Connecticut Area Agency on Aging Respite Grants for Grandparent Caregivers

A Program Most Grandparents Don't Know Exists

Connecticut's five Area Agencies on Aging administer the National Family Caregiver Support Program — funded under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act — and it includes a provision specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. If you're 55 or older and raising a minor child (or caring for an adult child with a disability), you can access respite grants, emergency funds, and direct support that operates entirely outside the DSS and DCF systems.

This is a federal aging program separate from DSS and DCF benefits, delivered through local agencies. Ask your Area Agency on Aging about eligibility, available funding, and any local limits.

What the Grants Cover

The Title III-E funds flowing through Connecticut's AAAs can pay for:

• Respite care — temporary relief so you can attend medical appointments, rest, or handle personal business. This can include paid daycare, a temporary sitter, or a short-term residential program.
• Direct childcare costs — summer camp enrollment, after-school programs, tutoring
• Emergency supplies — clothing, bedding, furniture for the child's room
• Utility and housing support — help with rent deposits, utility arrears, or emergency housing repairs

The specific amounts and categories vary by agency and by year, because each AAA allocates its federal allotment based on local demand. Grants are annual and typically have a cap per family.

Connecticut's Five AAAs

Your regional AAA is determined by where you live:

• Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut — Greater New Haven area
• Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (WCAAA) — Waterbury, Danbury, and surrounding towns
• North Central Area Agency on Aging — Greater Hartford region
• Eastern Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (Senior Resources) — Eastern Connecticut
• Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging — Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk area

Each agency maintains its own intake process, and some have dedicated grandparent caregiver coordinators.

The GAPS Network

Connecticut runs the Grandparents as Parents Support (GAPS) network through the Department of Aging and Disability Services. GAPS coordinates peer support groups across the state where grandparent caregivers meet regularly to share practical advice, emotional support, and navigate administrative processes together.

These groups are more than emotional outlets — they're often the fastest way to learn which local grants are available, which AAA staff members are responsive, and how other grandparents solved specific bureaucratic problems.

UConn Health's Adoption Assistance Program also maintains a relative guardian resource hub and coordinates with the GAPS network for support group meetings.

How to Access Title III-E Grants

Start by calling your regional AAA directly or by calling 2-1-1 Connecticut and asking for grandparent caregiver services. You don't need DCF involvement, a court order, or any other legal arrangement — just verification that you're 55 or older and raising a child.

The intake process is simpler than DSS or DCF applications. You'll typically speak with a caregiver support coordinator who assesses your needs and connects you with available grant funds.

How This Fits With Other Programs

Title III-E is administered separately from TFA, SNAP, HUSKY, and Care 4 Kids. Ask your Area Agency on Aging and DSS how a particular grant payment should be reported and whether it affects your benefit calculation.

The one exception: if you receive a DCF Subsidized Guardianship stipend, you are generally not eligible for the Probate Court's kinship and respite funds — but you can still access Title III-E through the AAAs, because those are federally funded aging programs, not court-administered grants.

Our Connecticut kinship financial help guide includes the full directory of every program available to grandparent caregivers, organized by your specific caregiving arrangement, with the application steps and documents each one requires.

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