It's not uncommon for area residents to find themselves in a parental role long after their own nest has already been emptied. According to the Southeast Tennessee Development District, approximately 15 percent of children in the Tennessee Valley region are being raised by grandparents.
That's a fact Catherine Pippin, with the Relative Caregiver Program, knows all too well. Her office serves approximately 221 relative caregivers each year, many of whom are grandparents.
In addition to providing case management services, the Relative Caregiver Program is partnering with the city of Chattanooga and First Things First to offer a daylong workshop for local grandparents who have taken on the role of parent.
"Typically in those cases it's been a while since they raised their own child," Pippin said. "It's not a generation removed, it's two, and it can be a real challenge for both the grandparent and the child."
Some of those challenges include things like technology, differences in the school system, keeping calm in the midst of the chaos that children can bring to life and how to step up to the plate when taking on a new role. All of these topics and more will be discussed at the May 20 workshop. Admission is free and lunch is included but participants must register ahead of time by calling 267-5383 or visiting firstthings.org.
The workshop runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Brainerd Crossroads BX, 4011 Austin St.
"In a short period of time, we'll be able to give them adult resources and suggestions they may not have thought of and ways they can be supported in what they're doing," Pippin said in regards to the workshop. "We recognize, and we want them to recognize, they are making a huge difference in a life. They're doing the hard work. We're here to provide them with some resources."