Conference in San Antonio Provides Resources to Grandparents Raising Children
In an effort to cater to the unique challenges grandparents face when raising their grandchildren, the Texas-based nonprofit, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren , hosted its fourth annual Healthy Grandfamilies Conference in San Antonio. The gathering aimed to offer resources, hold discussions on self-care, mental health, and estate planning to grandparents from across Bexar County who are engaged in bringing up their grandchildren.
The Conference in Detail
Held at the Northside Activity Center, located on 7001 Culebra Road, on April 10, the conference was attended by grandparents who are part of the growing number of older adults shouldering the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. The nonprofit’s executive director, Mercedes Bristol, stated that approximately 2,000 seniors across Texas are involved with the group. “There seems to be an increase since the opioid crisis. There was an increase there. The pandemic also increased our numbers” Bristol noted, acknowledging the impact of external factors on the demographic.
Creating a Supportive Network
Aside from hosting its annual conference, the nonprofit also provides year-round support groups aimed at creating a network of grandparents who are in the same situation and helping them reach out to one another. “We want them to have hope that they are not alone,” Bristol remarked.
Grateful for the support, San Antonio resident Rosalina De La Fuente, who started raising her granddaughter when she was only three months old, shared her experience, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I got my granddaughter at three months. It was an awakening because it changed my life for the better”. She further expressed her appreciation for the resources they were offered at the conference and the invaluable lessons she continues to learn during these yearly events.
More About the Organization
The organization Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is dedicated to creating a supportive environment and providing essential resources for grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. These resources are offered with the primary goal of ensuring that these seniors are not left feeling isolated while navigating through the unique challenges they face.
For additional information about the organization and its upcoming events, those interested can visit their official website.
This conference is one of the many efforts being made to better understand the needs of older adults raising grandchildren and to ensure that they have access to the crucial resources and information that they need, given this increasing demographic trend.
About Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The nonprofit organization Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren was established with the aim of supporting the growing population of grandparents across Texas who are now raising their grandchildren. In addition to hosting annual conferences, the group also facilitates year-round support groups and connects seniors to various resources to make their unexpected parenting journey less challenging.
