Blog
With Open Arms 4.23.2024
It started with a willingness to just take one baby in need of help. Cristina had lost her husband, but lived with her son. At this time, her brother needed her help with his children because the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Boston, MA had removed them...
Zoom…a blessing in disguise!
When I logged into the Zoom meeting on October 27, 2021, to complete my training for Kinship Foster care, I had so many questions about the experiences I was having and seemingly no one to ask at the time. Not 10 minutes into the class Laurie Tapozada gave her short...
Restoring Harmony: The Power of Flexible Schedules and Self-Care in Kinship Families, 2.9.2024
In the whirlwind of kinship caregiving, where unexpected challenges can often disrupt the semblance of order, establishing a schedule becomes paramount for restoring harmony. Yet, amidst the chaos, it's essential to weave in flexibility and prioritize self-care,...
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Kinship Care
Mary’s* journey navigating “the system” started years ago. She had left her son in the care of a babysitter and after a few months, noticed a change in her son’s behavior. It’s a feeling every parent dreads - connecting the ...
OHA Grant & Kinship Caregivers Age 55+
This episode of "It Takes A Village" discusses Kinship Community Connections for Caregivers over the age of 55. The panel presents the definition of "kinship families" as well as: • Describes the goals of the grant provided to the Village for Kinship Connections for...
An Open Letter to Kinship Families
You turned your life inside out and upside down. You ignored the voice in your head that was shouting, “I can’t do this! I am too old for this! I don’t want to do this!” You didn’t have enough room, but you made room. You didn’t have enough money, but you stretched...
Tears In The Morning
For the first eight months of his life, my grandson spent 24 hours per day, seven days a week with his mother. Together constantly, he bonded deeply with her. Unfortunately, I don’t think the reverse was true. At two months of age, she wanted to leave him with me and...
“Like many other kinship caregivers, I did not anticipate being in this situation at my age. My husband and I had children who were older, self-sufficent and almost at the age of independence. I did not know what I was feeling – angry, bitter, resentful – was natural, until I met other people who were in the same situation, felt the same way and were willing to share there story. That alone, made a huge difference and changed my perspective.”