Healthy Grandfamilies is a vital program that provides much-needed education and support services to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in West Virginia. The program’s primary goal is to assist grandparents in navigating the challenges that come with raising grandchildren and to help them provide a healthy and stable home.
Healthy Grandfamilies, now a statewide initiative, has county coalitions made up of county leaders, professionals within county school systems, and community groups. With support from WVSU’s Center for Healthy Grandfamilies, coalitions provide education as well as specialized knowledge of local resources that benefit grandparents. The program is truly a team effort.Â
The education component of the program consists of a series of sessions. Grandparents learn about topics such as navigating legal issues, effective family communication, child/youth behavior and development, grief, digital media literacy and social media, navigating the school system, substance use and addiction, and parenting. Trained Extension Educators understand the unique challenges grandparents face. They utilize that knowledge and facilitation skills to help empower grandparents to share their experiences, connect with others in similar situations and learn from one another. Â
Social workers and Extension professionals also collaborate to provide social services for grandparents, including a confidential assessment of needs, assistance in locating resources to address unmet needs, advocacy, and referrals to community partners that provide a wide range of social and legal services. These services are highly individualized and designed to help navigate the various systems that can be involved in raising grandchildren.
From the programs’ inception, the WVSU Department of Social Work has been a key partner. This collaboration ensures that the program is effective and informative and meets the unique needs of WV’s grandfamilies.Â
To learn more about Healthy Grandfamilies, visit the website at this link.
