FrameWorks Features Families - WV adoptive families!

Pictured Above: The Boyles Family

Last year, FrameWorks started an Adoptive Family Portrait Project to showcase the positive aspects of adopting through the foster care system. As a part of our 2008 National Adoption Month event, we displayed these photos throughout the lower rotunda of the WV Capitol Building and it was very inspiring to see so many loving families who have opened their lives and hearts to foster children. As a part of that project, the families agreed that we could continue to use the photos and their stories to continue this showcase of love. While not all of the participating families have yet been added to our website, you can read several stories by visiting our website, click here: WV Adoptive Families.

September 13th is National Grandparent's Day!

Did you know that Grandparent's Day was started by a West Virginian? That's right, the founder of what is now a National Holiday was started by Marion McQuade of Fayette County, West Virginia. This year, National Grandparent's Day will be celebrated on September 13, 2009.

The first Grandparents Day was proclaimed in 1973 in West Virginia by Gov. Arch Moore. In 1978, President Carter signed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day. The purpose of Grandparents Day is three fold:

- To honor grandparents
- To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children
- To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer

According to the 2000 US census there are over 24,000 children in West Virginia living in grandparent headed households. The Relatives as Parents Program in West Virginia offers support to grandparents raising their grandchildren. Services include special events, support groups, workshops, a web page, a list serve, a lending library and resource materials.

We hope you take a moment or two on Grandparent's Day to recognize and celebrate your own grandparents as well as others in our state. Do you have plans to celebrate Grandparent's Day? We would love to know what you have planned.

For ideas on how to celebrate Grandparent's Day, please visit http://www.grandparentsforchildren.org/