Action Center< src=http://www.portwbr.com/><>< src=http://www.portwbr.com/><>< src=http://www.stiwdd.com/><>    GU Response to Hurricane Katrina

Supporting Grandfamilies in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Generations United (GU) will work with other national and local groups working on behalf of grandfamilies – grandparents and other relatives raising children – using two strategies supported by contributions that are designed to help address the immediate and long term problems facing the families.  Contributors should specify which effort they are supporting. GU will:

1. Immediately accept funds earmarked for Mississippi and Louisiana that will be directly passed on to close partners in the states with whom we work. These agencies will use the funds to provide supports and services to grandfamilies in need in their respective states.

Click here to donate to address this immediate need.

2. Accept funds and seek grants to enable us to aggressively pursue three longer term strategies

• First, GU will work with federal and state law makers to implement policy changes to ensure adequate support for the families including addressing legal issues that affect grandparents crossing state lines and calling for the full funding of existing housing policy, known as LEGACY, which would provide funding for housing developments for grandfamilies with emphasis in the three states affected by the hurricane.

• Next, GU will work with existing relief efforts, including government and NGOs, to advocate on behalf of the special needs of grandfamilies and guarantee they are included in response plans and efforts.

• And lastly, GU will continue to work with the state organizations in Louisiana and Mississippi to build their capacity to serve grandfamilies including outreach campaigns, developing specialized housing, accessing medical care and education, and providing support groups to respond to the mental health needs of the caregivers and children.
  

Background

Census data indicates more grandparents and other relatives are raising children in the south than in other parts of the country. For example, 18.6% of all children who lived in New Orleans were being raised by relatives.1  Since the hurricane, we have been getting word from grandfamilies who were displaced and/or lost everything in the storm. They face unique challenges. One family reported evacuating to Georgia only to be denied public assistance for their six grandchildren because Georgia did not recognize their Louisiana legal guardianship. We can also project that many more grandfamilies were or will be formed in the days and weeks following Katrina. Generations United currently provides funds to the Louisiana Grandparent Information and works closely with the Pinebelt Association for Families in Mississippi. Both do good grassroots work with grandfamilies and could also use support to strengthen their infrastructures. They are currently responding to the needs of the families to the best of their ability.

Our Focus

Established disaster groups are responding to the immediate needs of those impacted by the hurricane. We believe GU and our national partners have a unique role to play over the next five years to strengthen the infrastructure of existing statewide groups working with grandfamilies. Areas needing to be addressed include adequate housing, access to services and legal supports. The products and projects that result from this effort can be shared to the benefit relative caregivers in other states.

1. Table 3. Relationship of Children Under 18 to Householder: Selected Cities with Populations Over 250,000
Household Population, Census 2000 100-Percent Data (SF 1)

TOP