Nation's Grandparents and other relatives raising children urge Congress to support their efforts; Hundreds of Grandparents, relatives From across country stage Capitol Hill rally seeking help to keep families together, children safe

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Hundreds of grandparents and other relative caregivers from across the nation converged on Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to recognize and support their efforts to keep their families together and keep the children safe.

"In the United States today, there are more than six million children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives," said Donna Butts, Executive Director of Generations United and GrandRally speaker. "Yet, many of these caregivers lack access to the basic supports and resources needed to fulfill the critical responsibility of raising these children. The GrandRally celebrates the essential role these caregivers play for the children they are raising. "

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Congressman Danny Davis (D- Ill.) and Congressman Jim McDemottt (D-Wash.) spoke at the GrandRally and offered support to the attendees.

Grandparents, other relatives and children traveled from about 41 states including California, Indiana, Texas, Minnesota and Oklahoma. Busloads of grandparents traveled from New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia and Maryland. Others flew from Florida, Colorado, Ohio and Louisiana. Many stayed with friends, relatives and fellow caregivers. "The GrandRally provides these caregivers with an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges they face, and to share their concerns with each other and with members of Congress," said Lola Bailey, President of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights.

Jointly sponsored by AARP, the Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund, Generations United and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights, this second National GrandRally featured speeches by grandparents, relative caregivers and the children they have raised, in addition to participation by members of Congress, and representatives of the sponsoring organizations.

Illinois grandparent Adrienne Charniak attended the first GrandRally in 2003, and traveled to today's event with her 84 year old mother. "It was the first place I found peace," she recalls of her experience at the first Rally. "This is where I learned that the needs of other caregivers were much greater than my own. I learned so much that I had no choice but to become an advocate for others."

"The stories shared at the GrandRally, and those of the millions of grandparents and other relatives raising children, powerfully illustrate the fact that these families must often struggle to get the supports and services they need for the children in their care," stated Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and CEO of the Children's Defense Fund. "Many face barriers to getting financial, legal, educational, and housing assistance, and health and mental health care."

"We should not be asking grandparents raising grandchildren to choose between buying medicine for themselves or food for their children; or ask an aunt raising her nephews to have to take on a second job in order to pay for child care, but these are the compromises relative caregivers face everyday," said Shay Bilchik, President and CEO of CWLA. "Congress can help assist these caregivers in accessing the services and supports they need to perform their vital responsibility."

After the GrandRally, the grandparents and other relative caregivers and children descended on Congress to call on their representatives and urge them to become aware of the issues they face and to find ways to help them.

"I hope that by explaining the challenges I face every day to my members of Congress they will understand why people like me need help," said Opal Bufford, a grandparent from South Bend, Indiana who is raising her two grandchildren.

Grandparents and other relative caregivers not in attendance are being encouraged to make their voices heard and participate in these efforts by contacting their members of Congress. A toll- free number has been established by AARP, active from September 13 through September 15, which will connect callers directly with their member of Congress. The toll-free number can be found on the GrandRally website http://www.grandrally.org/.

"We want every member of Congress to know that there are grandparents and other relative caregivers in their own districts that need help as they carry out the heroic task of raising children," said Lee Hammond, an AARP board member who spoke at the rally.