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Kids’ Corner Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren By Michelle Talsma Everson
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10 • September 2020 • THE SCOTTSDALE STANDARD
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unday, September 13 is National Grandparents Day, a special time to recognize the grandparents in our lives. With the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations may look different this year. One group who don’t have the option to social distance from their grandchildren are grandparents raising them. More than 60,000 grandparents in Arizona are responsible for their grandchildren. Below are some resources for grandfamilies. ARIZONA FAMILY RESOURCES Available at azfamilyresources.org, this website—supported by AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids)— provides information on the foster care system, which many grandparents raising grandchildren have to navigate. AASK’s website, aask-az.org, also offers kinship licensing, case management and advocacy. ARIZONA GRANDPARENT AMBASSADORS (AZGA) With more info available at azga.org, the AZGA is a “volunteer support network of grandparents who are raising grandchildren.” The group hosts “workshops, monthly steering committee meetings and quarterly newsletter for members.” GRANDFAMILIES.ORG This easy-to-navigate website serves as a “national legal resource in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system.” Users can easily navigate a variety of pertinent topics and access an Arizona-specific fact sheet that lists many local organizations that help kinship caregivers. GrandFamiles.org was a resource for information in this article. DUET: PARTNERS IN HEALTH & AGING Duet is a local nonprofit that offers support throughout Maricopa County for grandparents raising grandchildren through free-of-charge support groups, legal guidance and assistance, funds for extracurricular activities, information and guided assistance, educational workshops and grandfamily outings. Learn more at duetaz.org/grandparentsraising-grandchildren.
ARIZONA CAREGIVER COALITION “Our sole purpose is to support caregivers and their families. We offer support and help finding access to information, assistance, answers, new ideas and helpful options for you and your loved one.” Through the coalition, grandparents may be eligible for respite reimbursement. Learn more at AZCaregiver.org. DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY (DCS) DCS offers many resources to kinship caregivers, including a potential stipend and other support services. Visit dcs. az.gov/fosteradoption/kinship-fostercaregivers for more information. BENEVILLA Through the Grandfamily/Kinship Caregiver Program, Benevilla assists Northwest Valley families with “information and referral, support groups, family fun events, educational workshops, newsletters, holiday programs, and individual counseling.” Find out more at benevilla.org/familyresource-center. KINSHIP AND ADOPTION, RESOURCE AND EDUCATION (KARE) Serving Phoenix and Tucson, KARE offers “Legal support, support groups in English and Spanish, kinship navigation services, recreational activities for families and youth, information, referral and connection services to community resources.” Services vary upon location; arizonakinship.org. AARP FOUNDATION’S BENEFITS QUICKLINK According to GrandFamilies.org, “QuickLINK, powered by BenefitsCheckUp of the National Council on Aging, offers a free and private way to complete a questionnaire to find out if relatives and/or the children they are raising qualify for certain programs that pay for food, increase income and cover home and healthcare costs.” Grandparents can simply fill out the questionnaire and the website generates a list of programs and contact info. Learn more at aarp.org/quicklink. myhyperlocalnews.com
