Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Grandparents Support Group

The Lowndes/Brooks County Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group held its first meeting of the year, allowing grandparents to discuss the rigors of raising grandchildren and learn about legal and government aid available to them.

This month’s meeting featured paralegal Dawn Best from Georgia Legal Services’ Valdosta office and Carrie Hickman from the Division of Family and Children Services.

During the meeting, Best expounded on The Kinship Care Project and Senate Bill 88, which creates power of attorney for the care of a grandchild. Best also discussed the differences between legal custody, temporary guardianship and adoption, as well as the process for appealing denial of assistance by DFCS.

Hickman then informed the grandparents of available government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps and temporary assistance to needy families (TANF), and eligibility requirements.

The grandparents who attended discussed topics from financial hardship to disciplinary problems with their grandchildren.

Full Article and Source:
Grandparents raising grandchildren

No comments: