Grandparents & Kinship Caregivers in Action

Maria Langlais, Aging & Disability Services

After working hard to raise their own children, a group of grandparents in Southeast Seattle are parenting for the second time—this time raising their grandchildren. Raising kids in today's world is challenging enough, let alone trying to do it on a Social Security budget. But rather than throw up their hands, the grandparents at the Rainier Beach Family Center are taking action and meeting the challenge head on. In the process, they are making things easier for other grandparents who find themselves in the same situation

A program of the Atlantic Street Center, Grandparents & Kinship Caregivers in Action is a support group and more for grandparents and other relatives who are raising grandchildren. The group meets every Thursday night at the Rainier Beach Family Center and begins each session with the grandparents and children sharing a meal together. 

After dinner, the grandparents and children attend separate programs. The children work on developing social skills that will help them succeed in school and in the world. The grandparents attend the support group, where they listen to each other, share information, resources and tips, and help each other problem solve.  

The grandparents are eager to learn whatever they can so that they can be the best support for their grandchildren. They bring in outside speakers to educate themselves on topics about which the group is interested, such as school readiness, money management and healthy eating. Twice monthly, a mental health therapist works with the grandparents on specific issues such as anger management, abandonment issues, grief, stress reduction and conflict resolution.

Tamsen Spengler, the Program Manager for the Family Center, says that the participants tell her that "being part of the group helps them make it through the day...knowing that they have a group of grandparents they can call on for help any time keeps them coming back."

Helping give back to the community is a big part of the program's vision. Reaching beyond its members, the group works hard to help the larger community through volunteer and advocacy efforts.

This year, many of the grandparents volunteered for the Third Annual Back 2 School Bash. The event, sponsored by the Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition, provided school supplies for over 750 kids in Southeast Seattle.  Materials were donated by local businesses and community groups. The event gave families a chance to meet teachers and principals from the local schools, enjoy great food and multi-cultural entertainment, learn about local service providers, and get free health checkups.

The Back 2 School Bash gave the grandparents an opportunity to give something back to the community while helping their own grandkids get ready for school. They also gained some new members to their support group. Marsha Miles, a support group member and volunteer, helped sign up eight new grandparents for their program during the Back 2 School Bash.

Not only do the grandparents want to make a difference now, but by getting people the resources and help they need, they are also working to make the future brighter for their community. Whether it is raising money to buy essentials for pregnant teens, or mentoring young mothers in an effort to stop the cycle that Marsha refers to as "babies having babies," the grandparents at the Rainier Beach Family Center are committed to making the world a better place for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

For more information on Grandparents & Kinship Caregivers in Action, contact Carmen Nott at 206-723-1301 or carmenn@atlanticstreet.org.