Across the U.S. more than 6 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents and other relatives. As the children’s parents struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, economic hardships, divorce, domestic violence and other challenges, these caregivers provide a vital safety net to children inside and outside of the foster care system.

Taking responsibility as the primary caregiver may cause grandparents or other relatives raising children to experience:

• change in lifestyle
• loss of freedom
• increased financial obligations
• exhaustion and health problems
• difficulty finding child care and professional help
• anger and feelings of guilt
• legal issues

In recognition of the growing needs of these grandparents and other relative caregivers, the National Family Caregiver Support Program in the Older Americans Act included authorization for limited funding to provide support and assistance to this special group of caregivers. CAAC’s grandparent caregiver program is administered through the Family Guidance Center of Alabama and provides the following services:

• information and assistance about available services
• counseling to provide advice, guidance and instruction about options and methods of care – provided to individuals and in monthly support groups
• respite care to provide a brief period of rest for the grandparent, utilizing day care services or recreational and educational camps
• supplemental services are provided on a limited basis and may include help with school supplies and uniforms, transportation to support group meetings, recreational activities, etc. to provide advice, guidance and instruction about options and methods of care – provided to individuals and in monthly support groups 

For more information contact CAAC at 334-240-4666 or 800-264-4680

Other related web links:
AARP Grandparent Information Center http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/raising-grandchildren
Relatives as Parents Program http://www.brookdalefoundation.org/ relativesasparents.htm
Kinship Information Network http://www.kinsupport.org
Generations United http://www.gu.org
All Kids http://adph.org/allkids/