GRANDPARENTS
RAISING GRANDCHILDREN
GRANDPARENTS
RAISING GRANDCHILDREN
Parenting isn’t easy – especially the second-time around.
Grandparents or relatives who find themselves in the unexpected position of raising their grandchildren or kin face complex situations. Sharing a household across generations can be more manageable with Duet’s support.
Through the help of these supportive services, grandparents can balance the challenges of a new family dynamic and thrive.
For any grandparents raising grand-kids out there, I’d encourage them to go to a Duet support group for help. It’s been a lifesaver for me.
– Patricia, hopeful grandparent
Support Groups
You are not alone. One way to make the task easier is to connect with other grandparents in the same situation. Support groups give you a place to share experiences, network with others, and find workable solutions to the challenges ahead. If you need emotional support or just an hour to yourself, join one of Duet’s support groups to re-set and restore.
Duet offers ongoing support groups throughout the Valley including East Valley, Central Phoenix, and Far West Valley. If you’re new to Duet’s support groups, please call ahead of time at (602) 274-5022 before attending.
Legal Guidance & Assistance
Raising grandchildren without some form of legal custody can be challenging. Duet can help with legal guidance and assistance. We help determine and offer guidance and assistance for legal options for grandparents in Maricopa County through:
1. Free-of-charge guardianship clinics offered quarterly to provide education and information about legal guardianship issues.
2. Legal document preparation assistance.
Duet staff are here for you to assist in finding the right legal guidance and assistance remedy for you.
Respite Assistance
Are you thinking of sending your grandchildren to summer camp, enrolling them in a local day camp, or after school activities? Duet understands finances may not always allow you to enroll in these types of activities that benefit both grandparents and grandchildren. Duet may be able to help your grandchildren attend these wonderful programs while offering you sometime for yourself through our respite care service which may pay for part or all of the registration fees.
If you are interested in respite assistance, be prepared to:
- Show legal custody, such as guardianship, non-parent custody, etc. for your grandchildren.
- Answer questions about your unique situation. (about a 30 minute process)
- Give the name of the agency that will be providing respite service, along with their full address, phone number and contact person
- Give the start and end dates for the program, and class frequency (i.e. every Mon. and Wed.)
- If approved, it takes 10 business days to process the request.
Call for an appointment to see if you qualify for assistance
Information & Guided Assistance
Wondering where to turn for help? We help you navigate the services and programs available to eligible grandparents with one-on-one assistance and ongoing referrals. We offer benefits and entitlement counseling to help identify the services and programs available to you.
Educational Workshops
We provide educational workshops and seminars that focus on the special needs of grandparents raising grandchildren.
Topics include:
- Financial literacy
- Advocating for the needs of your family
- Guardianship and adoption
- Grandparents as community leaders
- Substance abuse awareness
Grandfamily Outings
To help counteract the challenges of a new living situation, Duet offers monthly family activities and a wide variety of recreational opportunities for grandparents and their grandchildren. These outings are beneficial for the children to meet and socialize with other children in similar circumstances, and give grandparents a chance to simply “be grandparents” and participate in fun activities with their grandchildren. Annual events include a picnic, grandparent’s day outing, and holiday party.
Information and referral resources
We help you identify and navigate the community services and programs available to you to help you continue to live self-sufficiently. We also provide referrals for assistance if there are other issues such as dementia.
Area Agency on Aging:
(602) 264-2255
Senior Help Line:
(602) 264–HELP(4357)
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