3/24/25

Who We Are:

BC Grand families support group is run by grandparents and professionals for BC Grand Families Support Group grandparents and other relatives raising the children of loved ones. We advocate for grand families; build support; discuss topics related to challenges; celebrate successes; broaden areas of knowledge, offer resources, speakers and educate others through lived experience. We serve beyond Bucks County. Dinner and Babysitting are offered at no cost to families.

2018 Inception:

Roberta Edgar had been raising her granddaughter at the time by herself.

John and Beth Jester had been raising their grandchildren for three and a half years.

Feeling alone and isolated and being unable to find this support anywhere in Bucks County, together they formed the support group. The Philadelphia Presbytery awarded a grant which sustained the group for several years.

-We partnered with Access Services, Michaela Smith, Director of Family Support Programs at Bucks County LIFE Program.  She helped with the planning for the support group by assisting in collecting resources, speaker ideas and with the face book page.

2019 Partners:

-BC Grand Families Support Group is a support group of Lenape Valley Church where we have our meetings on the first and third Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 March through May and September through November. 

-This Support Group was modeled after an existing support group in Chester County that had been meeting for 10 years.

-Sixteen families attend the Support Group during the first three months, March ~ May

 By fall, twenty-five families had attended.

Community:

Beth was a speaker on April 2, 2019, at Be Part of The Conversation, a Community Support Group in Montgomery County.

On April 4, 2019, Beth and Roberta both spoke at the third annual Bucks County Blitz kick off sharing our grandparent experiences of “The Collateral Damage of the Opioid Crisis”.  It was held at the Doylestown Justice Center and was attended by 70 local officials including Law Enforcement, State Reps, the BC Drug and Alcohol Commission and the District Attorney. This is an opioid awareness function with emphasis on networking and system involvement during an annual month-long saturation of events. After which, the BC Grand Families Support Group was mentioned in The Daily Intelligencer Newspaper article which covered “The Blitz”.  Roberta and Beth were interviewed and appeared on the PBS Channel 39 news on Monday, April 7.

Next, both spoke that evening at the first of dozens of month-long events hosted by Robert Whitley, Esquire who is the founder of “The Blitz”, about the Collateral Damage of Drug and Alcohol usage to families.

The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging has partnered with our support group by connecting us with their volunteer adult babysitters for our first few months.

The Central Bucks YMCA offered and provided babysitting for BC Grand Families Support Group for up to 4 hours a month per child at no cost to our families.

-NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Bucks County advertises our support group on their website.

-We were invited, attended, and had a resource table on May 22, 2019, at the Bucks County Resource Fair and Conference sponsored by Magellan Health Services, Inc., and the Bucks County Department of Human Services.

-We supported the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission with planning and hosting their first Grand Family Expo –on June 19, 2019, at Christ Home. 

-The Support Group was highlighted in the BC LIFE Newsletter, part of Access Services in fall 2019

-In October 2019, to spread awareness, several grandmothers met with State Representative Todd Polinchock in his Chalfont Office.

2019 Spring Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-BC LIFE spoke on Compassion Fatigue for Caregivers.

-A Counseling group spoke on Trauma.

-A representative from Senator Steve Santarsiero’s office attended a support group meeting

  to assess the needs of grandparents raising their grandchildren.

2019 Fall Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Bethany Christian Services spoke about respite

-BC Area Agency on Aging shared their Caregiver Support Program which offers monthly reimbursements for Caregivers.

-Big Brother/Big Sisters share about how their organization could benefit our children.

-On December 14 the Milton Hershey School hosted us by hiring a bus, a tour of Milton Hershey School as well as a fun filled time at Hershey Park at no cost to our families.

2020

On February 22, 2020, Roberta was invited and sat on a panel discussion hosted by CB School District in cooperation with The CB Cares Educational Foundation, Doylestown Hospital and the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission for the 2nd Annual Drug & Alcohol Awareness Event at Central Bucks High School South from 5:30 – 8:30.  We offered a resource table to the public and Roberta as a panelist voiced a glimpse into our lives. She discussed the collateral damage and trickle-down effect of the current increase of Drugs and Alcohol usage toward grand families.

-Having an extremely full life, Roberta resigned as Co-Facilitator.

-Covid shut down the country, zoom meetings began on the second March meeting.

-Support Group met again twice through Zoom in May.

2020 Zoom & In Person Spring Meetings

Speakers:

-Nancy Larkin-Taylor, Esquire Family Law answering pertinent question for Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren.

Over the Summer months, five of our Grand Families were supported by the Central Bucks YMCA, having their grandchildren attend the YMCA Summer Camp.

