Illinois Department on Aging Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

The State Program Most Grandparent Caregivers Do Not Know About

Over 71,000 grandparents in Illinois serve as primary caregivers for their grandchildren. The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) runs a program specifically for them — the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program — but many caregivers never find out about it because it sits inside the aging services system rather than the child welfare system.

The program does not provide direct cash payments. What it does provide is a statewide network of support that connects grandparent caregivers to legal referrals, support groups, respite care, and gap-filling assistance through 13 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across Illinois.

The Senior HelpLine: Your First Call

The fastest way into the program is the IDoA Senior HelpLine:

1-800-252-8966 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

The HelpLine is a statewide phone triage service. When you call and explain that you are a grandparent (or other older relative) raising a grandchild, they will:

• Connect you with your local Area Agency on Aging
• Provide referrals to legal aid organizations in your area
• Direct you to local grandparent support groups
• Share information about respite care, counseling, and emergency assistance programs

HelpLine staff cannot draft legal documents or represent you at a school enrollment office. They are an information and referral service — the starting point, not the destination. But for a grandparent who is overwhelmed and does not know where to begin, this one call connects multiple threads.

What Area Agencies on Aging Provide

Illinois has 13 AAAs, each covering a geographic region of the state. Through the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, these agencies offer:

Support groups: Regular meetings (in-person and sometimes virtual) where grandparent caregivers share experiences, strategies, and emotional support. For caregivers isolated by the sudden responsibility of raising a grandchild — often at an age when they expected to be retiring — these groups reduce isolation.

Case coordination: An AAA case coordinator can help you navigate the patchwork of services available to kinship families, connecting you to food assistance, utility help, transportation, and housing programs in your county.

Gap-filling grants: Some AAAs administer small grants for kinship families to cover immediate needs — school supplies, clothing, car seats, or utility bills. Availability and amounts vary by region and funding year. Ask your local AAA what is currently available.

Respite care referrals: Temporary relief for caregivers who need a break. Respite can mean a few hours of in-home care, a day program, or an overnight stay, depending on what your local AAA has arranged.

Legal referrals: AAAs connect caregivers to legal aid organizations — including Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) for self-help form builders and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) for free guardianship assistance in Cook County.

Finding Your Area Agency on Aging

You can find your local AAA by:

• Calling the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966
• Visiting the IDoA website and using the service locator
• Contacting the IDoA directly at their Springfield office

The 13 AAAs cover all 102 Illinois counties. Whether you are in Chicago, the collar counties, or a rural downstate community, there is an agency assigned to your area.

What the Program Does Not Cover

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program is not a substitute for legal documentation. It will not give you authority to consent to medical treatment, sign school forms, or make decisions for a grandchild. For that, you need the statutory instruments — the Short-Term Guardian appointment under 755 ILCS 5/11-5.4, ISBE Form 85-51 for school enrollment, or a Health Care Power of Attorney.

The program also does not replace financial assistance programs like TANF Child-Only cash grants, All Kids (Medicaid), or SNAP. Those are administered through the Illinois Department of Human Services via the ABE portal at abe.illinois.gov.

Think of the IDoA program as the connective tissue — it helps you find and access everything else, especially when you are starting from zero and do not know what is available.

Combining the Program with Proper Documentation

The most effective approach for grandparent caregivers in Illinois is to use the IDoA program for support and referrals while getting your legal documentation in order independently. The Illinois School and Medical Consent Guide covers the forms and steps for school enrollment, medical consent, and benefits access — the practical paperwork that the Senior HelpLine points you toward but cannot complete for you.

See more Illinois guides →