Grandparents raising grandchildren live with hectic schedules that sap their energy. They must also deal with guilt and resentment-their own, their children’s, and/or their grandchildren’s. While their friends are taking trips, going out to dinner, or seeing a movie, these grandparents are trapped at home. The added responsibility of raising their grandchildren leaves the grandparents emotionally and financially drained.
In response to the many pressures grandparents face, hundreds of support groups around the country have formed, offering help coping with the problems of raising grandchildren. They give ideas for coping with the challenges grandparents are struggling to overcome. Grandparents raising grandchildren, as well as any kin raising children not their own, can find a network of support by participating in a support group. Others there will be non-judgmental, and will have similar experiences and needs. Grandparents face many joys and challenges in raising their grandchildren--being part of a support group makes grandparents aware that they are not alone in their efforts, and there are other people out there who know what they are going through. Support groups are people helping each other meet the daily challenges in their lives.
If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild, you might be helped by being part of a support group.
Value of a support group:
You can feel safe and supported while discussing concerns.
Others will benefit from your knowledge and strengths.
You may learn of informational and educational programs.
Together you can develop methods and skills for solving problems.
You can encourage each other in personal growth and development.
Sharing your success strengthens self-esteem.
Having others to talk to provides a network of support.
Benefits of a support group:
You can be strengthened by knowing others have walked in your shoes and
not only survived but grew and developed personally.
Joining in the social life of a support group can help you feel less isolated.
Parenting is a challenge at any age, actions as small as setting time aside to
get emotional support from others can yield positive results.
Your grandchildren will benefit also. They will meet other children who live with grandparents. It can be a big benefit just knowing that you are not alone. And through belonging to a strong support network, you will be better equipped from a psychological and informational perspective to help your kin or grandchildren towards healthy development. This enhances the children’s self-esteem and sense of identity.
There are currently two support groups in the Magic Valley for grandparents raising grandchildren, sponsored by the Idaho KinCare Coalition of which University of Idaho Extension is a member. Co-sponsors are the CSI-Area IV Office on Aging. The Twin Falls support group meets the second Monday of each month, at 7 pm, at the Episcopal church at 371 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls. The Burley-Rupert support group meets on the 4th Thursday of each month at 933 Sandy Glen Lane, Burley. Contact person for both groups is Fern Warren, 208-736-8856 or 404-4506. Efforts are on-going to establish support groups in Blaine County, as well as other areas of the valley.
Support groups sponsored by the Idaho KinCare Coalition have been developed in all areas of the state. Contact information for other areas is:
Idaho Falls area--Emily Hoyt, 208-522-5391
Treasure Valley/Boise-Meridian group--Tracee Crawford, 208-323-7538
Hayden-- Sarah McLain, 208-772-3851
Bonners Ferry--Elsie Hollenbeck, 208-267-2485 or Carol Hampton at 208-267-3235
Coeur d’Alene support group--Kaye Wilson at 208-667-3179
Moscow support group--Sarah Rial, 208-883-6483
Pocatello support group--Judi Robinson, 208-526-8129
Lewiston support group--Kathy Tifft, 208-799-3096
Grangeville area--Angie Rose 208-983-2006
Caldwell, Nampa and Weiser area--Linda Dripps, 208-459-0063
Coeur d’Alene tribe--Jannette I. Taylor, 208-686-5621
Members attending the support group meetings hear from prominent citizens who were raised by their grandparents, participate in family activities, share their stories if they wish, and learn of informational programs.
