ISDD
in the news
Connection and Coding: Bringing Kinship Families Together
For many kinship caregivers, the responsibility of raising a relative’s child comes with unique challenges, from navigating school systems to planning for the future. On Tuesday evening, several caregivers gathered with ISDD staff for a support group aimed at helping them find guidance, resources, and a sense of community.
The evening began with a shared meal, allowing adults and children to connect with one another before breaking into smaller groups. These meals are an essential part of the program, helping families build relationships in an informal setting.
"Having that time to sit down together, to talk and bond over dinner, really
helps create a sense of belonging," Rainie Jueschke, ISDD Executive Director, said. "It makes a difference for these families, knowing they're not alone."
After dinner, caregivers met for a discussion on school advocacy, emergency planning, and the legal steps needed to ensure long-term care for the children in their custody. Many of the participants said they struggle with the complexities of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and securing appropriate services at school. Others spoke about the uncertainty of what will happen to the children when they are no longer able to care for them.
“Thinking ahead is hard, but it’s something we have to do,” said one grandparent raising her two grandchildren. “This group helps us figure out how to prepare.”
While the caregivers met, children under eight played in a supervised space, giving them time to socialize and allowing their guardians to focus on the discussion. Older children took part in a hands-on coding workshop led by Georgia Tech professor Brian Stallworth and a team of student volunteers. Using a program called EarSketch, which teaches coding through music composition, the children created their own digital beats.
“The goal is to introduce them to coding in a way that’s creative and exciting,” Jueschke said. “A lot of these kids have never had access to something like this before, and we want to spark that curiosity.”
More than 20 children participated in the session, each provided with a laptop and headphones. By the end of the night, they were sharing their musical creations with one another, nodding along to the beats they had composed.
ISDD has been hosting support groups for kinship caregivers as part of its broader mission to assist and equip them for ongoing success. Organizers say these meetings are important for caregivers who often feel isolated in their role.
“Many of these grandparents and relatives never expected to be raising children again,” Jueschke said. “They’re navigating systems that weren’t designed with them in mind, and they need support. These groups give them tools, but also a community.”