(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools)
Are you a grandparent raising a child attending school in the Allen
County School District? Perhaps you are an aunt or uncle or just a guardian
charged with raising a child. Do you have questions, concerns, or just need to
talk with others who are experiencing the same challenges as you?
The Allen County Family Resource/Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) will again offer a program that is tailored to the concerns all guardians may have. The FRYSC’s Guardian Support Group has been created to assist and support grandparents, as well as other guardians, who have custody of and are raising their grandchildren, nieces/nephews, siblings, etc. Last year, approximately 15 guardians attended meetings on a regular basics.
“We would love for that number to grow,” added Allen County-Scottsville Youth Services Director Hannah Erwin.
The group is open to guardians with children enrolled in any of the four
schools in the Allen County School District. Meetings consist of lunch and a
speaker or activity. Each month, a different topic is covered or a different
activity takes place.
The Guardian Support
Group typically meets on the third Thursday of the month from noon to 1:00
p.m. with meetings usually held at the Washington Center. Occasionally,
meetings will be held at a local restaurant or another location. Meeting dates for
the 2019-2020 school year are September 19, October 24, November 21, January
16, February 20, March 19, and April 16.
FRYSC officials stress that any grandparent and/or guardian is welcome to attend. Anyone planning on attending is asked to contact the FRYSC director at your child’s school prior to the meeting you plan on attending in order to give FRYSC officials a count of expected attendees for scheduling lunch purposes. Guardians will questions about the program can contact the Family Resource or Youth Service Center director at any school.