* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Grandparent Teacher Association
FOR the purpose of calling on the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System and the President of the Maryland Council of PTA to create an affiliate program of the PTA for grandparents who are currently raising children in their homes, in order to provide for the special needs of grandparents raising children; and to help create a supportive environment for grandparents acting as parents to be able to participate and help further their grandchildren's education and learning experience.
Body
Recitals
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are currently over 6 million children in the United States today who are living in grandparent- or other relative-maintained households. At this time it has not yet been determined how many of those children are being cared for without parents present in the home. However, the March 2000 Current Population Survey revealed that of 5.5 million children living in grandparent- or other relative-maintained households, 2.1 million were being raised solely by their grandparents or other relatives with no parents present. These grandparents and other relatives are keeping families together and serving as a safety net to keep children out of the formal foster care system. However, many grandparents and other relatives caring for children face obstacles not encountered by biological parents, obstacles like the inability to place the children on their health insurance policies, to obtain affordable housing in which they can live with the children, and how to enroll their children in school.
The Census stated that there are 50,947 grandparents who reported that they are responsible for their grandchildren living with them, with an overwhelming 13,707 of them residing in Baltimore City. With all of these other obstacles already in place, we should be making every attempt to lessen the burden that grandparents raising children have to manage. One way to do this is by creating an environment in schools where grandparents feel welcome to voice their concerns and take a more active and supportive approach in being informed about their grandchildren's education and learning experience.
The fact is that grandparents acting as parents have needs that may not be covered by standard PTA practices. A GTA program would allow them to be given the same access to information regarding their grandchild as a parent would receive. In addition, a GTA program would allow grandparents to discuss situations that are specific to their needs with other grandparents in the same situation. This will give them the opportunity to learn from each other as well as their grandchildren's teachers and hopefully create a more suitable educational environment for the children as well as a more supportive program for the grandparents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body calls on the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System and the President of the Maryland Council of PTA to create an affiliate program of the PTA for grandparents who are currently raising children in their homes, in order to provide for the special needs of grandparents raising children; and to help create a supportive environment for grandparents acting as parents to be able to participate and help further their grandchildren's education and learning experience.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System, the President of the Maryland Council of PTA's, the Community Associations listed in the Planning Department Directory, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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