2020 Fall Support Group Meetings – still covid

Speakers:

-Pa KinConnector

-Bucks County Life Program

2021 Zoom & In Person Spring Meetings

-Speakers:

-Family Services Association of Bucks County. 

-Janine Kiah, Esquire, Senior Law Center’s Pursuing Justice for Grandparents Raising   Grandchildren in PA

-Penn State Extension RAPP (Relatives as Parents Program) Professor Matthew Kaplan and Darlene Sansome,

Over the Summer months informal monthly meetings were offered with water ice and support at local playgrounds. The adults catch up as well as receive resources and support while keeping eyes on the kids.

Fall Regular in-person Support Group Meetings

September, I hired a magician for entertainment for the children.

October 15 -- A 4H High School Senior came to a meeting to complete an award.  She shared crafts, games and brought animals.

-Speakers:

-Cyber Safety for Parents by NOVA

-Holidays that Matter– Anita Bell, Pastor of Lenape Valley Church

2022 Spring Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

Child and Family Focus, Inc.

BC Health Improvement Partnership

Caregiver Soul-utions -Grab and Go Books for Emergencies

Over the Summer months informal monthly meetings were offered with water ice and support at local playgrounds. The adults catch up as well as receive resources and support while keeping eyes on the kids.

2022 Fall Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bucks County

-Dawn Padanyi Law regarding Grand Families legal concerns

On December 3 our Support Group attended a local High School Play

2023 February There was an informal get together at Christ Home Community Center

2023 Spring Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Bucks County Area Agency on Aging

-Access Services & LIFE Program

-Fostering Hope Bucks County

-Kin Connector

Over the Summer Months we had two informal playgrounds get togethers. Fruit, Veggies and Water were served to the families.

2023 Fall Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Camp Crossroads St. Lukes/Penn Foundation

-Milton Hershey School

-Bucks for Kids

-Bethany Christian Services – Safe Families

2024

Exciting news during this year with our support group is that we have expanded throughout our county to more conveniently offer support to so many additional people in the community. We received a sizeable grant made possible through Bucks County Opioid Settlement Funds which is managed through Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission. This grant enabled the Support Group to expand its support to families throughout Bucks County.  With the ever-growing epidemic of grandparents and other family members raising the children of loved ones, the group expanded to include a Lower Bucks County Support Group located in Levittown in April at Acts of Grace Church with Lisa Barnelli as Facilitator.  September came and we again expanded to include an Upper Bucks County Support Group meeting at Calvary Souderton Church with Carolyn Matthews as Facilitator. Our support group members are growing.

Our meeting times and days were changed this year to two Monday evenings a month from 6:00-7:30, usually occurring the first and third Monday.

On April 27, Milton Hershey School treated our support group, 45 adults and children, to a luxury bus ride, introduction to their school and a day at Hershey Park.  This was a full 12-hour day which was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed by all.

2024 Spring Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-BC Opportunity Council

-Choice One

On June 7 our entire support group met in New Hope for their summer fireworks.

On July 23 we had Judy Tudy a Clown/Magician for our families.  It was fun, we offered peer support and resources to our new member attendees.

We met in the Summer on August 28 for a Summer Bounce House and S’more’s at Lenape Valley Church in August to kick off the upcoming school year. Wonderful opportunity for fun, peer support and resources to be shared.

On September 21, Carolyn, Beth and Lisa participated in the Annual Sweatshirts of Hope Event in Souderton.

2024 Fall Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Bux-Mont Counseling, Trauma Work (two dates)

-Pa Family Support Alliance (Raising Kids in Today’s Digital Era)

-Family Service Association of BC

Early 2025 we hired a marketing/research person to help identify email addresses to send out information about our support group.  These will include but not be limited to Bucks County Pediatricians, Public and Private Schools, Nursery and Daycares, Parole Officers, Townships, public and private mental health and substance abuse providers. We have many more places to reach.

-In the late February Edition of the Doylestown Observer and the Levittown Ledger, We   were on the front cover, with an article intitled Support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

-Brochures were created and printed.

2025 Spring Support Group Meetings

Speakers:

-Community Service Foundation & BuxMont Academy

 Family Group Decision Making

Access Services LIFE Program

On March 8, Lisa and Beth participated in the Bucks County Community College’s

2nd Annual Recovery and Mental Health Fair.

On March 25, Carolyn and Beth participated in the Quakertown School District’s Community Fair.

On May 7, Lisa, Carolyn, Karen and Beth participated in the Annual Family Service Community Fair in Bristol.