Objectives

1. Offer a forum of support for grandparents: strength in numbers.
2. Revisiting skills necessary for successful parenting.
3. Learning skills to deal with your adult children.
4. Effective methods of dealing with bureaucratic red tape.
5. New methods for navigating the school system.
6. Developing resources for grandparents.
7. Maintaining your relationship with spouse or significant other.
8. Planning for when your grandchildren go back to their parents.
9. Strategies for legislative action to empower grandparents.

Evaluation

1. A group satisfaction survey will be mailed to participants two times yearly.

Methods

1. The grandparents group will be open-ended and will meet bi-weekly. Group sessions will last approximately 1-1/2 hours. The first session of the month would consist of a psychoeducational topic, the second meeting of the month would be used primarily for support and not facilitated by a mental health professional. Group leaders would be identified and designated as facilitators.

Materials

1. Grandparents as Parents: A survival guide for raising a second family.