Marion County Healthy Grandfamilies

Healthy Grandfamilies is a series of free discussion groups to provide information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren. Designed as a series of ten discussion groups and follow-up services, Healthy Grandfamilies was conceived by an education professional with more than 40 years of experience who also happens to be the product of a grandfamily. In Marion County Schools, two outreach facilitators have been hired in each of the North Marion, East Fairmont, and Fairmont Senior feeder areas to support the services to grandfamilies and coordinate the discussion topics.

Each discussion group provides valuable resources along with childcare for attendees and refreshments. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, a gift card and three months of follow-up series for family support.

For more information, download our Healthy Grandfamilies packet: https://5il.co/13xiw

For Additional Information (including upcoming workshops)

Tricia Maxwell
Grandfamilies Coordinator
Marion County Schools tricia.maxwell@k12.wv.us
304-367-2157

Stacey Oliver
Grandfamilies Coordinator
Marion County Schools stacey.oliver@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext. 126

Learn more about the program at HealthyGrandfamilies.com

Discussion Topics

  • Parenting in the 21st Century

  • Family Relationships: A new dynamic

  • Communication: When no one talks and everyone texts

  • Technology & Social Media: The dangers, pitfalls, & plusses

  • Nutrition: Balancing diets when everyone is “on the go”

  • Legal Issues & Documents: Getting past all the legal issues to learn “who is really in charge”

  • Healthy Literacy & Self-Care: How to take care of your own health issues in this new family dynamic

  • Healthy Lifestyles & Stress Management: Learn how to manage your stress – and the stress of your grandchildren

  • Negotiating the Public School System: Learn about the Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) and how to help your grandchildren with homework

  • Family Response to Addiction

Follow-Up Services

Upon completing the series of discussion groups, participants are provided three months of free follow-up services from project staff with more than six years of experience working with children and families, including grandfamilies. Services include:

  • Help locating community resources

  • Confidential assistance in meeting the unique needs of your family situation

  • Advocacy services as needed

Schedule of Events - North Marion Attendance Area

Meetings for the North Marion attendance area will take place at:

Blackshere Elementary School
41 Blackshere Rd.
Mannington, WV 26582

Meeting Date

Topic

Speaker

March 8, 2022

Program Introduction, Navigating the School

Janie DeVaul

March 15, 2022

Navigating the Legal System

Richard Morris

March 22, 2022

Nutrition

Theresa Hill - Eat Well, LLC

March 29, 2022

Challenging Behavior and Positive Parenting

Jo Donna Burdoff

April 5, 2022

Trauma

Melissa Webb

April 12, 2022

Family Response to Addiction

Deb Stevenski

April 19, 2022

No Meeting

April 26, 2022

Parenting in the 21st Century

Ric Rodrigues

May 3, 2022

Technology and Social Media

Jim Foley - White Collar Crime

Schedule of Events - Fairmont Attendance Area

Meetings for the Fairmont attendance area will take place at:

South Ridge Church
1659 Fairmont Ave.
Fairmont, WV 26554

Meeting Date

Topic

Speaker

March 8, 2022

Program Introduction, Navigating the School

Tricia Maxwell, Literacy Volunteers of Marion County

March 15, 2022

Family Response to Addiction

Debbie Stevenski

March 22, 2022

Trauma

To Be Announced

March 29, 2022

Navigating the Legal System

Richard Morris - Legal Aid

April 5, 2022

Health and Nutrition

Cathy Shaw - WVU Medicine

April 12, 2022

Challenging Behavior and Positive Parenting

JoDonna Burdoff - PBIS/Behavioral Specialist/Starr Commonwealth Certified Trauma and Resilience Trainer

April 19, 2022

No Meeting

April 26, 2022

Resource Fair
Download Flyer

Open House - 5:30 to 7:30
Various Vendors and Agencies