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Parenting All Over Again: Child Abuse Prevention Conference to Focus on Kinship Caregiving Acclaimed author and kinship caregiver Linda Silvas to speak about rising trend Albany, NY—February 21, 2008—The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more than 400,000 children in New York State live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. Of these children, 165,493 live in homes without either parent present. Nationally, more than six million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents or other relatives, with 2.5 million of them living without either parent in the house. As these children’s parents wrestle with challenges such as substance abuse, incarceration, poverty, domestic violence, and mental health problems, their kinship caregivers must navigate a complicated maze of information about support services, benefits, and legal rights and responsibilities, while also providing a safe home and nurturing environment to kids often coping with pain, trauma and loss. Author, artist, and former kinship caregiver Linda Silvas will be addressing these and other concerns in her keynote speech, Mama Bear Baby Bear with Drums, at Possibilities, the 2008 New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference. Her presentation is based on her book Mama Bear Baby Bear, a volume of Native America lore written from her own experience as a grandmother who raised her grandson, and will feature a Pow Wow Drum performance. "Mama Bear is Grandmother, Baby Bear is her grandson,” said Silvas. “Mama Bear raises Baby Bear because his parents neglect him to partake of the Forbidden Fruit (substance abuse). Mama Bear teaches Baby Bear to value life, to love himself and others, how to count the stars and use his own intuition. She teaches him the value of the Family Circle.” “Given the rising number of relative caregivers, the issue of kinship caregiving is receiving increasing attention from advocates for children and families,” said Christine Deyss, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse New York, the not-for-profit agency that presents the conference. “This year’s conference offers a number of possibilities for those working with kincare families and for kinship caregivers as well, including information about legal rights, parenting the second time around, and involving kinship caregivers in leadership roles.” Linda Silvas, “Little Tree,” is a member of the Acjachemen Nation, known as the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, located on the California coast. She gave birth to the story of “Mama Bear Baby Bear” through her own personal experience, which led to a magical, spiritual journey that has become so much more than just one book, more than just one story… for she believes that “We are all the connection in a full circle, the circle never ends.” Her keynote address will be given on Tuesday, April 8, from 8:45 – 10:15 am at the Albany Marriott, in Albany New York. The 2008 Child Abuse Prevention Conference will be held April 7 – 9 at the same location. The New York State Child Abuse Prevention conference inspires and equips professionals, advocates, parents and other caregivers with the latest abuse prevention, child protection, and parenting information and skills. Participants work in many arenas: parent and family education and support, child protective services, domestic violence, health care, mental health, education, law enforcement, legal services, religious and civic organizations, and in the home as parents. Their common purpose is to nurture and protect children. The event is presented by Prevent Child Abuse New York and sponsored by the NYS Children and Family Trust Fund, Office of Children and Family Services. Co-sponsors include the National Parenting Education Network, the New York State Kincare Coalition, the New York State Fatherhood Initiative, and Lifetime Health Medical Group. For more information, contact Jennifer Matrazzo at 518-445-1273 |
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