Developing Systems of Support for 
Family Caregivers:
Generations United's National Center on Grandparents and Other Relatives 
Raising Children
Presented by Maggie Troope Biscarr, Assistant Director of the Center
Fulfilling the Promise of Community Living Second Annual Systems Change Conference
Baltimore, MD 3/25/02

Generations United
History/Background
• Founded in 1986 by Child Welfare League of America, AARP, Children's Defense Fund, and National Council on the Aging
• Founded to forge a common agenda for children, youth, and elderly
• Only national membership organization focused solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies
• Represents individuals and more than 100 national, state, and local organizations
• Education, training, and technical assistance
• Public Policy Committee
• Project SPARC (Seniors: Powerful Active Resources in Communities)
• Project SHARE (Sharing Helps All Resources Expand)
• Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children

Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children
• Began with symposium of experts in 1997
• Write and disseminate publications
• Track legislation/provide technical assistance
• Submitted language to be included in National Family Caregiver Support Program
• KinNET

The National Center on Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children
• Will support the implementation of the National Family Caregiver Support Program
– Providing training and technical assistance to the aging network
– Recruiting a national network of experts
• Respite care
• Support group development
• Legal and policy issues
• Physical/mental health

Outcomes
• Survey of the aging network (State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, Tribes), and primary health care centers
– Will identify training and technical assistance needs of service providers
– Results will be summarized in monograph
• Literature review and annotated bibliography of the subject
– Will identify what exists and gaps 
• Update existing training materials
– Many publications on grandparents/other relatives raising children
– Importance of keeping them current
• Prepare and disseminate fact sheets
– Will develop fact sheets on other topics related to grandparent/relative caregiving
– Will disseminate through web whenever possible
• Conduct presentations at state, regional, and national meetings
– Present at conferences within the aging network
– Will also seek out new audiences, such as the health care community
– Hold regional trainings
• Online chats with experts
– Experts in network will conduct chats
– Have experience through KinNET