BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Area Kinship Creations (BAKC), a support group for people raising the children of friends and relatives, is meeting for the first time on Monday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Vermont Extension office, 11 University Way, Suite 4.
The group offers caregivers in Windham County the opportunity to share with, and learn from, people in similar circumstances; explore resources; and acquire the skills to advocate for themselves and their families.
The group says that, in Vermont, nearly 7,000 children are being raised by relatives and family friends. This number reflects a nationwide trend of grandparents, other family members, and friends raising a child for the parent.
BAKC says the 2010 U.S. Census finds nearly 7.8 million American children are being raised in households headed by grandparents, and two million children are raised by other relatives. These kinship caregiving situations typically arise when families struggle with substance abuse or mental illness.
Kinship care can create strong intergenerational bonds, offer family members the time and the space they need to make necessary changes, and encourage resilience in their children and youth.
But kinship can also exact a toll: it often affects the family dynamics, roles and responsibilities, financial stability, and the physical and emotion health of those involved.
BAKC says all kinship caregivers are invited to attend the group's first meeting, the agenda of which is to explore potential topics for education, hold discussion, share area resources, and set the format for future meetings.