Information Series for Kinship Care Families

Grand Ideas for Grand Kids – New Program For Children 3-6 Years of Age

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Kinship Care Families Program will hold the adult Information Series on Tuesdays starting September 18 thru November 13, 2007, 6:00-8:30 p.m. The Series will be held at the Portage Community Education Building, 1010 W. Milham Ave., Portage. Topics include parenting skills, handling stress, financial questions, school & community, legal issues and more.

Kinship care is a term used to describe relative caregivers for children including aunts, uncles, siblings, and other extended family members. All kinship care families are invited to participate. Kinship Care Families provides emotional and tangible support to kinship families through workshops, support groups, newsletters, web site, and the opportunity to meet others raising relative children.

Kinship Care Families Michigan State University Extension Kalamazoo County was awarded a grant from Western Michigan University in collaboration with The Kellogg Foundation to fund a NEW program called Grand Ideas for Grand Kids aimed at grandchildren 3-6 years of age. Held simultaneously with the adult program, children’s topics will be presented using games, arts and crafts, and fun, interactive activities with the goal of enhancing self esteem, increasing social skills, and assisting children to recognize and appropriately express emotions.

Both programs are free of charge and provide free childcare and an evening meal. For information or to enroll, call Joyce Stout, Michigan State University Extension, 269-384-8054 or e-mail: stoutjo@msu.edu NOTE that families whose children are outside the age range for the children’s program are welcome to be part of this valuable resource opportunity.

For more information about the Kinship Care Families Support Program call Joyce Stout at 384-8054. If you would like to make arrangements to accommodate persons with disabilities at this event please call Joyce Stout two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after this date will be met when possible.

The program is free of charge with funding provided by The Kellogg Foundation in collaboration with Western Michigan University, MSU Extension, Strong Families/Safe Children and Area Agency on Aging IIIA.

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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