Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren on Cape Cod? There are approximately 30,000 grandparents in Massachusetts who have custody of their grandchildren. In Barnstable County in 2017, there were over 1,500 grandparents responsible for grandchildren, with approximately 900 grandparents under the age of 60 and more than 600 over the age of 60 (“Grandparents Raising Grandchildren,” Cape Cod Foster Closet). Available data is likely underreporting the actual number of children in grandfamilies. If you’re a grandparent raising kids on Cape Cod, you’re far from alone.
Grandfamilies face additional and unique challenges that are distinct from parent-headed families. While some needs are similar, kin caregivers lack an automatic legal relationship to the child. So, unlike parents, they may lack the ability to access services for the children and make alternate caregiving plans for the children in the event of the caregivers’ death. Robust kinship navigator programs, healthcare professionals, and online support groups are crucial to supporting grandfamilies and their well-being (State of Grandfamilies Report 2020, Generations United).
Helpful Resources for Grandfamilies
- Cape Cod Foster Closet
- Cape Cod Foster Closet provides material and emotional support to grandparents raising grandchildren. They provide necessary items like clothing, shoes, toys, books, and baby equipment—whatever it takes to raise a child. Cape Cod Foster Closet is also available to answer questions, make referrals, or offer recommendations for other types of services. Additionally, they offer a sympathetic ear.
- Cape Cod Children’s Place
- Cape Cod Children’s Place provides free consultations, referrals, and direct links to resources. They do this for Lower and Outer Cape families with children from birth to 8 years. Support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren are also offered at Cape Cod Children’s Place.
- Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition
- Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition offers services to help grandparents feel supported in bringing up their grandchildren, as well as others who are in a kinship role. They offer support groups and confidential conversations, whether in person, by phone, or by email. Discussing the challenges a grandparent or kin-parent may be facing can be very helpful.
- The Coalition for Children
- The Coalition for Children is a grant-funded education and support program for families with infants, toddlers, or school-age children. Located on Cape Cod in Falmouth and Mashpee, they offer play and learn groups, workshops, parenting classes, support groups, developmental screenings, community events, and links to local childcare providers. Their website has a helpful list of support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren by town in Massachusetts.
- Kind Hearts for Kids, Inc.
- Kind Hearts for Kids, Inc. offers kindness and compassion to children and teenagers in foster and grandparent care, seeking to inspire them to have courage and dreams for their future. Their service area includes Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Wareham. Their most popular service is birthday parties.
- Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
- The purpose of this Commission is to be a resource to the Commonwealth on issues affecting grandparents raising grandchildren and other relatives who are raising kin. All commission members are grandparents raising grandchildren, so they understand what you’re going through. Information about support services, as well as a link to a list of the 50+ support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren in the state, is available on the Support Services tab of their website.
Grandparents raising grandchildren are a welcome part of the Cape Cod Moms community. We would love to buy you a cup of coffee at our Cape Cod Moms coffee meet-ups and/or see you at one of our Wicked Good Playdates. Additionally, upcoming family-friendly events are listed on the Cape Cod Moms Events Calendar. We hope to see you soon!
