Are you raising a second family?  Are you a grandparent who expected to enjoy retirement and the role of spoiling your grandchildren, but due to circumstances beyond your control find yourself raising those grandchildren?  Or, are you an aunt or cousin raising your own family, yet now raising another family member’s children as well?

Grandparents, along with other extended family members, have always been a vital part of the family.  They are the family historians and share secrets and stories with the children in the family.  They can become a child’s best friend.  That role can become challenged when these family member take on the responsibility of raising these children.  The child’s parents may either be unable or unwilling to care for their biological offspring for reasons such as immaturity, divorce, death, chronic illness, substance abuse, incarceration, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, teenage pregnancy, unemployment, poverty or other problems.  Kinship care placement is usually the most nurturing and desirable form of substitute care for at-risk children.

Area 9 In-Home and Community Services Agency is offering a free support group for Kinship Caregivers the second Tuesday of the month.  The program will be held at Area 9, 520 S. 9^th St. and will be held from 6:00 pm till 7:30 pm.  Some of the topics discussed will be the challenges to families when grandchildren need them as parents, how your lifestyle will change, you and your grandchild’s emotional needs, fears and hopes, and how to find help that is available.

There is no fee for the program.  For more information contact Linda Sayne, Caregiver Coordinator or Anita K Williams, Service Coordinator at Area 9 Agency, at 765-966-1795 or 1-800-458-9345.