§ 38-144 — Grandparents as caregivers program; administration

(a) In accordance with the provisions of the grandparents as caregivers act and subject to the provisions of appropriation acts, the secretary shall establish a grandparents as caregivers program within the Kansas department for children and families. The program shall be administered in a manner which recognizes that:
(1) The relationship between a child and a parent differs from the relationship between a child and a grandparent;
(2) society and the demands and needs of the members of society change between the time a person raises a child and the time the same person raises a grandchild;
(3) caring for a grandchild often places additional financial, social and psychological strain on grandparents with fixed incomes;
(4) different parenting skills are necessary when raising a grandchild, and many grandparents do not possess such skills, are not aware of how to obtain such skills and cannot afford access to the services necessary to obtain such skills;
(5) grandparents acting as caregivers need a support structure, including counseling for both the grandparent and grandchild, respite care, transportation assistance and child care; and
(6) grandparents are often unaware of medical and other assistance, including cash assistance for which they may be eligible.

Legislative History

L. 2006, ch. 208, § 3; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 51; July 1.