Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency, which houses the Area Agency on Aging, offers an array of services throughout the community to individuals 60 years of age and older and their caregivers. Now KIPDA has the opportunity to help grandparents who have the responsibility of raising their grandchildren.

In December 2006, The Kentucky General Assembly approved funding for the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program, which is administered through the Department for Aging and Independent Living, which appropriated the funding to the local Area Agencies on Aging in order to assist grandparents with the primary responsibility of raising their grandchildren.

Nationally an estimated 4.5 million (which represents 6.3% of children under the age of 18) grandparents report that they are caring for their grandchild without assistance from the child’s parent; this is a 30% increase from 1990 to 2000.  In the state of Kentucky an estimated 57,141 (which represents 5.7% of children under the age of 18) grandparents are raising their grandchild without the assistance of the child’s parents, with an estimated 3,061 (which 11.7% represent children under the age of 18) residing in Louisville.

The KIPDA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program provides services to grandparents of any age who are raising their grandchildren age 18 years of age and younger in order to meet the needs of the grandparents and their grandchildren. To qualify for financial assistance, the grandparent/grandchildren cannot be receiving Kinship Care, with a household income that can not exceed the 150% Federal Poverty Guideline. The services are provided in the KIPDA region, which consists of Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. Support and supplemental services are offered to the grandparent and the grandchild to assist them with those needs. Supplemental services assist with the purchase of school supplies, clothing, legal services, medical and dental services (if the child is not receiving Passport), in- or out-of-home respite services by an agency, certified/licensed individual, or family or non-family member and other services as authorized by KIPDA. While supportive services provide information to the grandparent about available services, assistance with gaining access to those services, counseling, support groups, training and other services are available to the grandparent. 

In addition to the KIPDA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, KIPDA receives funding through the Older Americans Act to administer the National Family Caregiver Program. This program provides services to assist those individuals that are caring for a loved one age 60 years of age or older and to grandparents age 55 year of age or older who are  raising their grandchildren age 18 years of age or younger. The National Family Caregiver Program offered through KIPDA provides information, access assistance, support groups, training, counseling, respite and supplemental services to caregivers and grandparents.  This is a federally funded program and there are no income guidelines to receive the assistance. The KIPDA Family Caregiver Program has also developed a website for caregivers and professionals to access to learn more about resources and services available. This information can be found at www.kipdacares.com.

KIPDA also provides an array of services throughout the KIPDA region to individuals 60 years of age and older. Listed are a few of the services that are provided to seniors, their families and caregivers:

• Home Care that provides in-home services to homebound individuals
• Adult Day Center
• SHIP Benefits Counseling
• Home Delivered Meals
• An array of services provided through senior centers.

If you would like more information on the KIPDA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program or on any of the services, please contact us at:

KIPDA Area Agency on Aging
11520 Commonwealth Drive
Louisville, KY  40299

Call: 502-266-5571
Outside of Jefferson County:  1-888-737-3363
TDD: 1-800-648-6056
Website: www.kipda.org.

Read on to find out ways to make your home safer for granchildren who live with you, or for any young visitors. Then, use the "Child Safety Checklist for Grandparents" to locate and remove any hazards in your home.