Louisiana GOEA Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

What GOEA Offers Kinship Grandparents

The Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs runs programs specifically for grandparents aged 55 and older who are raising minor children. Funded through Title III-E of the Older Americans Act (the National Family Caregiver Support Program), these services reach caregivers through Louisiana's nine regional Area Agencies on Aging.

The available services include:

• Respite care grants — funding for temporary childcare so the grandparent can rest, attend medical appointments, or handle administrative errands. Respite can mean a few hours of in-home help or several days of substitute care.
• Caregiver support groups — facilitated groups where grandparents raising grandchildren share practical strategies and emotional support with others in the same situation.
• Counseling services — individual counseling to manage the stress, grief, and family dynamics that come with unexpected kinship care.
• Material assistance — help with school supplies, clothing, and other child-related expenses that fall outside what cash benefit programs cover.

These services supplement cash programs like KCSP and FITAP. Receiving GOEA support does not reduce your benefit allotments under any other program.

How the Area Agencies on Aging Work

GOEA does not deliver services directly. Instead, it funds nine regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), each covering a cluster of parishes. The AAA for your parish manages intake, determines what services are available in your area, and connects you with local providers.

To find your AAA, use the GOEA Area Agencies on Aging directory to locate the office serving your parish. You can also dial 211 to reach the Kinship Navigator Program and ask for local referrals.

The Grandparent Resource Guide

GOEA publishes the Grandparent Resource Guide, revised January 2026, which provides an overview of custody options, visitation rights, and public benefits available to older caregivers. The guide is available free online through the GOEA website and through LouisianaLawHelp.org.

The resource guide gives a useful high-level overview, but it does not replace program-specific application instructions or document checklists. It is a starting point, not a step-by-step manual.

Who Qualifies

The age threshold is 55, not 60. Grandparents and other relatives aged 55 and older who are the primary caregiver for a minor child qualify for GOEA's kinship-specific services. You do not need to prove income eligibility or hold formal legal custody — the services are available based on age and caregiving role.

For younger relatives (aunts, siblings, cousins under 55), GOEA services are generally not available, but the Kinship Navigator Program (dial 211 or text KINSHIPLA to 898-211) can help connect you with other community resources.

The Louisiana Kinship Financial Help guide covers GOEA alongside every cash, food, health, and childcare program in one organized reference — including the documents you need and the steps to apply for each.

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