Resources for Caregivers

Kinship Care Program

A Time for You

This is the time. This is the time you have been working for all of your adult life. You have reached the time when you have raised your children and sent them off to adulthood. This is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and reflect on all the memories of raising your family.

This is now the time. The time you did not plan for or count on arriving at your doorstep. Now is the time when your grandchild or niece or nephew or cousin arrives suddenly to fill your home again with the sounds of childhood. The children you raised to adulthood became parents themselves. The children you raised came across hard times and no longer are capable of raising their own children. The moment has come in your life when it is no longer the time for reflection and memories of raising children. Instead, it becomes your reality again.

Now is the time you answer the call for help and offer your family a home.

Does this sound like you? Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren? Are you an aunt or uncle or cousin raising your relative’s children?

If this sounds like you, we are here to help.

We are here to help you find time for you, in the midst of all your new parenting (again) responsibilities, by answering your questions and guiding you toward resources that may benefit you and your family.

A Time for You...

  • ...To obtain the information and the help you need, when you need it;
  • ...To attend a support group and make new friends who are parenting again just like you;
  • ...To reach out for support in raising children, with possible financial assistance and other resources to improve your quality of life;
  • ...To realize you are not alone in this new found responsibility of raising minor children again and to connect you with other kinship caregivers, providing a community of support.

We are in your community...

We are the Kinship Care Support Program with the Olympic Area Agency on Aging and we are located in the 4 county area of Jefferson, Clallam, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

We have community specialists available to meet with you in person, by phone or email in each of the 4 counties we serve, to offer support with the following resources:

Provide once a year funding to benefit the relative children in your care, complimenting the care you furnish, which may include funding for:

  • Food, clothing, transportation, household items
  • School uniforms, supplies, field trips, band instruments
  • Sports and youth activity registrations, fees, uniforms, tutoring
  • One-time help with rent or utilities to prevent eviction or shut-off
  • Tutoring or transition counseling

Please contact our Kinship Care Support Staff regarding any of the resources we offer or any questions you may have about our program. Listed below is our contact information for your county of residence:

  • East Clallam & Jefferson Counties
    Carolyn Lindley
    360-417-8554
    1-866-450-3152
    Email Us
  • West Clallam & Jefferson Counties
    Susie Brandelius
    360-374-9496
    1-888-571-6559
    Email Us
  • Grays Harbor County
    Eric Nessa
    360-538-2458
    1-866-582-1485
    Email Us
  • Pacific County
    Linda Green
    360-942-2177
    1- 888-571-6557
    Email Us

Support Group Locations

We have Kinship Care “Meet and Greet” Groups, where everyone is free to share in a friendly, confidential and safe environment. Check for a support group in your area support group Adobe PDF

Selected Kinship Caregiver Links

Click on the following links to view some of the non-profit and government sponsored Internet sites that provide helpful information for caregivers.