Mary Ann Sterling lost her daughter in a car accident 29 years ago.Suddenly, she was a parent again, raising her grandson.“And I’d go to the school and I noticed that there were other people raising their grandchildren also,” Sterling said.So, she started the organization Grandparents Raising Grandchildren to pull resources and create a support base.It began with six members and has now helped thousands. “In my generation, because I’m quite old, you’d put them in the corner. Now, you don’t let them play Xbox or use the telephone. So things are different now, and we face that fact that the grandparents need to be brought up to this world,” Sterling said.It’s about helping them get up to speed on parenting in a different generation, but also the legal process of gaining guardianship and financial help.They will need to make the transition from a retirement budget to one that includes Little League fees, field trip costs and back to school.The organization even gives gift cards for good or raised grades on report cards.Juianna Phillips has been living with her grandmother since she was three. She’s a member of the organization.“Your parents, they might have messed up, but your grandparents are trying to find a better place for you. And they’re (trying) to just make you have a good life that you can have. So, I would definitely cherish that,” Phillips said. And Phillips’ situation is not uncommon, as there are 9,000 at-risk kids under 18 in Brevard County who are being raised by a relative.Not only does the organization provide resources for the grandparents, it also connects them with each other, which gives them another layer of support.“We have six support groups. These grandparents can come in and share their stories. And they learn from each other,” Sterling said.But all the work is about helping to create the right environment for the children who have already had to deal with difficulties.“A study was done at the University of South Florida that shows that children do far better in relative placement than they do in foster care. Because it’s family,” Sterling said.And she’ll continue to do all she can to make sure to keep as many families together in Brevard as she can.To find out how you can help Grandparents Raising Grandchildren click here.
Mary Ann Sterling lost her daughter in a car accident 29 years ago.
Suddenly, she was a parent again, raising her grandson.
“And I’d go to the school and I noticed that there were other people raising their grandchildren also,” Sterling said.
So, she started the organization Grandparents Raising Grandchildren to pull resources and create a support base.
It began with six members and has now helped thousands.
“In my generation, because I’m quite old, you’d put them in the corner. Now, you don’t let them play Xbox or use the telephone. So things are different now, and we face that fact that the grandparents need to be brought up to this world,” Sterling said.
It’s about helping them get up to speed on parenting in a different generation, but also the legal process of gaining guardianship and financial help.
They will need to make the transition from a retirement budget to one that includes Little League fees, field trip costs and back to school.
The organization even gives gift cards for good or raised grades on report cards.
Juianna Phillips has been living with her grandmother since she was three. She’s a member of the organization.
“Your parents, they might have messed up, but your grandparents are trying to find a better place for you. And they’re (trying) to just make you have a good life that you can have. So, I would definitely cherish that,” Phillips said.
And Phillips’ situation is not uncommon, as there are 9,000 at-risk kids under 18 in Brevard County who are being raised by a relative.
Not only does the organization provide resources for the grandparents, it also connects them with each other, which gives them another layer of support.
“We have six support groups. These grandparents can come in and share their stories. And they learn from each other,” Sterling said.
But all the work is about helping to create the right environment for the children who have already had to deal with difficulties.
“A study was done at the University of South Florida that shows that children do far better in relative placement than they do in foster care. Because it’s family,” Sterling said.
And she’ll continue to do all she can to make sure to keep as many families together in Brevard as she can.
To find out how you can help Grandparents Raising Grandchildren click here.
