Kinship Care Help Line: 604-558-4740 • 1-855-474-9777
Are you a grandparent raising a grandchild, or someone raising a relative or close friend’s child? (Kinship Care)
Parent Support Services Society of BC has a number of upcoming events and ongoing services you might be interested in: For a downloadable pdf of this information click 2021-02-10 GRG Kinship Care Info
Are you interested in working with others to improve the lives of all children being raised in kinship care?
Grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers are working together to educate the public about coming together and working to improve the lives of all children being raised in kinship care.
Kinship Families Mobilize for Change
We hold information sessions regularly. The next one is: Wed Mar 3rd 7 pm
Contact jane.bouey@parentsupportbc.ca for the link.
There are also groups that meet regularly to plan this work.
If you are an Indigenous kinship caregiver, or raising Indigenous children – you might be interested in a group that is looking specifically at issues Indigenous kinship families face and how we can work together for necessary changes. There is a Facebook Group – Indigenous Kinship Care – Working for Change | Facebook Click to Check it out.
To find out more contact jane.bouey@parentsupportbc.ca
Grand Gatherings Events:
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 am: Join us on Zoom for our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren & Kinship Caregivers Grand Gathering Vancouver Island/BC event: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
We will focus on ways to keep trauma from defining you or your grandchildren’s lives and to restore the ability to bounce back from whatever may befall, whether everyday wounds or large losses. To register, visit https://bit.ly/GrandGathering2021
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 at 10:00 am: Join us on Zoom for our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren & Kinship Caregivers Grand Gathering Vancouver Island/BC event: Boundary Building in Relationships with Adult Children and Extended Family. Explore ways of building healthy boundaries in messy situations and manage the stress along the way.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/GrandGathering2021
RESP Workshop 5 things you need to know to get started from home
From PSS and Vancouver Island University a virtual workshop for parents and kinship care givers.
Saving for your child’s education can be challenging. With so much on the go as a parent, we get that.
With federal and provincial funding at your finger tips, saving for your child’s future has never been easier and can be done completely online in many cases. Our passion is to support families in accessing every cent that is set aside for their child so that when the time comes, they are one step closer to their dream job.
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) are designed with several financial benefits to help you get your child to Post-Secondary including free funding from the provincial and federal government and matching funds when you are able to put your own money aside.
Join us for our virtual workshop where we will cover:
• Benefits of opening an RESP
• What government grants are available for you
• What you need to open an RESP
This workshop is free. Registration is required to receive the meeting link.
Dates and times are: Thursday, February 18th at 8pm or Tuesday, February 23 at 10 am
Register here: http://bit.ly/PSSParentingWorkshops
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren /Kinship Support Circles
GRG/Kinship Support Circles are free, confidential groups that provide an opportunity to meet other grandparents raising grandchildren or other relatives who are raising relatives’ children to share information, stories and find out about resources. Our Circles would normally be meeting in person. With COVID-19 we have moved them on line till further word.
We are offering them mornings and evenings on different days. Most of these are province wide.
• Mondays 10 am (Weekly)
• Indigenous GRG/Kinship Support Circle Mondays 6 pm (bi-weekly)
• Tuesdays 7:30 pm (Weekly)
• Thursdays 10 am (Weekly)
• Kamloops GRG/Kinship Support Circle 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7 pm.
To join a meeting or get some help with Zoom please contact:
Sandi Halvorson 250-468-9658 sandi.halvorson@parentsupportbc.ca
Regional Program Coordinator, Vancouver Island
Daniela Alvarado-Torres 604-669-1616 (106) daniela.alvarado-torres@parentsupportbc.ca Community Engagement & Volunteer Program Coordinator
Danella L. Angus 604-669-1616 (104) danella.angus@parentsupportbc.ca
Tsimshian name: Sm git ‘tlgoosgm xsgyiik, Parenting Program Coordinator, Indigenous circles, Lower Mainland
Kim Brown 250-962-0600 kim.brown@parentsupportbc.ca, Regional Program Coordinator, Prince George
Join the private GRG Facebook group:
The GRG/Kinship Support BC Facebook group provides a larger opportunity for connection, sharing of resources and information. Grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers in BC can click HERE to join!
Contact the advocates on our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship Support Line (Province wide)
Problem solving, legal and resource information for grandparents and other relatives raising a family member’s child
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Toll free in BC 1-855-474-9777 Or email grgline@parentsupportbc.ca
Call 1-877-345-9777 for more information about these and other upcoming events.