AGA  provides information and support to grandparents who feel alienated or estranged from access to their grandchildren.

AGA will bring national awareness and recognition of the behavioral manifestations of alienation.

PAS  Parental Alienation Syndrome     Alienating parents, in a progressive process, try to damage the relationship with the other parent.  This is very abusive and causes damage to the child.

Being a targeted grandparent/parent is excruciating, and AGA recognizes that each situation is unique. Alienation is something that no grandparent/parent should face alone. With support, trauma is minimized. Members of a support group can comfort each other on this painful journey. Simply knowing that others are going through the same thing can ease some of the emotional pain and frustration in being a targeted grandparent/parent.

Our organization focuses on the struggle so many grandparents have in being part of their grandchildren's lives. 

Grandparents who attend meetings will remain anonymous so that everyone will feel free to openly share. 

Each meeting will be lead by one of our Participating Consultants who will present their expertise regarding the complex issues of alienation.  Experts provide us with an understanding of the dynamics.

We intend to offer support and coping skills to help manage the emotional pain, and  provide expert information and strategies to aid in healing family relationships.

There will be be interactive discussion.

Professional consultants will be available to speak with you following the discussion.

"At the AGA meeting, something was lifted from both of us.  We all have the same burden.  Some of the stress has been lifted.   We're still hurt, but feel better now, thanks to this organization."....  Alienated Grandmother and Grandfather

Let us know if you want to start a support group in your area.  You may now email us, and we will forward some information to you upon request to help you get started.

Too many grandparents are walking around our community needing help to cope with grandparent alienation issues. Too many parents deny access or severely limit access to the grandchildren. This occurs even when a meaningful relationship between the grandparent and grandchild has already been formed.   It is like being amputated from their grandchildren. There is no socio-economic group unprotected from such devastation. 

This is a very serious problem of the baby boom generation with which we need to deal. These grandparents need to know they are not suffering alone. Our organization would bring awareness to this issue which faces our grandchildren, and is tormenting our grandparents. 

If death takes a grandparent from and grandchild that is a tragedy. But,  if family bickering and vindictiveness deny a child the love of a grandparent, that’s a shame.

The dynamics of a family can be torn apart by selfish choices made by adult children. This can cause a separation in the family, that separate grandchildren from grandparents. It is a   damage that can take years to repair, and sometimes never gets repaired.  

Finally,  AGA .   AGA  is a  group where  discussions can happen about family dynamics, support, and direction shared.

Grandparents are an intricate part of raising and loving unconditionally our young ones, and preparing them for society. They can perform as outstanding role models, especially if there is chaos in their home.  Unhealthy minds in a family create chaos.  How many thousands of grandchildren are entangled in inter-family disputes?

Grandparents provide a balance in grandchildren’s lives that no one else can replicate.  Studies have shown that multi-generational contact between children and their grandparents provides a special unconditional love and nurturing which is healthy for children.   The quality of attachment is very strong, and contributes to our grandchildren's sense of self.

Alienation is willful intimidation.  It is considered a severe form of child abuse.

Alienation often begins with the undermining   daughter –in-law.  These children are being withheld with little or no provocation. 

Grandparents are made to feel uncomfortable when they attempt to visit. With-holders make the visiting difficult or embarrassing for the grandparents.

The deliberate misunderstandings about timing of the grandparents’ visits are common.  During visits, the parents are often exert some kind of negative pressure on the situation, making the children feel strange about being friendly toward their grandparents.

So many grandchildren are not allowed to reveal their true feelings about their  grandparents to their parents.  They are forced to go emotionally underground. 

Contact information

Email:        aga_fl@yahoo.com

Website:    aga-fl.org

Meeting Location

Saint John the Evangelist     

625 111th Avenue North

(west of intersection  Immokalee Road & Tamiami Trail)

Naples, Florida 34108

 September  thru  March 15, 2012

First Thursdays    each month 1:00 P.M.

Third Thursdays   each month 7:00 P.M.

April  thru September 2012

Third  Thursdays   7:00 P.M.