‘The Sacred Work of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’ topic of April 13 Idaho State University presentation

"The Sacred Work of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" is the topic of a presentation by nationally known author Elaine K. Williams at noon April 13 in the Idaho State University Rendezvous Complex, Room 111.

Continuing education units are available for social workers and counselors who attend the presentation that is free and open to the public.

Williams, who lives in Lathrup Village, Mich., is the author of a book by the same title as her presentation. She has also authored many journal articles and professional manuals on the topic of kinship care. She also writes curriculum for the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information on Williams or her book, visit http://www.elainekwilliams.com/.

Some of the topics her presentation will focus on are generational gap; how the environment of today versus the environment the grandparents grew up in strains the ability for each to understand the other, since their worlds are so different. However the different generations must find the way to communicate with each other on behalf of children. She will discuss the different generations, including the current generation of Millenials and the previous generations, such as the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers and the Gen Xers.

Williams will also address the adult children who are not raising their own children due to alienation, addiction, criminal activity, teen pregnancy and other factors

"This is almost a lost generation in the sense that they are easily judged and seen as irresponsible," Williams said. "Yet, there numbers are huge and the likelihood that their children will struggle with the deep scars of abuse, abandonment, and rejection, becoming alienated themselves is very high."

"When you add the 8 million children being raised by 2.7 million grandparents and other relatives," she added, "plus the millions of adult parents not raising their children, we begin to see what a severe impact this has on the family as the foundation of our society."

She will also discuss the topic of Chapter 3 in her book, "Why Aren't My Parents Raising Me?"

Williams' presentation is sponsored by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the ISU Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice. For more information or to register for CEUs call 208-282-3377.

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