GRAND Magazine - March/April 2013 - (Page 58-59)
grandparents raising grandchildren
Florida’s Relative Caregiver Program
A national model for easing
the financial burden of kinship care
By Terry Field
F
lorida recognizes grandparents as instrumental
to certain relatives who are caring for a dependent child
to ensuring the well-being of children. While the
and links them with services.
ultimate goal is to ensure that kids remain with
Florida’s Relative Caregiver Program provides the
their biological parents in a healthy environment,
caregiver with a monthly cash assistance payment,
sometimes circumstances are so extreme that there
which is greater than traditional cash “welfare”
is no choice but to remove a child from the parents’
payments and is determined by the age of the child in
home. When that happens, grandparents are often
care. Participants may also be eligible for other services
the next best hope for providing these children with a
(including subsidized child care) that support the child’s
stable, loving home.
well-being and healthy development.
Most grandparents derive great joy from this role.
Like other assistance programs, applicants must
But it often brings many challenges and responsibilities,
meet certain eligibility requirements. However,
too. To help strengthen family bonds and relieve
unlike other programs, such as food stamps, the
economic pressures, Florida created the Relative
Relative Caregiver Program does not consider the
Caregiver Program, through the Department of Children
Consequently, most children in the Relative Caregiver
the child. For example, children must maintain up-todate immunization records, and school-age children
must attend school regularly.
While the assistance provided through the Relative
Caregiver Program can never make up for all that is
lost when a child is removed from his or her parents,
it provides much-needed assistance to caregivers who
caregiver’s income and assets in determining eligibility.
and Families. This program provides financial assistance
adhere to rules designed to ensure the well-being of
Program are also eligible for full Medicaid benefits
Relative caregivers in Florida can apply for
assistance online.
58 GRAND
MARCH APRIL 2013
as well as for Florida’s Early and Periodic Screening,
Diagnosis, and Treatment Program.
sacrifice much to ensure the children in their care lead
healthy and happy lives.
Terry Field is an operations
manager with the SunCoast
region of the Florida
department of Children and
Families’ ACCeSS program.
To continue receiving benefits, participants must
MARCH APRIL 2013 GRAND
59
http://www.cas.usf.edu/~krisman/Relativecaregiverfactsheet.htm
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access-florida-food-medical-assistance-cash/temporary-assistance-needy-families-tanf-maintenance-effort-moe-resources
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access-florida-food-medical-assistance-cash/temporary-assistance-needy-families-tanf-maintenance-effort-moe-resources
http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - March/April 2013
GRAND Magazine - March/April 2013
Contents
The New Age Nana’s Guide to Step-Grandparenting
Grandparentland: What a Trip!
Pearls of Wisdom
Grands Make a Hobby More Fun
Earth Day Crafts for Grandkids
Al Gore: America’s Dudley Do-Right
Children’s Movement of Florida
How to Be a Traveler, Not Just a Tourist
Have Grandkids, Will Travel
Six Tips for Safe Travel
News, Products, and Resources for Today’s Grandparents
Cash poor but home-equity rich?
Top New Gizmos for Grands
The Distance Between Us
Florida’s Relative Caregiver Program
GRAND Magazine - March/April 2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112_drm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20161112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20151112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201401112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20131112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20121112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20111112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20101112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201001_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200912_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200911_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200909_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200908_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200907_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200906_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200905_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20080910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200904_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200903_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200902_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20081112_v6
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com