Ties That Bind – Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

JFRF is confronting issues impacting grandparents raising grandchildren head on with our new initiative, Ties That Bind. This program is our response to the growing issue of kinship caregivers (usually grandparents) who find themselves in the primary role of parent, raising grandchildren due to unforeseen circumstances. Data suggest that children being raised by grandparents have high rates of chronic physical health conditions, mental health issues, learning disabilities and ADHD. Grandparents also report more problems with health, social and emotional issues.

This program officially launched in January 2016 with a series of school-based support sessions in Portland, Oregon. The program is designed to provide unique peer support, consult and training, with the goal to improve timely access and clarity to resources available to families. Our program exists to create a sustainable model of volunteer-based peer navigators whose knowledge and experience are highlighted to assist newer grandparents in their communities and families.

In 2017, JFRF will launch a dedicated portal to increase access to resources for grandparents in urban and increasingly rural communities. JFRF believes that strengthening the ability of grandparents to address their unique issues will improve outcomes for these at risk children.

Visit our Ties That Bind website to help connect kinship caregivers to support, services and other kinship caregivers. 

Be sure to check our News and Events page for upcoming events!