The 1999 national videoconference Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Implications for Professionals and Agencies educated professionals about the problems grandparents face as they parent a second time and encouraged professionals to work together on community-based solutions. Congruent with an ecological perspective, the videoconference portrayed problems and solutions as based in individuals and families, local communities, and the larger society. Those in attendance had a better understanding of the issues and programs that could address them. Many participants reported they planned to work locally with others to provide educational programs. Follow-up evaluations confirmed that participants actually did get involved in their communities. They addressed the situation of grandparents raising grandchildren through new or expanded local task forces or coalitions. The impact of this videoconference documents that a videoconference is a viable method of educating professionals and grandparents on issues of parenting again and can help facilitate community members to work together on emerging needs.
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