The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is proud to share that its West Toledo Branch Manager, Andrea Francis, has been named among the Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers 2019 – Innovators.

As manager at the West Toledo Branch, Andrea Francis noticed one particular impact of the nation’s opioid epidemic on her customers: more children being raised by grandparents. After hearing about the Grandparent Project at a local senior center, Francis brought the Grandparent Project to the Library where programs are hosted system-wide.

Andrea also developed Grandparent Club and Grandparent Play date to address the isolation and loneliness expressed by many grandparents raising children. “We are connecting grandparents to information, forming relationships with community organizations, and, in turn, introducing them to [fellow] grandparents who participate,” said Francis.

The Grandparent Project has informational programs on a variety of topics including legal issues, education, emotional support and resources.