PITT OFFERS SUPPORT TO GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 7 -- In this era of broken families, the University of Pittsburgh is reaching out to the thousands of local grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

In conjunction with Vintage, a comprehensive senior citizen's center, Pitt is co-sponsoring the third annual "A Day Out! For Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" Thursday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Vintage,

401 N. Highland Avenue, East Liberty.

Parenting grandparents will have a chance to visit with other grandparents in the same situation, take a break, enjoy a massage or manicure, as well as attend informative workshops on anger management, discipline, handling parental interference and helping youngsters with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. The event is free and open to all parenting grandparents. On-site child care will be provided. To register, call 412-361-5003, ext. 105.

The Census Bureau recently reported that in 1997 3.9 million children, or 5.5 percent of all children in the United States, were living in homes maintained by a grandparent. In Allegheny County, census figures show grandparents to be the primary caregivers in nearly 19,000 households. These older adults face ongoing problems in such areas as discipline, legal issues, stress and navigating their grandchild's school system.

Generations Together, a Pitt program of intergenerational studies,

is the lead partner in an initiative to build a support network of services to enable these grandparents to maintain stable and successful families. Other agencies participating in "A Day Out" include the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, Office of Children, Youth and Families, A Second Chance and Family Resources.

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