Casey Family Programs Among Supporters of Grandparents Rally on Lawn of U.S. Capitol
On May 10, 2017 grandparents and other relative caregivers, children and advocates from around the country will join U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building for the 5th National GrandRally: Building a Community of Hope. Michelle Singletary, national syndicated columnist, was raised by her grandmother and will be the Master of Ceremonies. The spotlight will be on the critical role grandparents and other relatives play in providing safe, loving, and permanent families for children. The opioid crisis has spurred a major increase in the number of children entering foster care, after years of decline. For every child in foster care, nearly 20 children are being raised by relatives outside the child welfare system and are receiving little to no support. Federal policies and programs make big differences in the lives of relative caregivers and the children they raise.
WHAT:
5th National GrandRally of relative caregivers, children and advocates.
WHEN & WHERE:
May 10, 2017
West Grassy Front of the U.S. Capitol Building
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
WHO:
- Michelle Singletary – Master of Ceremonies, raised by her grandmother, "Big Momma"
- MaryLee Allen – Director of Policy, Children's Defense Fund
- Rev. Dr. Clifford Barnett – Pastor, Warren Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Wilmington, North Carolina
- Brittney Barros – Youth being raised by grandmother from Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Donna Butts – Executive Director, Generations United
- Ali Caliendo – Board Member, National Kinship Alliance for Children
- Christine Calpin – Managing Director, Public Policy, Casey Family Programs
- George Collins-White – Policy Specialist, Foster Club
- Shasta Dazen – Youth raised by grandparents, Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Whiteriver, Arizona
- Neil Gallagher – Grandparent caregiver, Hurst, Texas
- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
- Bette Hoxie – Grandparent caregiver, Orono, Maine
- Rijenna Murray – Aunt caregiver, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Pat Owens – Co-founder & President/CEO, Grandfamilies of America
- Barb Quaintance – Vice President, Enterprise Award Strategy, AARP
- SaulPaul – Performance by musician, songwriter raised by grandmother, Austin, Texas
- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)
- A Second Chance, Inc. Choir – Performance by relative caregiver choir from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The event is cosponsored by Generations United, Casey Family Programs, Children's Defense Fund, AARP, Grandfamilies of America, Foster Club, and the National Kinship Alliance for Children.