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Time to register for Unplanned Parenthood II
Custody laws, the legal system, public benefit changes, and families’ emotional needs are among the topics to be discussed at Unplanned Parenthood II, a conference sponsored by MKCA and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare.
The conference is being held Monday, Oct. 6, from 9:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., at the Earle Brown Continuing Education Center, on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus. Unplanned Parenthood II is for kinship caregivers and for those who provide services to kinship families or make decisions affecting them.
Donna Butts, Generations United’s executive director, is the event’s keynote speaker. Through its National Center on Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, Generations United seeks to improve the quality of life of caregivers and the children they’re raising.
Ted Thompson, licensed psychologist and family therapist, will speak on attachment, bonding, and behavorial issues commonly found in children abandoned or neglected by their parents.
The Honorable Pamela Alexander, Hennepin County District Court, will be part of a panel focusing on the court system and child custody cases. Joining Judge Alexander will be a custody evaluator, guardian ad litem, and grandparents.
Other panel discussions, covering a variety of topics important to kinship caregivers, will be held throughout the day.
Kinship caregivers’ registration fee is $26 (scholarships are available). For professionals, the fee is $85, with a $10 discount if registered by Sept. 5. Applications for CEUs and CLEs are pending.
To register, contact Anne Preston at 612-624-4231, or at
apreston@che.umn.edu.
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Welcome New Board Members
I want to introduce four people who recently joined MKCA’s board of directors. Their life experiences complement a board profoundly passionate about improving the lives of kinship families.
Luanne Koskinen and her husband have been raising their granddaughter since the 1994 murder of the child’s mother, their daughter. Luanne served six years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she was a staunch advocate for crime victims’ rights and fought for improving people’s lives through effective health and human services programs. Luanne has served as a county financial worker and child support officer, and as an AFSCME business representative.
Albert Maruggi, too, has personal experience with kinship caregiving. After his mother’s death when he was young, Albert’s grandparents helped parent him. Professionally, he has a marketing and public relations career. Albert is president of Provident Partners, an outsource marketing firm. He worked with Sen. Norm Coleman’s campaign, and served as press secretary for the Republican National Committee and for Congressman Hal Daub, Neb.
Public relations also is the profession of Tami Vogel. She recently moved to Minnesota from southeastern Wisconsin, where she was director of creative services for Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. “I educated people about the needs of Bethesda’s clients and their families,” says Tami. In addition to MKCA, Tami volunteers with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota and consults with the Management Assistance Program for Non-Profits.
An attorney by profession and presently a stay-at-home mom, Melissa Weldon has unique perspectives of kinship caregiving. Beginning at the age of 12, Melissa was raised by older siblings following the death of her mother. As an adult, she cared for her brother’s children for a brief period. In her law practice, Melissa worked in family law, giving her yet another view of kinship caregiving. “I feel honored to work with a board so deeply committed to kinship families,” she says. “Like other board members, I promise to always hold their best interests at heart.”
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IRS Changes Spell Trouble for Caregivers
You should watch your mail for an important letter from the IRS, if you’re a kinship caregiver who claims the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on your Federal income tax statement.
You may find yourself one of the 45,000 EITC taxpayers who are part of an IRS pilot project to test major changes recommended to the EITC application procedures.
According to the proposed changes, kinship caregivers will be required to “pre-certify” their eligibility by proving that the children they’re raising have lived with them for more than half of the year.
When the pilot project ends, the IRS intends to phase in over several years the pre-certification requirement to include all kinship caregivers wanting to claim EITC. Claims submitted by income tax filers not submitting pre-certification documents satisfying the IRS will be rejected.
“The requirement could make it more difficult for several million low-income working families – including kinship caregivers – to receive the credit,” says Beth Haney, Research Director for the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota. “Eligible taxpayers may find it impossible to satisfy the requirements, despite their best efforts.”
Such a development would have serious consequences. The EITC currently lifts more children out of poverty than any other social program or category of programs and is an important benefit to the growing number of grandparents who become the primary caretaker for their grandchildren, according to the Children’s Defense Fund.
To comment on the new procedures, send your remarks to: notice.comments@irscounsel.treas.gov, or to CC:PA:RU (Announcement 2003-40), room 5226, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044.
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Caregiver Resources Grow
MKCA’s network continues to expand. Recently designated by MKCA as “host agencies” are Western Community Action, Marshall; Semcac, Rushford; Community Volunteer Center and Senior Centers, Stillwater; and Golden Links Senior Center, Crookston.
Host agencies provide direct services to kinship families.
To learn how to get in touch with the newest host agencies and to view a full list of organizations helping caregivers, check out MKCA’s Web site, www.mkca.org and click on “Support Groups.”
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It’s Almost State Fair Time
Stop by the MKCA booth at the Minnesota State Fair for a visit and to get your questions about kinship caregiving answered.
We’ll be on hand every day from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the Senior Building, which is kitty-corner from the Haunted House and near the Como Avenue entrance to the Fair.
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A Grand Rally in Washington, D.C.
Thousands of grandparents will take their case straight to the United States Capitol.
Grandparents and other kinship caregivers will be converging on Washington, D.C., to participate in the GrandRally to Leave No Child Behind.
People are being encouraged to step forward with relative caregivers as a strong voice for America’s children.
Rally sponsors are the Children’s Defense Fund; AARP; Child Welfare League of America; Generations United; and National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights.
For information:
Call: 202-662-3656;
Visit the web site:
www.childrensdefense.org;
Email: grandrally@childrensdefense.org
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Breaking the Cycle by Investing in Children
Breaking the intergenerational cycle of abuse and neglect is one reason Steve and Joyce Rood are parenting two grandchildren.
“It began when we adopted our daughter at age eight, after she was removed from her home because of apparent abuse and neglect,” says Steve. “Emotional and mental problems have
prevented our daughter from fulfilling her role as a mother.
We want to break the cycle that has plagued our daughter’s life – the inability of her mother, and now her, to meet the needs of their children.”
The Rood’s granddaughters are now 14 and 6 years old. The oldest child has lived with them since she was 11 months old; the youngest joined their household when she was three years old.
Like most grandparents raising their grandchildren, the girls are the center of Steve and Joyce’s lives and, as a result, the couple has made many sacrifices of money, time, and energy.
“Our sacrifices and commitment are paying off. Both girls are healthy, doing well in school, and have lots of friends,” reports Steve. The oldest has become very active in the Rood’s church, and she seems destined to do more there as she grows older.
“It’s worth the effort when we see the type of people the children are becoming, considering what they might otherwise have become without the investments we’re making in them as caregivers,” says Steve, a MKCA board member.
While their daughter initially opposed the transfer of custody of her first daughter to Steve and Joyce, she has since been very supportive, wanting what’s best for her children.
As he is in his granddaughters’ lives, Steve has been key to MKCA’s growth. Much of the success in securing grant funding is thanks to Steve being part of the team, lending his critical thinking and grant writing talents.
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