Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
You are not alone.
Throughout the generations, children have been cared for by their extended families. If you are, or know a relative raising children, you are part of a growing population. In Illinois, over 200,000 children under the age of 18 are living in a grandparent-headed home, and there are thousands of children under 18 who are living with other relatives. Over 100,000 grandparents are directly responsible for the care of their grandchildren. It can happen to anyone, at any time, for any reason.
The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program provides information and support services to help grandparents cope with their roles as caregivers.
- Information about available community services and resources
- Assistance in gaining access to community resources
- Support groups, education, and counseling for grandparents raising grandchildren
- Respite care (temporary and intermittent relief) for the grandparent
- Information about legal rights including visitation, guardianship, adoption, and formal caregiving relationships.
Eligibility
You must be 55+ caring for a grandchild or other relative under the age of 18 (caregiver CANNOT be a parent), AND you must be living with the child AND be the child’s primary caregiver because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the child’s primary caregiver.
To learn more information about the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, contact our office at (217) 379-9281, or by email at [email protected].
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Staff
Becky Beck, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisor
Resources
- Partners in the Aging Network, Directory of Services for Ford County - https://www.eciaaa.org/images/services_by_county/Ford_County.pdf
- Illinois DCFC, Grandparents and Older Caregivers Raising Children - https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/lovinghomes/Pages/Grandparents-and-Older-Caregivers-Raising-Children.aspx
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - https://www.aamft.org/Consumer_Updates/grandparents.aspx
- Grandfamilies.org - Provides legal resources and policy information for grandparents raising grandchildren.
- AARP, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Guide - https://www.aarp.org/relationships/friends-family/info-08-2011/grandfamilies-guide-getting-started.html
