Respite Care and Support Groups for Kinship Caregivers in California

Raising a grandchild at 65 is physically and emotionally exhausting in ways that no amount of love entirely fixes. Respite care — someone watching the child so you can rest, see a doctor, or just sit in silence for a few hours — isn't a luxury. It's what keeps the arrangement sustainable.

KSSP Respite Care

The Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) is funded by some California counties through community-based providers. Participating counties may offer respite care and support groups, but availability and services vary by county. Ask your county or call 2-1-1 to find out what is available locally.

Where a local KSSP is available, informal relative caregivers may be able to access respite without a court order, guardianship, or CPS involvement. Contact your county or call 2-1-1 to ask about local availability.

Area Agencies on Aging (Title III-E)

If you're 55 or older and raising a minor grandchild or relative under 18, you qualify for services under the National Family Caregiver Support Program, administered locally through California's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Services include:

• Respite care — temporary relief may be available, depending on the agency's services and funding
• Caregiver training — ask the local agency what training it offers
• Limited emergency supplemental funds — some AAAs offer limited emergency help for caregiving needs

AAA services are separate from KSSP and can be used alongside them. Find your local AAA at aging.ca.gov or call the California Aging and Adult Information Line at 1-800-510-2020.

Support Groups

Peer support groups connect you with other grandparents and relatives in the same situation. They're run by KSSP providers, faith organizations, hospitals, and nonprofits across the state. What they offer isn't clinical therapy — it's practical solidarity: people who understand why you're tired, frustrated, and fiercely committed all at once.

Support group schedules and formats vary by provider. To find one:

• Ask your county KSSP provider, if one is available in your area
• Call 2-1-1 and ask for kinship caregiver support groups

Emergency Child Care Bridge Program

If the child was placed with you through child welfare services, the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program provides temporary childcare vouchers for 6–12 months while you secure long-term subsidized care. The program pairs you with a Child Care Navigator who helps you find and enroll in CalWORKs Stage 2 or Stage 3 childcare.

Bridge Program enrollment goes through the county child welfare agency. It's not available for informal kinship arrangements, but it's worth knowing about if CPS is involved.

The Burnout Problem

AARP data shows that grandparent caregivers experience higher rates of depression, chronic pain, and social isolation than non-caregiving peers. Many put off their own medical appointments, skip social activities, and drain retirement savings — not because they're unwilling to ask for help, but because they don't know what's available.

Respite care and support groups can help make caregiving more sustainable. Ask your local provider about availability, cost, and scheduling; using support is a way to plan for the long haul.

The California kinship financial help guide includes the full range of support services alongside the financial programs, so you can build a sustainable plan that covers money, health coverage, childcare, and your own well-being.

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