Grandparent Caregiver Support Groups in Massachusetts

Where to Find a Support Group

Massachusetts has a stronger network of kinship caregiver support groups than most states, largely because of the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (MassGRG). The commission was established by state legislation in 2008, and one of its ongoing functions is maintaining a schedule of regional support group meetings across the commonwealth.

The MassGRG website (massgrg.com) lists active groups by region. Meetings typically run monthly at community centers, churches, or Family Resource Center locations, and they are free. Some groups arrange guest speakers — legal aid attorneys, DTA caseworkers, school enrollment specialists — while others are peer-led conversations where caregivers share what is and is not working.

MassGRG and the Commission

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is a state body, not a charity. It was created to study the needs of relative caregivers and recommend policy changes. Along the way, it has become one of the most useful clearinghouses for practical information: tip sheets on TAFDC child-only grants, financial resource guides, and event announcements.

The commission does not handle benefit applications or provide legal advice. What it does well is connect you to people who understand your specific situation — other grandparents who have navigated the same agencies, filled out the same forms, and dealt with the same caseworkers.

Family Resource Centers

Massachusetts has Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in every county. These centers run their own support groups, parenting workshops, and emergency referral programs. Many FRCs specifically serve kinship families and can help with:

• Connecting you to food pantries, clothing closets, and emergency assistance
• Walking you through benefit applications alongside the Kinship Navigator helpline
• Providing a meeting space for caregiver peer groups
• Referring you to free legal aid for guardianship questions

Your nearest FRC can be found through the DCF Kinship Navigator at 1-844-924-4546, or by searching the Family Resource Center directory on mass.gov.

MassOptions for Caregivers 55 and Older

If you are 55 or older and raising a grandchild or relative's child, the Executive Office of Aging and Independence runs the Family Caregiver Support Program through MassOptions. Call 1-800-243-4636 to be connected with a regional Caregiver Specialist who can arrange:

• Respite care (temporary relief so you can attend to your own medical appointments or rest)
• Counseling and emotional support referrals
• One-on-one help navigating benefit systems
• Connection to local Area Agencies on Aging and Senior Centers

This program serves caregivers aged 55 and older who are raising children under 18 — regardless of whether you have legal custody, guardianship, or an informal care arrangement.

What Support Groups Are Actually Good For

The practical value of a support group goes beyond emotional relief, though that matters too. Experienced caregivers in these groups often know which local DTA offices handle child-only cases smoothly, which pediatricians accept MassHealth without a fight, and which schools will enroll a child on a caregiver authorization affidavit without resistance.

That local, word-of-mouth knowledge does not appear on any government website. If you are early in the process of applying for financial help for a child you are raising, attending one meeting may save you several frustrating phone calls.

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