 |
Spring 2011
Volume 8, Number 2 |
GG/KN Transitions to New Leadership
Roxanne Miller, MPR
Civic Communications Specialist
University of Missouri Extension
MillerRT@missouri.edu
314-615-7607
The
Gateway Grandparents/Kinship Network (GG/KN) will soon start a new
chapter in its 11-year history. Effective May 13, 2011, University
of Missouri Extension will transfer responsibility for coordination
of the Network to the Children’s Home Society of Missouri. The
current coordinator, Elizabeth Reinsch, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, will retire
May 13, from her position as Human Development Specialist with MU
Extension. Consequently, she will turn over Network coordination
responsibilities to Karen Nolte, Executive Director of the
Children’s Home Society of Missouri.
We are sad to see Betty leave! She was the driving force behind the
collaboration as early as 1998, when she became involved nationally
with the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren issue through
Cooperative Extension. Betty reached out to identify and bring
together more than 75 individuals and agencies in the St. Louis area
to establish the collaborative effort. This resulted in formation of
the Gateway Grandparents Network in 2000. A few years later the name
was changed to Gateway Grandparents/Kinship Network to be inclusive
of relative caregivers of children as well.
The GG/KN collaboration led to numerous programs and resources for
relative caregivers. Among its major accomplishments:
|
1. |
Two
Grandparents Acting as Parents (GAAP) fairs providing
resources and networking among 450 grandparents, relatives
and professionals.
|
|
2. |
A regional
resource guide.
|
|
3. |
Online
resources through the MU Extension Web site.
|
|
4. |
Establishment of a Warm-Line, operated by GG/KN members
Cardinal Ritter Institute of St. Louis and Legal Services of
Eastern Missouri.
|
|
5. |
Funding from
Brookdale Foundation to develop more grandparent/relatives
support groups across Missouri.
|
|
6. |
Creation of
the Kincare Connections newsletter, now available in print
and online.
|
|
7. |
Several
intergenerational events offering grandfamilies a fun day
together. |
We who
have been involved with the Gateway Grandparents/Kinship Network
have
appreciated and valued Betty’s leadership. We especially thank Betty
for her dedication, enthusiasm and passion to help improve the lives
of relative caregivers and the children in their care. We will
miss you!
|
