GRaKCA's Direction Vision Statement GRaKCA is an integral part of the community which wishes to ensure social justice for the family carers in New South Wales and for the children in their charge. Mission Statement GRaKCA Hunter Inc.exists to make sure the children under their auspices receive sufficient support and care for their needs and to guarantee that the families caring for them receive ample support their wellbeing and social and financial equality. Goals To work with other service providers to seek provision of a flexible range of services for kinship care families and the children in their care.
The Beginning. A brief history of GRaKCA Hunter Inc. Around April of 2010 a number of grandparent carers decided that if they were to gain any equality of service, and help for the children in their care, and themselves, they needed to form a group which would unite all of the carer groups that are scattered throughout the Hunter, and Central Coast, from this the idea of the association was born.
It took some months, but eventually a committee was formed, and they decided to incorporate so that we would have some legal standing when we set out to fight for the cause, and to help guide the carers through the minefield they encounter with bureaucracy. Grandparents, Relatives and Kinship Carers Association Hunter Inc. began, as a result of this, we started to gather members.Finally on the 5th May 2011 GRaKCA Hunter Inc. was notified of their incorporation as of the 18th February 2011.
We don't see ourselves as a replacement for the local support groups, but rather as a bridge between them. A body that the groups can approach when they need information and help and if GRaKCA doesn't know then we will do our utmost to find the help for them.We have some goals in mind to work on over the next couple of years, and they include:
* The appointment of a Kinship Care worker in EACH Local Government Area. * Immediate, long- term and ongoing counselling for Grandparents. * Legal Aid for Grandparents without means testing. * provision of respite. * Counselling and group therapy for the children in Kinship out of home care. * Ongoing support services for Parents/Grandparents of aberrant and disabled children. * Access agreements which are in the best interests of the children and which cause minor disruption to their lives. * Links with Government agencies so that assessments can be made earlier when grandparents feel that their grandchildren are at risk. * The gathering and printing of resource material which can guide kinship carers through the process of gaining custody of children.
These are just a few of GRaKCA's goals and we welcome any help from other agencies to achieve these goals.
