Caregiver News Winter 2005

 

Message from the Executive Director

MKCA Sets Vision for the Future

In 2004, the Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association began its second strategic planning process with the assistance of an experienced consultant.  The consultant considered MKCA to be a very successful, yet still young organization.  Our new strategic plan is intended to guide us toward the second of three stages in organizational development and ensure that MKCA grows as a long-term provider of service to kinship caregivers.

 MKCA’s new strategic plan encompasses the following three overarching goals:

¨      Provide high quality services through an effective and efficient statewide service delivery model

¨      Increase MKCA’s visibility in the public policy arena

¨      Ensure an effective organization through increased governance capacity and sufficient human and financial resources to achieve planned goals

In the strategic planning process, MKCA made adjustments in how supportive services can best be developed and delivered to caregivers across the state, including those from other cultures.  We have restructured our service delivery model to include six “Regional Service Agencies (RSAs)”.  This shift is intended to increase the volume and quality of direct services to caregivers and the children they are raising.  

The new RSAs began fulfilling their contracts as of January 1, 2005.  Each RSA has a broad geographic reach and strong collaborative relationships with other constituencies to effectively carry out the mission of MKCA. 

An extensive three-part evaluation component will help MKCA assess the impact to kinship caregivers through the new RSA model; establish criteria and standards against which services to kinship families can be evaluated; and  materials, tools and processes will be developed to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of educational efforts.  See page 3 for contact information on each RSA.

MKCA is excited about the direction it is taking in delivering high quality services to kinship caregivers.  During the next two years, we look forward to fully implementing our new model for statewide service delivery, further strengthening our governance capacity, developing a comprehensive education program, and creating a stronger voice where kinship caregivers are empowered to become self-advocates in the democratic processes of society.    

Lynn Weir

Executive Director

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Books and More at Your Door!

Are you raising grandchildren or other related children in Hennepin County?  If you are, then the new Hennepin County Library Readmobile could be of great interest to you.

The readmobile is a library on wheels that serves preschool children and their caregivers.  It makes weekly visits to the homes of kinship caregivers in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.  During those visits you and your children come on the readmobile, check out books, puppets, music CDs, videos, DVDs and more.  Library staff will present a storytime for you and your children which includes story reading, music, rhymes and activities that will help prepare your children to be successful learners and readers when they get to school.  Staff will share information with you that will enable you to continue these activities in your home.  In addition there are no charges for lost, damaged or late materials.

If you are a kinship caregiver with at least 2 preschool children on a regularly scheduled basis and live in Minneapolis or suburban Hennepin County call 952-847-5843 to get more information about this wonderful, free service!

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Six Regional Service Agencies (RSAs) Offer Support for
MN Kinship Families

Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) serves the Northeast region of MN.                            
Raising Our Children’s Kids Program (ROCK)
Marcia Mehle                                                   mmehle@aeoa.org
702 3rd  Avenue North                                    800-662-5711 ext. 254
Virginia MN 55792                                          218-748-7354

Child Care Resource & Referral serves the Southeast region of MN. 
Grandparents Parenting Again Program
Megan Lockie                                                  meganl@c2r2.org
126 Wood Lake Drive                                     800-462-1660
Rochester, MN 55904                                     507-287-2020 ext. 201

Lutheran Social Services serves the 7 county metropolitan area and surrounding counties.

Grandparents & Others Raising Relatives’ Children

Connie Booth                                                   612- 879-5351      cbooth@lssmn.org

Linda Hammersten                                            612-879-5307      lhammers@lssmn.org 

Ellen Hufschmidt                                               612-879-5377      ehufschmidt@lssmn.org

2414 Park Ave                                                

Minneapolis, MN 55404                                            

Mahube Community Council serves the Northwest region of MN.

Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP)

Bonnie Devore                                                 bdevore@mahube.org

P.O. Box 229                                                   800-450-1385

Park Rapids, MN 56470                                  218-732-7204

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Area Agency on Aging serves: Boise Forte, Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, White Earth, Leech Lake, and Mille Lacs Reservations.

Grand Kin Program

Vera Brown                                                     mctvrb@paulbunyan.net

P O Box 217                                                    888-231-7886 

Cass Lake, MN  56633                                   

Western Community Action serves the Southwest region of MN. 

Raising Our Children’s Kids Program (ROCK)

Susan Bruss                                                      susan.bruss@wcainc.org

400 W. Main St. Suite 201                               800-248-2448

Marshall, MN 56258                                        507-537-1416             

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Teens and meth: what can parents do?
By Ellie McCann, University of Minnesota Extension Service

Maturing teens need to develop healthy ways of taking risks, especially when faced with new situations. But if they don't have a good understanding of boundaries, they may think it is okay to experiment with drugs such as meth, not fully realizing the potentially hazardous effects.

Meth use among teens typically starts with casual use. Because of the pattern of rush and crash that develops from meth use, users may quickly become addicted. It is possible to get addicted to meth with the first use.

So, what's a parent to do? Here are some ideas:

  • Be involved with your teen's activities, friends and other important adults in their lives. Being informed and monitoring your teen's relationships and behaviors will help you distinguish between possible signs of drug use and typical changes in behavior.
  • Follow through--consistently--with rules and consequences for behavior. Teens need expectations. So when parents follow through, teens will learn they're accountable for their choices.
  • Discuss with teens what's happening in their world. If a teen feels secure within the family and comfortable sharing their opinions, they are less likely to give into pressure from friends. Tell your teen to use you as an excuse to get out of an uncomfortable situation, such as: "No way, my mom and dad won't let me go!"
  • Combine the realities of his or her world with the information you have to help guide relevant and useful conversations. If you don't know the answer to his or her question, help your teen find the answer. Deciding whether or not you share your own experiences with drug use is a personal choice. Either way, face-to-face conversations are critical.
  • Model the values and behaviors that you hold important for your family. Modeling may not seem immediately effective, yet has a lasting impact on the values that teens develop, and the choices they make about drug use.

More information is available at www.parenting.umn.edu in the "Teens and Meth" fact sheet, part of the "Teen Talk" series.

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Regional Community Forums

According to Census 2000, the number of Minnesota children living in grandparent-headed households rose by more than 100% in the past decade.  Minnesota’s kinship numbers place it as the 6th fastest growing state in relative caregiving.  MKCA and the Regional Service Agencies  are offering day-long workshops across the state that will address this phenomenon and the impact on kinship families. 

These workshops target important issues identified by caregivers.  They are open for all caregivers and professionals who work with them, and interested community members. 

Each community forum will feature Keynote speaker, Jim Koppel, Executive Director of Children’s Defense Fund of MN.   He will focus on advocacy and how caregivers can have their voices heard. Two other sessions will host local professionals speaking on child protection guidelines and educational rights and issues.

5 CEU hours approved.  Please register through the appropriate RSA for each location.  Phone numbers are listed above.

 Spring Community Forum Calendar

APRIL 6, Wed. – Virginia

                RSA  - AEOA 

MAY

           5, Thurs. -- Bemidji

              RSA  - Mahube

        17, Tues. -- Redwood Falls

              RSA -  Western

        19,  Thurs. -- Rochester

              RSA – Child Care R & R

        23, Tues. -- Fond du Lac

              RSA - MN Chippewa Tribe

 

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