Now Available!
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Simulation Toolkit
The Pima County Cooperative Extension and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Southern Arizona Coalition conducted a "simulation" workshop to lead agency participants through the realistic re-creation of the challenges grandparents face raising grandchildren. The workshop was authored by the University of Arizona, Coconino Extension faculty, staff and KKONA Grandparent Mentors. The Grandparent Mentors ensured that family scenarios were realistic.
The simulation is a unique learning design because attendees drop their professional roles for six hours to become a grandparent family that includes grandchildren, grandparent and other caregiver roles whose task throughout the workshop is to experience the typical challenges that grandparent households face. This simulation promotes attitudes and systems changes among agencies that interact and serve grandparents.
Agency participants commented that they learned, "How hard it is to be able to access services for grandparents. It was so challenging to get resources. That was an eye opener," and it is "Crystal clear that communication needs to get better for grandparents raising grandchildren (GRG). It was evident that resource people respond to questions only pertaining to what they deal with, not giving adequate information."
An agency participant expressed, "How fun and informative simulation was, role playing, and how useful it is to be in the actual situation."
The Simulation Workshop is now available from The University of Arizona on CD as a toolkit. The CD includes pieces that an organizer needs to plan, replicate and host a Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Simulation for their organization or community. The toolkit is organized into four sections which include: Section one: the organizer's materials. These include schedules, family profiles and other procedural materials. Section two: materials for conducting pre-training for collaborating agencies and facilitators who assist with conducting the workshop. The third section: materials and all participant handouts for distribution on the day of the workshop. The fourth section: a bibliography and evaluation templates, both the workshop and follow-up evaluations.
To order a copy of the toolkit contact toll-free, the University of Arizona at 1-877-763-5315 or 520-318-7275. Cost is $25.00 each and does not include shipping and handling. For questions about the "simulation" workshop contact the Linda Block or Dan McDonald at 520-626-5161.
