If you’ve found yourself back in the role of loving parent, but this time, for your grandchild, you are far from alone. About 99,877 Ohio grandparents are living with and raising grandkids, according to Grandfamilies.org.
“It was really scary at first,” says Beverly of Shaker Heights —a retired special education teacher who had custody of her granddaughter for about six years. “I was like a fish out of water. I didn’t know what to do.” (Beverly did not want her last name published to protect her grandchild’s privacy.)
When Beverly’s daughter could no longer raise her child, Beverly stepped in and gained custody. She carefully combed through resources and found the support she needed.
A staff member with the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program (KPIP) through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services plopped a nifty resource guide in her hands — the Ohio Resource Guide for Relatives Caring for Children (available online, too).
“That was very, very helpful. It was my little Bible,” Beverly says. The guide covered medical care, legal issues and financial arrangements.
Beverly’s situation became more complicated because of her granddaughter’s behavioral disorders, separation anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder and other issues.
Beverly contacted OhioGuidestone — a foster care and family services organization that offers mental health and residential care services.“I called on a Friday and they came in the following Monday and went through the whole process of getting her evaluated.”
Eyes on the Prize
No matter how difficult the journey becomes for grandparent or child, it’s important to focus on the outcome. “What they’re doing is not only a gift, but it is critical to the success of our young people,” says Joe Jackson, Senior Manager of Community-Based Services and the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program of the Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services.
When a child ages out of their system, they face greater levels of imprisonment, unprepared-for and unexpected pregnancy, greater odds of not completing school and only a 1 percent chance of completing college.
“What we know is, when children are with a caring, loving, permanent adult —especially kin— they tend to be more stable, have healthier emotional and physical outcomes, do better in school and have more stability in their own relationships in the future. You literally are a critical component in creating a healthier adult, and therefore, a healthier community.” Jackson says.
Support with Every Step
“Our staff is there to support them, whether that means providing beds, providing assistance with clothing — we can do purchase orders for those types of items,” Jackson says. “We want to make the transition from our agency to home, whether it be a foster home or another caregiver into their home as seamless as possible.”
Even if your grandchild is not in the system, there is still support. “We work with grandparents who have never touched the system, but there is money that Ohio has made available to them to provide additional assistance and they can use it for whatever they like,” he adds.
Community-based services (CBS) can also help. “We have 13 neighborhood houses — also called collaboratives — that are around Cuyahoga County and they are very aware of the resources within their communities. They can help that person walk through finding their resources even without coming to the agency,” Jackson says.
Beverly wants grandparents to know they are not alone.“They’re thousands of us out there. Look for resources, get that Ohio Resource Guide — it tells you everything.
“Don’t give up. Even if they go back to their parents, that bond that you’ve built with them will never be broken. Love conquers everything.”
Resources:
Ohio Resource Guide
Odjfs.state.oh.us
What is Kinship Care
cfs.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/What-Kinship-Care
Cuyahoga County Community Based Services
cfs.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/NeighborhoodCollaboratives.aspx
OhioGuidestone
ohioguidestone.org
Government Information
childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/kinship/resourcesforcaregivers/legalinfo/
