COLUMBIA, S.C. — Organized by the Richland Library, the nine- week workshop aims to provide resources and support to kinship caregivers in the Midlands. All this is possible through a $35,000 grant to the library from the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
"They say that it takes a village to raise a child and so when you're doing it, unplanned sometimes, that village is really important," says Social Work Manager, Lee Patterson.
Each week focuses on different things that come with becoming a kinship caregiver, like children with past trauma. Patterson says the goal of the class is to make people know that they are not alone.
"In a lot of these circumstances, trauma is involved." she says. "Things have happened in the lives of these children with their parents that has created behaviors that are maybe not typical of children that have not been trauma impacted."
In the workshop, they cover a range of topics like technology, dating, homework, and more.
According to reports, there are more than 130,000 children in kinship care across South Carolina. Grandparents, aunts, uncles -- and non-related adults such as neighbors, family friends, coaches and educators -- are raising children that their biological parents cannot, for whatever reason.
The workshop will run 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. every Thursday at Beulah Baptist Church, 9487 Garners Ferry Rd., Hopkins. Hot lunch is included every class.
Register to attend at here or call (803) 929-3417.
There will be another workshop offering in Spring 2020.