Relatives as Parents Program
The Relatives as Parents Program assists grandparents and other relative parents age 55 and over that care for a child age 18 or under or an adult with disabilities. The child or children do need to be related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the relative parent and must live with them. Also, the biological parents must be unable or unwilling to be the primary caregiver for the child. The relative parent can be receiving foster care payments, non-needy caretaker grants, SSB/SSI for the child, or child support and still be eligible for this program!
This program offers respite reimbursement (child care, day or overnight camps), supplemental services (reimbursement for tutoring, sports fees, extra circular activity fees), counseling sessions for the relative parent, support groups, trainings, information and resource referrals. This program is free to relative parents and is funded by the Older American's Act. There are no income or resource restrictions for the relative parent to be eligible.
Lastly, here is the link for the Relatives as Parents part of our website. NorthWest Senior & Disability Services This allows grandparents to view or sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter with listings of support groups, trainings and events. It also includes information on how to apply for the Relatives as Parents Program. If you would like to add a link from your website to ours, that would be fine. What is your website address? I would like to take a look at it.