The event helps grandparents stepping back into a parenting role find support, information and tools to care for their grandchildren.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Grandparents stepping in to raise their grandchildren don’t have to figure it all out alone.
For 27 years, a Corpus Christi conference has helped grandparents and other relatives raising children learn about the resources available to them and how child-rearing has changed over the years.
Committee member John Lennan said the conference continues to draw new families who suddenly find themselves responsible for caring for children.
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“Every year that we host this conference, we have a new group of people that are coming in because it’s information that they need,” Lennan said. Organizers said many families step in to care for children before government agencies or social services become involved. The goal is to help relatives keep children safe while connecting caregivers with support available throughout the community.
For grandparents, that can also mean learning what’s changed since they last raised young children. “Here’s what’s changed in the last 20, 30 years since you’ve raised a child, and here’s where you can go to get those resources,” Lennan said.
The conference brings several community organizations together so grandparents can find information and assistance in one place.
Lennan said organizers ultimately want grandparents to leave feeling more prepared for the responsibility they’ve taken on.
“We want these grandparents to walk away empowered with information,” Lennan said. “We want them to walk away with these tools, the skill set, the resources that’re going to help them do exactly what they’re doing — helping these children.”
To find out more information and resources on the programs it offers, call (361) 878-7488 or click here.