Doris Williams, a former University of Idaho professor has written a very helpful booklet for grandparents who are raising their children’s children, "Grand Parents. The Brookdale Foundation publication, "Relatives Raising Children is also very good, as is "Raising your Grandchild published by Channing Bete Company. Helpful, too, is "Grandparents Guide", published by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona. There are also useful pamphlets for grandparents by the Children’s Defense Fund and AARP. An information series for grandparents raising grandchildren in English and Spanish is available from University of Idaho Extension. Topics are, No More Fights About Food, The Teenage Years, Communication is Important, When a Child Has Experienced Neglect or Abuse, Setting Limits, Helping Your Grandchildren Do Well in School, Teaching Money Skills, Emotional Ups and Downs, Time for You is Important, Child-Care Issues, and Choosing a Parenting Style. For copies or more information about these or the legal guide recently published by the Idaho KinCare Coalition, contact Diana Christensen, Gooding County Extension Educator at 934-4417 or dianac@uidaho.edu.
If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild, or have a friend who is and could benefit from this information, here are some web sites for further helps:
http://www.aarp.org/families
http://www.idahoaging.com/programs/ps_GAPkincare.htm
http://grandparentsraisinggrandkids.tamu.edu/
"Value-added agriculture can be a key component of rural economic development, fostering job growth, economic vitality and local wealth creation. Most rural communities have a strong agricultural production component that has historically contributed to the local economy. Value-added agriculture includes efforts to increase the value of these commodities and to do so before they exit the local area, says Mary Holz-Clause, Director of Iowa State University Extension’s Value-Added Agriculture Program. She further remarks, "Today, we see a huge variety of market-driven ideas emerging that are either triggered or nurtured by small, passionate groups at the local level. These local groups may include farmers, local businesses and leaders who have a common interest in the vitality of an area."
The first settlers to the valleys of Idaho met the challenges of developing the desert through irrigation and other improvements and steadily brought the land to its current productive potential. Many of the commodities which they and their successors produced were exported in their raw form for processing elsewhere. Efforts by progressive individuals and groups established value adding industries such as potato processing and vegetable packaging in addition to sugar beet refining.
During the 1990’s, communities in South-Central Idaho suffered from economic stagnation as potato processing industries shrunk and raw product prices declined. In response to the challenge, a number of row crop producers in South-Central Idaho either developed or enlarged dairy production facilities. These operations took advantage of inexpensive feed sources and milk prices which were relatively better than potato and wheat market prices. The resulting increase in the supply of milk led to an opportunity to entice milk processors to locate in closer proximity.
One success story in this movement is seen in the completion of the new Gossner Foods cheese processing plant soon to begin production in the Burley-Heyburn Industrial Park. When full production capacity is achieved, the plant will convert one million pounds of milk per day into Swiss cheese and other products. The value-added benefits of converting milk to processed products locally will remain in the community to generate additional jobs and other economic activity.
The productive nature of the Idaho agricultural base coupled with a desire on the part of entrepreneurs could result in additional opportunities for adding value to locally produced commodities. For example, the recent run up in petroleum prices has opened the door for another look at ethanol production. "Ethanol production … is a recent and significant farmer-owned, value-added agriculture business sector. More than 30 percent of the gasoline in the United States is blended with ethanol. At the end of 2003, 32 of the 72 ethanol plants across the U.S. were farmer-owned. (Economic Development America: U.S. Dept. of Commerce)
Other value-adding opportunities might include processed livestock feed products, specialty dairy products, potato- or cereal grain-based snack foods, and milled grain products.
For further information or questions contact Dale Baker, University of Idaho Extension Educator in Minidoka County at 208-436-7184 or dbaker@uidaho.edu.
This is not an article about some get rich quick scheme or some other strings attached attempt to reel you in. This is an honest way to earn free money…no joke! Many of us are missing out on free money and it is staring us right in the face! The free money is the 401(k) retirement plan match that most employers offer as a benefit to their employees. That’s right! Your employer will give you free money! Here’s how it works:
Employers will typically match anywhere from 25% to over a 100% of the amount the employee contributes to the company’s 401(k) plan up to a certain % of an employee’s salary. Think of an employee who makes $30K a year and is eligible for the company 401(k) plan, which matches 50% of the employee’s contribution up to 6% of the employee’s salary. If the employee contributes 6% in their 401(k), they would invest $1,800 and the company would invest a $900 match a year. Furthermore let’s assume that the employee is 30 and contributes the same percentage until retirement, at age 65, and earns an 8% return on their 401(k). At retirement the employee would have a 401(k) worth $333,034. Not bad for only investing $63,000.
