If you are a grandparent raising grandchildren, you probably have a good grasp of the
issues involved. Understanding the issues doesn't keep you from feeling overworked and sometimes economically stressed. This list of resources may be helpful. Although individual circumstances vary widely and laws differ from state to state, you should find some information that is helpful and uplifting. Grandparents raising grandchildren deserve all the help they can get.
This site provided by AARP contains useful information about benefits that grandparents raising grandchildren may qualify for. Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) is one program used by many families. No matter what your income, you can apply for relief based on the income of your grandchildren, which in most cases is negligible. There is also information about food stamps, Social Security and other programs.
This site, also provided by AARP, actually helps you find and enroll in the benefits programs that you qualify for.
Again from AARP, this summary of the legal issues facing grandparents raising grandchildren will give you some ideas about how to proceed in your own case. For more detailed information, obtain the fact sheet from your own state from the link below.
AARP has partnered with several other organizations to bring you this site, which enables you to get a fact sheet for your particular state. In addition to statistics about grandparents raising grandchildren in your state, the fact sheet includes lists of helpful organizations, information about kinship care and a listing of public benefits, all tailored for residents of your state. A national fact sheet is also available. The site is updated at least once a year.
This site offers some advice about legalities and benefits, but is also a friendly site with recipes, quotations and other bits of advice for grandparents raising grandchildren. One of its most valuable resources is a list of support groups by state, along with a list of online support groups.
Arthur Kornhaber M.D. is one of the foremost authorities in the field of grandparenting and the founder of The Foundation for Grandparenting. On this page he discusses the challenges of raising grandchildren.
This page has been compiled by an individual to bring together all the information available for grandparents in Canada who are raising grandchildren. It has a great many links to support groups as well as information on legal issues.
The National Center was established in 2001, within the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University. It sponsors a symposium each year and also serves as a clearinghouse for imformation.
This website was created by Karen Best Wright and Stan Andresen, a couple who are raising three grandchildren. It tells their own story and has a place for other stories of grandparents raising grandchildren. It contains many links to information as well, but the personal touch makes this website special. Another feature is a listing of news articles by state.
