Who We Are

Several agencies concerned with the welfare of older adults, children and youth have come together to form the Relatives As Parents Program. Referred to as "RAPP," this program supports issues and needs of kinship caregiving, especially as it relates to grandparents raising grandchildren.

Why We Exist

RAPP exists to let grandparents and relatives know that "You are not alone!" Problems that we encounter in everyday life can affect our families. More and more today, parents are unable to care for their children. Grandparents and other relatives frequently take on that responsibility in an effort to help.

In Kansas, as in the entire United States, there has been a steady increase in the number of children living with grandparents and other relatives.

The 2000 Census Bureau Report shows that 2.4 million grandparents are taking on primary responsibility for their grandchildren's needs, many without a parent in the home. In Kansas, 17,873 grandparents reported that they are raising their grandchildren.

This is not just a caregiver issue, however. According to 2000 Census data, in the United States, more than 6 million children, approximately 1 in 12 children, are living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives.

Of these, close to 20% are in the formal foster care system. The remaining 80% and the caregivers who are responsible for them receive little assistance, and may encounter systems that make it difficult to access even basic services, such as health care and educational services. Kansas has 35,274 children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives.

How We Can Help

The RAPP Initiative in Kansas offers:

• Support Groups -
  RAPP offers grandparents and other relatives raising children the opportunity to SHARE their experiences, to UNDERSTAND the children's special needs, and to LEARN how and where to seek Community Resources.

• Referrals to Community Resources such as:
  • Legal Services
  • Financial Assistance
  • Medical Assistance
  • Day Care
  • Emergency Foods
  • Housing Assistance
  • Recreational activities for children

RAPP Mission Statement

The mission of the Kansas Relatives As Parents Program is to identify and support issues and needs of kinship caregiving, especially as it relates to grandparents raising grandchildren.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no charge to grandparents and relatives to participate in RAPP.

For further information, please contact:

Marva Williams or Sharon Dabzadeh
Kansas Department on Aging
503 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603-3404
Telephone: (785) 296-4986
or 1-800-432-3535
FAX: (785) 291-3427
E-Mail:
Marva.Williams@aging.ks.gov
Sharon.Dabzadeh@aging.ks.gov

Web-Site Links

 

Grandparents as Parents Issues:

• AARP - Provides help for grandparents raising grandchildren.
  http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/raising_grandchild/

• AARP Foundation Grandparent Information Center - Provides information, referral and outreach for grandparents.
  http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/gic/a2004-01-16-grandparentsinfocenter.html.

• Brookdale Foundation Group - The Brookdale Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP) provides seed grants to support local and state agencies serving grandparents and other kin who have become the primary caretakers of their grandchildren. For more information, go to: http://www.brookdalefoundation.org/RAPP/rapp.html.

• eXtension - Articles focused on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
  http://www.extension.org/category/family%20caregiving%20grandparents%20raising%20grandchildren

• Generations United - Offers information and advocacy relating to grandparent caregivers plus a very good biennial conference. Fact sheets are also available about grandparents and other relatives raising children.
  http://www.gu.org

• Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center - A collaboration between Casey Family Programs, the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law, and Generations United, which serves as a national legal resource created to educate individuals about state laws and legislation in support of grandfamilies and to assist interested state legislators, advocates, caregivers, attorneys, and other policymakers in exploring policy options to support relatives and the children in their care both within and outside the child welfare system.
  http://www.grandfamilies.org/

• Grandparents Resource Center - Helps families to negotiate with the system to re-connect children in foster care with their biological families.
  http://grc4usa.org.

• GrandsPlace - Provides information for Grandparents and Special Others Raising Children.
  http://www.grandsplace.org.

• National Alliance for Caregiving - Connects families with information on caregiver resources and local services.
  http://www.caregiving.org

• National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights - Advocates and lobbies for legislative changes to support grandparents.
http://www.grandparentsforchildren.org/

Children and Relative Caregiver Issues

• Child Welfare League of America - In addition to their other services, CWLA offers an annual national conference that focuses exclusively on kin care programs and issues.
  http://www.cwla.org.

• Children's Defense Fund - CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. They also work with issues related to relatives as parents. http://www.childrensdefense.org

• Foster Care & Adoptive Community Homepage - Articles and resources for foster parents.
  http://www.fosterparents.com

• Kansas Children's Service League - Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL) is a private, not-for-profit agency serving children and families, with offices and affiliates throughout Kansas.
  http://www.kcsl.org

• Kansas Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services - Its mission
  is to protect children and promote adult self-sufficiency. Its vision is
  partnering to connect Kansans with supports and services to improve lives. The agency provides financial and medical assistance to eligible children and families in Kansas.
  http://www.srs.ks.gov/services/Pages/default.aspx

• National Adoption Center - The Center works with social workers and other adoption professionals to bring children and families together.
  http://www.adopt.org

• State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children - In a unique national partnership, AARP Foundation, Brookdale Foundation Group, Casey Family Programs, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund, and Generations United have compiled and released state fact sheets and one national fact sheet that include census data on the number of grandparent caregivers and the children they are raising; a comprehensive list of local programs, resources and services; state foster care policies for kinship caregivers; information about key public benefit programs; important state laws; and national organizations that may be of help.
  www.grandfactsheets.org/state_fact_sheets.cfm

• The Family Friends Program of Children's Mercy Hospital - This program provides support and resources to grandparents who are parenting grandchildren.
  http://www.childrensmercy.org/Content/view.aspx?id=2694

• The Foundation for Grandparenting - A non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grandparents.
http://www.grandparenting.org/

General Information

• National Grandparents Day - http://www.grandparents-day.org.

Legal and Financial Assistance

• AARP Tax Aide Program - Useful if a tax burden has changed after changed after a change in status of a dependent. Local Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs also provide free tax assistance to older adults or call the U.S. Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.
  http://www.aarp.org/taxaide

• American Bar Association - Consumers can find legal help by using the ABA Consumers' Guide to Legal Help.
  http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm

• American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law - A program of the young Lawyers Division, which aims to improve children's lives through advances in law, justice, knowledge, practice and public policy. The areas of expertise include child abuse and neglect, child welfare and protective services system enhancement, foster care, family preservation, termination of parental rights, parental substance abuse, adolescent health, and domestic violence.
  http://www.abanet.org/child/home.html

• Kansas Legal Services - This statewide non-profit organization is dedicated to helping low-income Kansans meet their basic needs through the provision of essential legal, mediation and employment training services.
http://www.kansaslegalservices.org