AAA7 Receives 2nd Year Grant For Grandparents

Portsmouth, Ohio – The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. (AAA7) was notified that the “Relatives as Parents Program” (RAPP) was selected for second-year funding by The Brookdale Foundation of New York.

AAA7 began the first local RAPP initiative in 2003-2004. The program is designed to provide accessible support groups and other supportive services to relative caregivers, usually grandparents, and the children in their care. It encourages cooperation and collaboration among various service delivery systems, such as education, legal, health care and other services devoted to providing resources and information to grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting. Evidence of this achievement came this fall when the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (O4A) presented the Relatives as Parents Program with the Partnership of the Year award given jointly to AAA7 and the Lakeside Community Church that has been generous with their contributions to the kinship support groups.

The Brookdale Foundation conducted a site visit to Portsmouth in November. Merritt Sessor, AAA7 community services supervisor, is pleased with their review. “It was noted that our model is unique in the way we integrate the grandchildren into the programming.” She also gives credit to the grandparents who are participating in the program. “It is hard to raise one family. These individuals are now raising a second family. It is a big responsibility, but one filled with lots of love.”

Pamela K. Matura, AAA7 executive director, believes that intergenerational programming is critical to the quality of the seniors’ lives and to the development of the grandchildren. “We are honored to receive this funding that is extended to only 15 organizations across the United States and are looking forward to the second year of providing these services.”

For more information about all services and programs offered by the Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc., call 800-582-7277 or visit the website at http://www.aaa7.org.