August Spotlight: The Brown Family
For this month’s Kinship Family Spotlight, we would like to highlight one of our oh so wonderful Watauga County families, the Browns. The Browns have been with High Country Caregivers since the beginning. Barbara and Eric Brown are raising their two grandchildren, Leo and his older sister Elsie. Upon my first time meeting this family […]
June Spotlight: Caregivers Angela & Nathan
Angela and Nathan were newly engaged and shopping for wedding bands when she got the call on November 18th. Her 7-year-old nephew, James, was being removed from his latest foster home. While Angela and Nathan had met James and were hoping to take him in, this was a moment of decisive action. “There was no […]
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Globally, grandparents often serve as surrogate parents for their grandchildren, usually in response to family crises and other sociopolitical issues (e.g., poverty, war, disease epidemics, and urban migration). Grandparents raising grandchildren are primarily responsible for all aspects of their grandchildren’s care. While some grandparents have a legal relationship to the grandchildren they are raising, many […]
Steps to Less Stress
Make a list. Think of the things that cause you the most stress. Write them down, along with the level of stress they cause (off the charts versus a great deal) and how they affect you (keep you awake at night, make you feel shaky inside, etc.) Take control. Decide which things on your list […]
Steps to Healthy Living for Caring Grandparents
The best way to take care of your grandchildren is to take care of yourself. It’s not hard, really. It means eating right, staying active, reducing stress, and seeing a doctor at least once a year. Take these simple steps-now- and you’ll soon find it easier to keep up with your energetic grandchildren. Step #1: […]
Guides to Public Benefits for Grand Families
Many grandparents or others who are raising children of family members already live on limited incomes when the children come to live with them. Faced with growing expenses and shrinking incomes, they often have a hard time making ends meet. They may go deep in debt or they may need to dip into their retirement […]
Legal Issues
Legal Issues Does your grandchild live with you? Chances are it started out as an informal agreement. You probably thought the child would stay for a short time. In the eyes of the law, the parent was still in charge. You had no legal rights or legal relationship to your grandchild. You could not make […]
Finding Help to Raise a Grandchild
Finding Help to Raise a Grandchild Are you a grandparent raising a grandchild? More than 2.4 million grandparents are doing the same thing you are. They stepped in at a moment’s notice when their families needed help. They put their own plans on hold. They decided to take care of their grandchildren when the parents […]
Interview: A Case for “Relatives as Parents”
Melinda’s journey with her twin granddaughters began from their birth in October of 2016. Their parents love them, but due to addiction and other issues they are not capable of raising the girls. Melinda stepped up and began to raise her grandchildren as her own. Melinda works as a private duty nurse and provides for […]
A Word From The Board Introducing Paul M. DelMonico
We would like to introduce Paul M. DelMonico, the Chairman of the Board of the High Country Caregivers. With thirty years of business experience, and skills in relationship building with grandparents, board members, and supporters of High Country Caregivers, Paul is helping to guide us to an even brighter future. Most importantly is his personal […]