by Marcus Harrison Green
(This article is co-published with The Seattle Times.)
If this country genuinely cared about protecting the lives of children, Barb Taylor would be out of a job and grandmothers like Ollie Reeves would never anguish over how to feed the children in their care.
But it doesn’t.
Continue reading OPINION: Thousands of WA Grandparents Are Raising Kids — and They Need More Helpby Jamerika Haynes-Lewis
At the age of 50, Shrounda Selivanoff saw herself doing many things. Recently, she became the director of public policy for Children’s Home Society of Washington (CHSW). This is in addition to her work as a community advocate for children and families. However, raising a newborn was not a part of her plan. “I’m committed to my grandchild. I’m committed for life,” Shrounda says proudly. “I’m his grandmother.”
Continue reading OPINION: HB 1747 Offers a Pathway to Keeping Families Togetherby Elizabeth Turnbull
Women United ensures that “kinship caregivers” — grandparents who are raising their grandchildren — are taken care of and celebrated all year round, including Christmas.
This Saturday, Dec. 18, the nonprofit is hosting a Winter Wonderland event at Renton’s Angel of Hope Engagement Center from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. There, under the glow of Christmas lights and immersed in Christmas music, caregivers and children are invited to celebrate the holiday with chili, cornbread, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and spiced apple cider. Gifts will be provided for those in attendance.
Continue reading Winter Wonderland Event Celebrates Grandmothers Raising Grandchildrenby Trey Rabun
(This article originally appeared on Amara’s website and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
I’ve had the privilege of working within child welfare for almost 12 years now. My professional journey started in our state agency (now called the Department of Children, Youth and Families — DCYF) supporting children who were “legally free,” meaning children who the state has decided cannot safely return home and are now seeking to find forever families, typically through adoption or guardianship.
As a social work practicum student, I was able to immerse myself in the work of all aspects of child welfare including doing “ride arounds” with Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators and sitting in on intense family decision meetings. Throughout my career, I have always looked for the best ways to support kids and families in foster care, including looking at how best to support Black families caring for kids and youth in our immediate and extended families.
There will always be one family from that time who has stuck with me even after all these years.
Continue reading OPINION: Kinship Care Can Help Transform The Child Welfare Systemby Elizabeth Turnbull
While guardians of children are in a caring role and are seldom cared for themselves, a backyard social event on Saturday, May 8, is providing a space for both grandmothers, and the children they look after, to be cared for.
Continue reading ‘Backyard’ Social To Honor the Grandmothers Raising GrandchildrenThe Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.
We also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.
LIVE — Marcus Harrison Green | LIVE — Julie Wise | Nikkita Oliver Is Running for City Council | Kinship Caregivers | Voter Election Fund | Lumen Field to Be Vaccination Station
Continue reading The Morning Update Show — 3/10/21by Marcus Harrison Green
(This article is copublished with The Seattle Times.)
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Most days, the massive unfairness of the world cannot crush Ollie Reeves.
Most days, the 76-year-old calls on her faith in God and family to help her raise her two grandchildren, Montrey, 14, and Destiny, 10, amid a pandemic.
Most days, the retiree plunges into her savings, accumulated as a Boeing shuttle driver, to pay for food, clothes, and medical bills.
But occasionally, there are days when things get too much and Reeves can do nothing but lock herself in her bedroom and cry.
“My grandkids will say ‘Grandma, why’d you lock the door?’ But they know I need a quiet moment and they just let me be,” she said.
Continue reading OPINION: They’re Raising Grandkids With Little Help, and During a Pandemic. Can’t We Lend Them a Hand?