Talk to your employer’s human resources representative to learn more about your 401(k) benefits and ask plan specific questions. If your employer offers a match on your 401(k) plan, take advantage of the free money they are offering. If at all possible, contribute up to the % your employer is willing to match. If you are unable to commit that much of your paycheck and still make ends meet, start with a lower % and set a goal to contribute more in the future. You can also create a budget and track your expenses to find ways to cut your spending. The money you save by cutting expenses can then be contributed to your 401(k), which will allow you to earn free money.
For further information or questions you can contact Lyle Hansen, University of Idaho Extension Educator in Jerome County at 324-7578 or lhansen@uidaho.edu
Central Idaho 4-H Camp closing was the place to be this year! The camp board invited area teens to come help on camp closing weekend, all the chores to winterize and close camp were accomplished and the hard working teens were able to raise some money by helping the camp board. The board offered to donate the money collected for the weekend camp fees to next year’s costs of transportation to Idaho Teen Conference.
Thirteen teens attended the weekend event held October 7-9, 2005. There they learned new skills and made memories to last a lifetime! The teens attended classes on draft horses and harnesses, and learned about the entertainment business from a disc jockey that later provided music for a dance. They also went on a wagon ride with a team of draft horses and warmed up by baking dessert and making caramel corn. Helping the adult volunteers with chores like moving heavy mattresses, scrubbing cupboards and even draining and winterizing the toilets took quite a bit of the teen’s time but they still had time to play some new games and enjoy some movies.
The camp received some snow and cool weather but when asked if they would come back next year all the teens said YES. Camp closing is traditionally held early in October and plans are all ready being made for next year’s teen retreat/camp closing.
The Idaho Commission of Hispanic Affairs sponsored a one day education empowerment workshop in Twin Falls at the College of Southern Idaho campus on September 30th. The Latino Youth Empowerment Conference centered on student success with parent involvement. Teens learned about the possibilities and availability of higher education while parents were taught education skills and encouraged to become more actively involved in their youth’s education. Approximately 150 parents and students from ten Idaho school districts attended the annual event.
While parents and teens focused on the workshop classes, younger children were participating in a special 4-H program. University of Idaho Extension Educators, Donna R. Gillespie and Cindy Kinder, Lincoln County 4-H Coordinator, Kristy Boguslawski and two State 4-H Teen Ambassadors, currently CSI students, coordinated a full day of educational activities geared for youth ages 5 to 12.
Morning sessions centered on project activities from 4-H curriculum including sewing, leather craft, and soap making. Youth enjoyed learning about where leather comes from and were able to stitch together a coin purse or luggage tag to take home. They enjoyed creating their own designs and using the stamping tools. Those attending also sewed fleece hats for themselves and were encouraged to make others for someone who needed a warm winter hat. This activity not only allowed the youth to learn an important life skill, like sewing, but also encouraged them to participate in community service in their communities. Youth were also excited to make bars of soap with a variety of different colors and scents to take home for their families.
The afternoon session focused on activities included in, Art, A Palette of Fun, a 4-H curriculum. Activities included, thumb print art, paper snipping and finger painting to classical music. Everyone completed a 4-H Portrait book that included information about 4-H, completed projects, project activity pictures and their record book.
During the evaluation period most youth stated they had no prior knowledge of 4-H and didn’t know their families could become involved. They also indicated they learned about many projects and had fun doing the activities. 4-H representatives thanked the Latino Youth Empowerment Conference organizers for inviting then to participate and encouraged the youth to go back to their schools and families and explore further options about 4-H in their communities.
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