Connecticut Kinship Care Support Groups for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Raising a grandchild or relative's child is isolating in a way that people who have not done it rarely understand. Your friends are retiring and traveling. You are packing school lunches and attending parent-teacher conferences for the second time in your life. Connecticut has several support networks specifically for kinship caregivers, and all of them are free.

GAPS — Grandparents as Parents Support Network

The Grandparents as Parents Support (GAPS) network is facilitated by the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) through regional peer support groups. The groups connect grandparent caregivers with peers navigating the same agencies, court systems, and family dynamics. Meeting schedules vary; call 2-1-1 or your regional AAA for current details.

GAPS groups are not therapy sessions. They are practical: members share which DSS offices processed their applications fastest, how they handled school enrollment pushback, what the probate court filing actually looked like. The emotional support comes naturally from being in a room with people who understand the situation without needing an explanation.

To find the GAPS group nearest you, call 2-1-1 Connecticut or contact your regional Area Agency on Aging:

• Agency on Aging of South Central CT (Greater New Haven area)
• Western CT Area Agency on Aging (Waterbury, Danbury region)
• North Central Area Agency on Aging (Greater Hartford area)
• Eastern CT Area Agency on Aging / Senior Resources (New London, Norwich region)
• Southwestern CT Agency on Aging (Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport region)

UConn Adoption Assistance Program

The University of Connecticut's Adoption Assistance Program (health.uconn.edu/adoption-assistance) maintains a resource hub for relative guardians, not just adoptive parents. Its website lists support group schedules, legal resource directories, and connections to statewide peer networks.

2-1-1 Connecticut and the DCF Kinship Navigator

The 2-1-1 helpline is the state's primary triage resource for kinship caregivers. When you call and describe your situation, the navigator can connect you to:

• Local GAPS meetings and peer groups
• Area Agency on Aging respite grants for caregivers 55 and older
• Free legal aid organizations in your region
• Emergency assistance for food, utility bills, and housing

The DCF Kinship Navigator program operates through 2-1-1 and does not require an open child welfare case. You can self-refer.

Online Groups and National Networks

Connecticut caregivers also connect through:

• AARP GrandFacts — maintains a Connecticut-specific fact sheet with updated benefit summaries and local contacts
• Generations United / Grandfamilies.org — national kinship advocacy network with state-level policy resources
• Facebook groups for Connecticut grandparents raising grandchildren (search "CT Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" or "Connecticut Kinship Caregivers")

Online groups are useful for quick questions at odd hours, but they carry the risk of outdated or incorrect benefit information. Always verify eligibility details with DSS or 2-1-1 directly.

Beyond Emotional Support

Support groups often become the most practical resource in a caregiver's toolkit. It was a GAPS member, not a state website, who first told many Connecticut grandparents that their income does not count toward the TFA child-only grant. The Connecticut Kinship Financial Help Guide pairs that kind of peer-sourced knowledge with verified program details, agency contacts, and document checklists so you are not relying on memory alone.

See more Connecticut guides →