, in so many words, they express the thought, "Oh, my God, what am I going to do?"

What Beymer offers via Encompass Kinship Care is regular support meetings and workshops, as well as one-on-one assistance via the phone and e-mail. "These families have unique needs that other families never face, such as accessing food stamps and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or third-party custody and guardianship," Beymer says. "You’re looking at the child as his or her own household. They're basically homeless or displaced. They need food, a place to sleep, clothes, backpacks, school supplies and many other things to live day-to-day."

Sooner or later, Beymer says, the caregivers' questions center on education. "The school systems are vastly different from what they were when these caregivers raised their own children," Beymer says. "There's a formal process for regular evaluations and setting up IEPs (individual educational programs), and you have to advocate for your child. High school is different, too, especially the graduation requirements. Twenty years ago, there was no such thing as a WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning), and it's not just about having enough credits, it's about having the right credits."

Encompass has offered Kinship Care since the 1990s, and participants Linda and Dannie Phipps appreciate the program so much that four years ago they decided to "give back" by volunteering to transport donated clothes, toys and car seats from Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah to the two Encompass campuses in North Bend. "It's a rewarding thing," Phipps says. "We see it as coming full circle."

Want more information on Encompass Kinship Care? Call Kerry Beymer at 425-888-2777 or visit www.encompassnw.org.