W.Va. State University Initiative Promotes Healthy Grandfamilies

5/20/2016

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INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) will begin the first session of its new Healthy Grandfamilies initiative Thursday, May 26, at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of St. Albans. The initiative, a series of free informational sessions and follow-up support, targets grandparents who are raising one or more of their grandchildren.

“West Virginia currently ranks fourth in the nation for grandparents raising grandchildren,” said Dr. Brenda Wamsley, project director and chair of WVSU’s Department of Social Work. “Healthy Grandfamilies is designed to address the unique needs of this family dynamic through education and access to resources and professional support.”

The program consists of nine sessions focusing on topics such as communications, technology, social media, nutrition, legal issues, stress management, navigating the public school system, 21st Century parenting and more. Participants are provided three months of free follow-up services with a Licensed Social Worker. Such services include assistance with locating community resources, confidential help in meeting unique family needs and advocacy services.

Following the introductory meeting May 26, the series of sessions will run throughout the month of June. Refreshments will be provided, and children are welcome. Registration is required. For more information, contact Yvonne Lee, Project Social Worker, at (304) 766-3098 or Administrative Assistant Nicole Wilson at (304) 766-4007.

Healthy Grandfamilies is a collaboration between WVSU’s Department of Social Work and WVSU Extension Service and is funded by the USDA’s Capacity Building Grants Program, Award No. 2015-38821-24374.
The First Baptist Church of St. Albans is located at 6th Avenue and 2nd Street in St. Albans.

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West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi‐generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.