On  May 7^th Tracee Crawford, Treasure Valley Grandparents as Parents; Glenda Weaver, Relatives/Grandparents As Parents, Coeur D Alene; Marta Santos and Evelyn Baldeon, Seamos Compadres: It’s All Relative Kinship Collaboration, Region III and Carol Byars, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Eastern Idaho Community Action Programs will be the team representing Idaho at the GRAND Rally.  WE couldn’t have better representation or stronger voices that can speak to our Idaho Congressmen about  the needs of kinship families in Idaho. Tracee has arranged appointments for the Idaho team to meet with staff from the offices of  Senators Craig and Crapo and Representatives Sali and Simpson.   

The Grand Rally is a chance for relative caregivers to see that they are not alone and that they have allies and supporters in their own states and across the country. It energizes them to continue to meet their day to day challenges and to support broader efforts to protect and support their children and others.  Inspired by the first Grand Rally, caregivers in different states accomplished the following:

• Established support groups in communities for relative caregivers and for the children and teens they are raising
• Created kinship navigator programs to help relative caregivers connect their children with services and supports for which they are eligible
• Participated in training sessions to learn more about how to access the services and supports their children need
• Organized state and local coalitions of relative caregivers to help make the case for expanded services and support for their children
• Held State GrandRallies or otherwise educated state policymakers about the help needed by children in their care and testified at legislative hearings, which has resulted in important improvements for children
• Conducted statewide kinship care conferences
• Returned to Washington, D.C. to share their stories at Congressional briefings.

The Kinship  Caregiver Support Act and  flyer that provides information about the Call In activities that will support the Grand Rally. Please forward this information to members of your group and other allies.