Sistersville & Middlebourne, WV — Tyler County Healthy Grandfamilies will launch a new evening series of free information sessions at Sistersville beginning 9-15-2026 at 5:00 pm. The free program provides education and resources to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

Healthy Grandfamilies is a monthly series of facilitated discussion groups and supportive social work services. Discussion topics include parenting, communication, health literacy/self-care, stress management, legal issues, social media, public school programs and policies, family response to addiction, and nutrition.

In addition to the discussion groups, the program provides social work support services such as a comprehensive intake assessment, help locating community resources, advocacy services, and confidential assistance in addressing unmet needs through an action planning process.

“West Virginia is among the states with the most instances of grandparents providing primary care to their grandchildren,” said Hanna Thurman, interim director of the West Virginia State University (WVSU) Center for Healthy Grandfamilies. West Virginia ranks among the top four states of grandfamily households in the nation. “With the Healthy Grandfamilies program, we are addressing the unique needs of this family dynamic through education and access to resources and professional support.”

Launched by WVSU in 2016, Healthy Grandfamilies began as a five-county pilot project. With continued support, including from the West Virginia Legislature and the USDA, the program has since expanded statewide. Cohorts exist in all 55 counties who operate Healthy Grandfamilies programs at the local level.

Sessions will take place at Sistersville Church of Christ Annex located at 219 Oxford Street and will alternate with sessions at the Tyler County 4-H Camp located at 88 4-H Drive in Middlebourne.

For more information and to register, contact Julie Bolin at 304-758-2101.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.