RAPP
Are You?
- A grandparent raising grandchildren?
- An aunt or uncle raising nieces or nephews?
- Over 55 raising a relative child under 18?
- A sibling raising a brother or sister?
- A cousin raising your cousin's children?
- Raising children of a family member in jail?
- Raising a child under 18 not born to you?
The Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) is designed to assist grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the role of primary caregiver for related children.
Offers a wide range of services:
- Support Group for adults that offers a social network of grandparents and relatives.
- Monthly Respite Care and Special Respite Nights for participating families.
- Referral and access to appropriate community based services and resources.
Support Group
A place to come together with other grandparents and relative care providers to:
- Share the struggles, setbacks and successes of parenting a second time around.
- Learn, receive and provide support to and from peers.
- Discover tips for coping with changing family dynamics.
- Gather information about available community resources.
- Understand effective ways to negotiate with outside service systems.
Meets the third Monday of every month at 6:00pm at Children's Aid Society.
Child Care is Available!Coffee and Refreshments Provided!
Why Is It Important?
- One out of every twelve children lives in a household headed by a relative other than their parent.
- Approximately six million children nationwide are being raised by their grandparents or relatives.
- Grandparent-headed households are the fastest growing type of family in the United States.
- Many of these special families have come together because of difficult family situations such as substance abuse, divorce, parental incarceration, or similar circumstances.
- A significant number of grandparents and relatives have informal custody and do not know how this will affect their ability to care for and make decisions on behalf of the children in their care.
Respite Care
Respite Care can provide a much needed break for grandparents and other relative caregivers, giving them a balance between caring for their grandchildren with caring for themselves.
Support Group participants may be eligible to receive a special voucher for FREE Drop-In Care once a month at Children's Aid Society Child Care & Early Learning Center.