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Parenting Resources Parenting Resources Parenting Resources
a neutral professional helps you make
practical, informed decisions to resolve
your differences. It is used frequently
and successfully by separating and di-
vorcing couples who want to plan their
futures rationally, in an atmosphere of
cooperation and mutual respect. With
the guidance of a trained mediator, you
work together through a series of or-
derly steps to create a fair and reason-
able agreement. Visit their web site to
find accredited mediators in your area,
or call 516-227-2595.
DRUG &
ALCOHOL ABUSE
n Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
Toll-Free Bilingual HELPLINE
for Parents of Kids Using Drugs or
Drinking: 1-855-DRUGFREE
or 1-855-378-4373 (speak to a Parent
Specialist, Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm EST)
www.drugfree.org.
A 2015 national study determined 1 in
20 adolescents and 1 in 6 young adults
were classified to be in need of sub-
stance abuse treatment. Prescription
medicines are now the most commonly
abused drugs among 12 to 13 year
olds. More Americans die from drug
overdoses than in car crashes, and this
increasing trend is driven by prescrip-
tion painkillers. In 2015, 16% of 8th
graders, 31% of 10th graders, and 45%
of 12th graders reported having used
marijuana at least once.
This national helpline helps parents
take effective action before their chi ld’s
drug use or drinking reaches a point
where treatment is required. Research
has shown that substance abuse prob-
lems can be reduced by intervening
early. Encouraging parents to take im-
mediate action is therefore a main goal
of the helpline’s team of parent support
specialists who offer expert advice to
help parents plan a course of action
and can supply a list of local resources
or treatment facilities.
Their website is an excellent one-stop
resource where you can educate yourself
about specific drugs, teen behavior, and
ways to talk to your kids to prevent abuse
from ever happening in the first place.
n UNDERAGE DRINKING TIPLINE
1-800-851-1932
Erie County Sheriff’s Office anonymous,
confidential, and free hotline. Con-
cerned adults, teachers, students and
friends now have a number to call 24
hours a day, to report planned under-
age drinking parties; underage drinking
parties taking place or other activities
that may be harmful to the health,
safety and welfare of young people.
FOOD ALLERGIC
FAMILIES
n Greater Buffalo Food Allergy Alliance
www.gbfoodallergy.org
The mission of this local support group
is to share information, tips, and experi-
ences to ease the challenges of living
with food allergies, as well as raise the
awareness in the community; meets the
3rd Monday of January, March, May,
July, September and November, 7pm-
9pm, at the Cleveland Hill Fire Hall,
440 Cleveland Drive (near Harlem Rd),
Cheektowaga. You can also find them
on Facebook.
KINSHIP CAREGIVERS
Among the many changes in society
today is the growing incidence of grand-
parents raising their grandchildren, or
other relatives or family friends taking
on the primary role or raising a child
in the absence of biological parents.
Check with your church, your town’s
senior services center, or your county’s
mental health association for currently
active support groups or counseling
services. Here are several area re-
sources:
n Catholic Charities of Buffalo
Kinship Preventive Services
1325 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14209
Contact: Emily Mehltretter
716- 854-3622
A specialized unit serving families in-
volved with the Child Welfare system
with kinship placements, that is, chil-
dren being cared for by a relative in Erie
County.
n Family Services of Erie County
330 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-842-2750
www.childfamilybny.org
Among their many services is a Rela-
tives as Caregivers Coffee & Chat
Hour.
n Gateway-Longview, Inc.
KinCARES Family Support Program
10 Symphony Circle
Buffalo, NY 14201
716-270-3104
www.gateway-longview.org
The Kinship case manager assists the
kinship caregiver and youth by provid-
ing in-home support and advocacy,
education and resources.
n KFACT: Kinship Families and Chil-
dren Together
Berkshire Farm Center & Services for
Youth
975 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-346-6849
KFACT will provide preventive services
to bolster kinship family function-
ing, prevent placement, or achieve a
quicker, successful permanency for
those in formal care.
n Relatives as Parents/Providers
Grandparent Support Group
Mental Health Association
36 Pine St.
Lockport, NY 14094
Contact: Cheryl Blacklock
716-433-3780
The association provides a variety of
services including legal advocacy, sup-
port groups, educational services and
information and referral.
n Non-Parent Caregivers: NY State
& Erie County Department of Social
Services Programs
Non-parent caregivers — grandparents,
other relatives, friends — who are car-
ing for children without a parent living in
their home, may be eligible for Tempo-
rary Assistance.
Temporary Assistance for children not
living with a parent is often referred to
as “non-parent caregiver” or “child-only”
grants, and includes Medical Assis-
tance (MA). If the non-parent caregiver
wants assistance only for the children,