Divorce numbers skyrocket. Grandparents often get cut off. Here's an in depth piece about how to stay connected to your grandchildren.
Arthur H. Kroll, Chairman and CEO of the KST Consulting Group, Inc., is a nationally known expert on elder law. He's an adjunct professor at two universities. I ofund an article he wrote in the Senior Journal.
The piece is long and in depth -- seems to offer some really good tips and advice if you're in a bad situation. Learn how the court determines whether a relationship with you is in the child's best interest. I think there are some good points here to use even before there's a family problem. As we've said before, acrimony between grandparents and parents never brings anything but harm, and Kroll agrees that history of a healthy, peaceful, positive relationship will help bring the right results when the chips are down.
Take a look at the side bars on the left side of the page, too. There's an interesting orgnaization getitng a toe-hold in Dallas. Called, "KinCare Network," it looks to help grandparents raising grandchildren. This is a great model for all other states. I believe this is a necessity. What do you think?
Here's how it works:
The Dallas County KinCare Network was created through a partnership between the City of Dallas and AARP with funding from a three-year, minority outreach New York Life Foundation grant.
The project unites AARP and the city with other non-profit organizations, school districts and the Area Agency on Aging on projects to support grandparents raising a second generation of children. "We can accomplish more as a group than we ever could individually," said Susan Williams, associate state director for AARP Texas.
It also will open its first Grandparent Information Center (GIC), with support from the Dallas library system, to provide books, KinCare materials, and support groups for grandparents. --also from Senior Journal
