If you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren you are not alone. There are approximately 2.5 million grandparents in the US who are solely responsible for the basic needs of their grandchildren. In Cumberland County, 3,783 grandparents are raising their grandchildren.
Having someone who understands what you are going through can make a world of difference. The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County hosts a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group just for this reason. Our support group meets monthly and provides a way for grandparents to share stories and tips, spend time with others who are in similar situations and learn about services available in the community. Meetings are typically the 3rd Tuesday at the Partnership for Children’s Family Resource Center from 10:00 am-Noon. Upcoming meetings:
| Month | Subject | Topic | Theme | Focus |
| August 20, 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| September 17, 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| October 15, 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| November 19, 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| December 17, 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| January 14, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| February 18, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| March 17, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| April 21, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| May 19, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
The program is funded by a grant from the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging. To learn more about the Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Support Group, contact the Partnership’s Family Support Caseworkers at (910) 867-9700.
Additional Resources for Grandparent Support
Websites
- Grandparents Magazine – www.grandparentsmagazine.net. Articles, craft ideas, product reviews, book reviews, and more
- Grandparents.com – www.grandparents.com. Activities, recipes, articles, and advice
- AARP Grandparent Information Center – www.aarp.org/families/grandparents. Wide variety of resources for grandparents raising grandchildren
Books
All of these books are available in the Eva L. Hansen Resource Lending Library located within the PFC Family Resource Center.
- Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising A Second Family by Sylvie Toledo
- Raising our Children’s Children by Deborah Doucette-Dudman
- To Grandma’s House, We Stay by Sally Houtman
- Grandparenting in a Changing World by Eda LeShan
Community Organizations
- Child Advocacy Center: (910) 486-9700
- Cumberland County Department of Social Services: (910) 323-1540
- Cumberland County Health Department: (910) 433-3600
- CC Coordinating Council on Older Adults: (910) 484-0111
- Legal Aid: (910) 483-0400
- Tokay Senior Fitness Center: (910) 488-6120
- The Mid-Carolina Area Agency on Aging: (910) 323-4191
- Partnership for Children of Cumberland County: (910) 867-9700
