OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahoma will join the rest of the nation by hosting the state’s first-ever “Grandfamilies Rally” at 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 8 on the steps of the Oklahoma Capitol Building in Oklahoma City. The event is designed to increase awareness on issues related to grandparents and other relatives who are raising children.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division, INTEGRIS Third Age Life Center, AARP Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Substance Abuse Services and several others are co-sponsoring the event.

The “Grandfamilies Rally” will begin at 12:15 p.m. with lunch, followed by speeches beginning at 1:30 p.m. Speakers include Oklahoma Sen. Daisy Lawler of Comanche, who spearheaded an interim study on grandfamilies’ issues; OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick and Roy Keen, OKDHS director of Aging Services Division. The public is invited to attend.

Oklahoma has 57,601 or 6.5 percent of all children under the age of 18 living in grandparent-headed households, according to the 2000 Census. By percentage, Oklahoma ranks second in the nation. In our state, nearly 40,000 grandparents identified themselves on the 2002 Census as having primary responsibility for meeting their grandchildren’s basic needs.

States around the country are holding events at the encouragement of the Children’s Defense Fund and Generations United in support of the “Leave No Child Behind” movement. The events will stress the importance of supporting grandfamilies by bringing their causes to the attention of the public, legislators and policy makers.

The event will include presentation of awards to winners of an art contest for grandchildren who have depicted their families through an art medium. AARP Oklahoma has provided savings bonds for the winners. The art will be on display in the fourth floor rotunda of the capitol during the afternoon of the rally.

The media is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Judy Leitner, OKDHS Aging Services, 405-522-4510.

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