Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children: Supplemental Services (continued)

In addition, the Northwest Illinois AAA has set up an Emergency Fund to financially assist relative caregivers that cannot afford needed items for their families such as school supplies, clothing, diapers and beds. The fund may also be used to assist caregivers pursuing legal options such as guardianship. For more information, contact Eric Hoffman, Community Services Specialist, at (815) 226-4901 or (800) 542-8402 or niaaa@nwilaaa.org.

Michigan

Senior Volunteers and the Region IV AAA in Southwest Michigan provide “Family Fun” events four to five times a year during which caregivers and children from all three AAA counties participate. The senior volunteers, "Family Friends", help staff these events. In the past year, there have been programs at local nature centers, a children’s museum and the 7th Annual State-Wide Kinship Care Resource Center Picnic in Lansing with over 2,000 relative caregivers across Michigan attending. Family Fun events always include a meal, attendance incentives and mileage reimbursement. For more information, contact Camellia Pisegna, Director, Senior Volunteer Programs, at (616) 983-7058 or pisegnac@state.mi.us.

Oregon

The Clackamas County Aging and Disability Services offers various types of assistance under the category of supplemental services to relative caregivers with unique requests. For example the costs for a grandchild's educational tutoring, a membership to a community swimming pool and a grandchild's horseback riding lessons have been purchased using supplemental services funds. For more information, contact Maryanne Hard, Program Coordinator, at (503) 794-8065 or maryhar@co.clackamas.or.us.

South Dakota

The South Dakota Office of Adult Services and Aging partners with the Office of Child Protection to offer services for grandparents and other relatives raising children. The Office of Child Protection contracts with social workers in the South Dakota school system to identify older relative caregivers. They offer cash assistance to grandparent and other relative caregivers through supplemental services for items such as children’s clothing and sports uniforms. For more information, contact Carla Leiferman, Program Specialist, at (605) 773-3656 or Carla.Leiferman@state.sd.us.

Tennessee 

The Upper Cumberland Development District AAA in Tennessee is coordinating the provision of services through a variety of local agencies. For example, the attorney funded through Title III of the Older Americans Act is providing legal services to the families. The lawyer provides education on custody, adoption, public benefits, and other legal issues, and will provide representation in some individual cases. The families will also have access to mediation services, legal seminars, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services.

In addition, the Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD) is arranging for staff to participate in non legal services and assist with special events including picnics, and holiday gatherings. For more information, contact Nancy Peace, AAA Director, at (931) 432-4111 or npeace@ucdd.org.

Conclusion

As defined, supplemental services in the NFCSP are intentionally broad and non-specific. This enables members of the aging network to draw on local knowledge of needs and opportunities to make the best possible use of the funds. Taking advantage of the non-specific language of the guidelines enables aging network members considerable degrees of freedom in best meeting the needs of the older relative caregiver populations they serve.