GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

Are you a Caregiver?

Are you caring for a child, related to you, due to neglect, abuse, abandonment or other reasons? Help is available for grandparents and other relatives who are caring for children.

If you are one of many Boone County
grandparents raising their grandchildren, or you are actively involved in their care giving, it is important to remember you are not alone!

There is now a support group available just for you!

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren -
Boone County "Parents Again"
Meets the 4th Tuesday of Each Month
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
The Keen Age Center
2141 Henry Luckow Lane
Belvidere, Illinois

Please consider attending our monthly meeting. Your grandchildren are more than welcome to attend as well. We have child care specialists available, providing meaningful activities.

We have a light pizza supper at 5:00 p.m. The children then are taken to an activity room for the remaining hour. Grandparents then have the opportunity to hear various professionals share information that can help meet needs they may have.

Grandparent caregivers range in age from 30 to 80 or older, and are from all walks of life and all cultural and economic groups. Many of the grandparents are overwhelmed with the situations they face. Many are totally unprepared to deal with the problems facing parents and children of the new millenium.

Mid-life and older grandparent caregivers have many concerns related to the care and responsibility of raising young people. These concerns include: legal issues (custody, guardianship, foster care and adoption); resources for the developmental needs of a child (especially if the child has special needs); and financial assistance that can help them meet the expenses of adding a young person(s) to the household. Coping with these concerns can take a toll on the grandparent's health. Signs of depression and anxiety are common among grandparents raising grandchildren.

Consider your own needs as a caregiver. Watch for signs of sadness or depression, increased blood pressure and fatigue, and back pain - especially if you must lift a very young child.

Who is giving care?

In Illinois, over 70,000 children are being raised in homes where a grandparent or other relative is the sole caregiver.
They are from all walks of life and all cultural and economic groups.
Grandparent caregivers range in age from 30 to 90.
Most have cared for the children five years or longer and are raising 1 to 2 children.
The grandparents' average income is between $15,000 and $25,000.
The majority of grandparents are single women.
You are NOT alone. . .

Many government and private service agencies across the state can provide information and assistance to aid grandparent caregivers as they cope with their new responsibilities. The BCCA can help. If you have information about grandparents raising grandchildren that you would like to share, have questions about this issue, or need further information, please contact the Boone County Council on Aging at 815-544-9893 (Voice and TTY), 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Many grandparents are overwhelmed with the situations they face. Take the case of:

Grace
Her dreams of retirement were shattered when she took her three young grandchildren into her home. Now, at age 60, she is raising a second family - with the limited financial resources of a retired person.

Dorothy and Jim
They are faced with raising an active five-year-old. Dorothy is worried because her grandson is showing signs of having problems in school, and she and Jim are experiencing health problems.

Why is it happening?

Reasons children come to live with relatives are often heartbreaking and tragic. They include:

Drug / alcohol abuse by the parent(s)
Neglect, abuse or abandonment
Death of a parent
HIV / AIDS
Divorce
Unemployment / poverty
Parental incarceration
Teen pregnancy
Welfare reform

Help is available!

The Illinois Department on Aging, in partnership with 13 Area Agencies on Aging including the Boone County Council on Aging, can provide information and assistance to help you locate these other services.

Caregiver Resource Centers
Support Groups
Financial Assistance
Medical coverage for grandchildren
Child Care (under certain circumstances)
Guardianship
Legal Services
Information and assistance
Advocacy with school enrollment and other areas
For more information, Contact the
Boone County Council on Aging at 815-544-9893 (Voice and TDD)
or Call the IL Dept. on Aging Senior Helpline at
1-800-252-8966
www.state.il.us/aging

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