More About the KIPDA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency, which houses the Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living, 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 primary 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. The DAIL has appropriated funding to the local Area Agencies on Aging in order to assist grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. In the state of Kentucky, an estimated 35,818 grandparents are raising their grandchildren without the assistance of the child’s parents. (See the bottom of this article for the percentages for each of the seven counties served by KIPDA.)

Services are available to grandparents residing in the KIPDA region, which includes Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. The KIPDA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program provides grandparents of any age who are raising their grandchildren (age 18 years of age and younger) with supplemental and supportive services that help grandparents meet the needs of their grandchildren. Supplemental services are provided through a voucher or grant system to assist with the purchase of school supplies, clothing, furniture, legal services, medical and dental services. Also available under Supplemental Services are in- or out-of-home respite services by an agency; certified/licensed individual, or family or non-family member, counseling; and other services as authorized by KIPDA. Grandparents can also access supportive services such as information and assistance, education, counseling, support groups, and training.

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 who are caring for a loved one age 60 years of age or older and to grandparents age 55 years 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. 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.

Other programs and services offered by KIPDA and its provider network include Home Care, Adult Day Center, SHIP Benefits Counseling, Home Delivered Meals, and an array of supportive, health and wellness, and other 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 and Independent Living, (502) 266-5571. If you live outside of Jefferson County, call 1-888-737-3363;  TDD: 1-800-648-6056 or contact us at our website at www.kipda.org.

 

Percentages of Counties Served by KIPDA*
Counties	# of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren	Percentage
Henry	157	51.6%
Jefferson	6,371	48.2%
Oldham	234	32.4%
Shelby	229	41%
Spencer	96	38.2%
Trimble	244	51.6%
Bullitt	575	39.5%
*2000 Census

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