#Middlebury
A show of hands, please – how many of us are suddenly raising our grandchildren just when we were about to retire? Or maybe after we’ve already retired and have fewer resources and income? There are 2.5 million of us doing just that.
It wasn’t that long ago that we were on our own if a family situation fell apart and it became necessary for us to take in our grandchildren and raise them. Now we might be able to get some help. A new law was enacted this summer – The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act – after being supported by 40 different advocacy organizations.
The new law will create an advisory council working under the Department of Health and Human Services to figure out what’s needed to help the children when it comes to health, nutrition and education, as well as help with our own mental and physical health. The council is supposed to research how to raise children, locate resources and so on, with an emphasis on children affected by drug addiction. The council was given six months to get their ducks in a row. That six months is now up.
If you’re hooked up with Social Services, give them a call and ask what help you can now get from this new law. We’re supposed to get a one-stop source for contacts and information.
Meanwhile, there are other places to seek help. Start with Grandfamilies.org, which has information and support for those who are raising their grandchildren. Look for the state fact sheets to see what is available in your state. Look at the Search Laws section to make sure you know the local laws. Also go to aarp.org and do a search for “grandparents raising grandchildren.”
(c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.
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