The phenomenon of grandparents raising grandchildren is nothing new. When parents have been unable or unwilling to care for their children grandparents have stepped in to keep these families together. Increasing numbers of factors such as substance abuse, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, death, abandonment, and poverty have resulted in growing numbers of grandparents finding themselves raising second families. The statistics tell the story.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Nationally there are over 6 million children living in Grandparent or other relative maintained households. In Pennsylvania there are more than 160,000 such children and in Luzerne County alone nearly one half of all grandparents are responsible for most of their grandchildren’s basic needs.


Grandparent & Relative Caregiver
Support Group Meetings

Wilkes-Barre - 2nd Monday each month

Hazleton - 2nd Thursday each month

Tunkhannock - 3rd Wednesday each month

Susquehanna County - 3rd Thursday each month

For more information on our sponsored support groups please contact:

In Wilkes-Barre contact Joan Gower at (570) 822-7118

In Hazleton contact Catholic Social Services
at (570) 455-1521

In Tunkhannock contact Wyoming County Family
Resource Center at (570) 836-2350

In Susquehanna County contact Diane Fuller
at (570) 278-1095

See "Supports" above for more information regarding our local support group meetings.


Our Mission:

We will build an extensive support system and advocacy network for grandparents and family caregivers raising children and provide caregivers with the tools for success so they can raise children in a safe, loving and nurturing environment.

  

"Knowing Where to Turn
-- Community Resources"

5th Annual Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren Conference

Friday, June 3, 2011, 7:45 to 1:00 PM
Genetti's Hotel & Conference Center
77 East Market St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

For Information or to receive an invitation,
contact: Shirley Perhalla,
Grandparents Program Coordinator
Ph. 570-823-5137 or email sperhalla@aol.com

Operation Grandparents »
is a Northeast Pennsylvania YMCA partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania Intergenerational Coalition to promote programs and services that can help Grandparents who have direct care of their grandchildren. The YMCA is about kids and seniors....and this family combination is a perfect match for YMCA programs. Grandparents who have direct care of grandchildren are eligible to apply for financial assistance for one or more of the following programs at any of the 13 YMCA's in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Click here for more information.

Make a Donation
to Our Cause

If you would like to donate to the NEPA
Intergenerational Coalition and its efforts,
please do so through the Luzerne Foundation.

Please designate your contribution
to “Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren Fund”

For more information contact:

The Luzerne Foundation
140 Main Street Luzerne, PA 18709
Phone: 570-714-1570
Toll Free: 877-589-3386
Fax: 570-300-1712
www.luzfdn.org

View Grandparents: Raising Our Children's Children on Windsor Park Theater » Click here