That is fantastic. I sincerely hope you are able to get grandparents like us compensated by the state when we step up without the state's involvement. It's going to take us literally years and years to pay off the $3,500 just getting legal custody cost us in legal fees. And neither bio parent has ever paid child support so we've taken the financial hit for every single diaper, can of formula, clothes, etc.

It is getting more and more common for grandparents to raise their grands and we deserve at least as much financial assistance as single parents get --they're the ones who actually CREATED these children.

It's the State fault, they tell them we can't help you unless you are a family, so the stupid people have kid's. It would be much cheaper for the State to just help those who need it without adding another mouth to feed, as well as medical bills.

I'm in the exact same place, JMJ. In Texas, there are a couple of tiny things you could do if you haven't already. First, file for child support with the Attorney General's office. They will open a case, which will establish you have had custody and the parents will be ordered to pay some sort of child support, whether they actually work or not. This is not to actually get you money, because the state will take their cut first for any Medicaid the children get. The kids should qualify for Medicaid, no matter your income. Also, a family services lady had me complete the forms for food stamps, TANF, Medicaid, etc. Those are all on one form. The only thing the kids will qualify for is the Medicaid, and supposedly the TANF for grandchildren, which is almost nothing in Texas, like $75 a month (35 a child). Your Attorney General does not care about abuse or neglect, they figure that is CPSs job, but they DO want some parent to pay for Medicaid! The family services place that helped me, for free, and gave me some vouchers ($1800 toward attorney fees and $250 for clothing for the boys), was the Casey Family Services. You can see if they have a chapter in your area.

Here in MO I get Day care help even though I don't work but because i am unable to work and my children have emtional issues. I get SSI on the child with aspergers We all get TANF on the other two children. but in MO it is more than in TX we get 250 for two children. We have an order for childsupport it is 800.dollars but never see it. If they where to pay it the state would take what they owe them first. All this is based on the childs income. Food stamp are based on our total income so don't get them as we make to much money for a family of 5 with hubbys job and SSI . The state didn't take or remove the child from the bio parents. But nobody helped pay for legal fees when we went after custody of the kids. We had to pay for guardenship our selfs. DFS or CPS as some may call it had nothing to do with it. We do know what it is like to go in debt for that cost. But it was worth it for us to know that someone wasn't going to knock at our door and say I am taking the kids. We were lucky that we had a tax refund that year to apply to the legal fees.

Florida has a program though the children and family services known as the care giver program, but you apply and they find a way for your application to be denied. The first time I applied I included my income and was denied based on that. then I was told I dont have to put my income so I reapplied as the grand parent then they denied me as they told me I refused to work with child support enforcement, but I did not refuse! So now I have to go have an interview with the child support office. In the mean time I am going through the motions for legal custody and hopefully that will get me the assistance I am requesting!

The women on the phone at the Children and Family Services are so rude! The first one would not listen me that when I was trying to explain that the application was not for me but for the GD. So I had to request a supervisor on the phone. Finally she listened and then she said, oh I dont know why they told you that, and I said because they will not let you get a frickin word in edge wise! Then when you try to communicate nicely with them they accuse you of being difficult, and announce that they are ending the conversation! What a mess the system is in! I mean we are already under a stressful situation and having someone talk down to me puts me over the edge! Ugh!

I don't even want cash or a food card I just need help with child care, but you have to apply for all of it to get the referral for the child care! Is that crazy or what! All I need is a referral!

I think no matter what if you are a grand parent taking care of your grand kids you should get some sort of assistance from the state without having to go through all this! What a scam!

You are absolutely right in that grandparents have no rights. Florida Supreme Court stated it is "traditional" for bio parents to have all the rights. No state has ever designated what a "fit" parent is. My book: "Born Into Love" is all about this subject and has stories of grandparents, studies, statistics and points out strongly that grandparents need to have legal standing in the courts. It is at the publisher now, in production phase, hopefully will be ready for shelves by spring. I am going to send copies to everyone I believe can have an impact. My hope is that this will be the tool for grandparents to have a universal voice. My gs is now 20 but I will continue to advocate because it is just plain wrong that we must give up our lives, our finances, our freedom, because we love our grandchildren. Make your voice heard any place you can. Don't sit back and take it. If the cps worker is rude, ask for a supervisor and don't give up until you speak to one. You can also go to your State Department on Aging and s/be able to get advice, help w/agencies, etc.

Ok my State Representive got back to me, and his staff is going to look over my issues and even said I had some valid concerns that should be addressed! His staff is going to inform me of any public meeting pertaining to the issue so if I want to go to any of them I'll know when and where they will be!

We also had to pay attorney fees, over ten thousand dollars, to get custody and then to fight to keep custody. We receive medical coupon, and some help with day care.When we fill out forms it is to be based on the child's income, which is zero.But last month when I went to renew, the caseworker wanted me to prove my income. So we had to go around about that. It is not based on my income. There is a huge turnover in these jobs, and rarely do you get someone who really knows what they are doing. We want to adopt, and when and if we can ever get daughter to sign off, we will loose or grandson's medical.
He has asthma and was born very premature and sees a doctor almost every month. I have gotten the attention of my state senator, and local legislators. If my grandson was under CPS custody even adoption attorney fees would be paid and he would be able to keep medical, and get a monthly cost of living fee. All I want is medical. This is so nuts. Why are we different? We never received any child support either,well, only a few dollars in the beginning garnished from an unemployment check, even though it was court ordered.
You should be able to get TANF. I spoke to a support enforcement officer who just happened to be at DSHS office when I inquired about it, and she said they would not go after parents if you have restraining order or can prove they are violent. Sometimes we have reasons why we don't want to agitate a bio parent.I chose not to do this even though we have restraining orders on both bios. This SE officer told us the system should be falling all over themselves to help us, because we save the state and Feds millions. We stepped in before major trauma occurred.. we could see the writing on the wall.
And the reason we went through attorney instead of waiting for CPS to get involved, in the beginning is because we heard so many bad stories about how it just depends on who you get on the phone with these case workers etc.
We need to keep e mailing them. Better chance to get their attention when they are not in session.