Rhode Island OHA and YMCA Grandparent Caregiver Programs

Raising a grandchild costs money and energy you may not have planned for. Rhode Island runs several free programs specifically for grandparent caregivers, but the eligibility rules and geographic coverage vary. Here is what is actually available and who qualifies.

Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) Kinship Support

The Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging funds kinship support services through its aging services network. OHA's programs include kinship grants, caregiver support services, and connections to community resources. You can reach OHA at (401) 462-4444 or through The Point — Rhode Island's information and referral service for older adults, accessible at (401) 462-4444.

The primary limitation: OHA programs are designed for older adults. Many of the funded services are available only to caregivers aged 55 and older. If you are an aunt or uncle under 55 raising a niece or nephew, OHA's age-gated programs may not be open to you.

YMCA of Pawtucket Grandparents as Caregivers Program

OHA partners with the YMCA of Pawtucket to run the Grandparents as Caregivers Program, serving families in the greater Providence, Pawtucket, Lincoln, and Woonsocket areas. The program offers after-school care, summer camp scholarships, and free YMCA-based programs for grandchildren.

Eligibility requires the child's primary caregiver to be age 55 or older. The program does not serve caregivers under 55, and geographic coverage is limited to the communities the YMCA of Pawtucket serves.

Contact the YMCA of Pawtucket directly to confirm current enrollment and service availability. These programs run on grant funding and capacity limits apply.

The Village for RI Foster and Adoptive Families

The Village serves kinship, foster, and adoptive families across Rhode Island with peer support groups, community closets (free clothing and supplies), and family events. Unlike OHA programs, The Village does not have a minimum age for caregivers.

The Village is a peer support and community organization, not a legal services provider. They will not prepare your guardianship paperwork or attend school enrollment meetings with you, but they connect you with other grandparents and relatives navigating the same challenges.

Kinship Navigator Services

Rhode Island's formal Kinship Navigator services are primarily oriented toward families involved with DCYF — meaning cases where the state has placed a child with a relative through the child welfare system. For informal kinship caregivers operating outside DCYF, navigator coverage is more limited.

If you are raising a child informally and need navigation help, start with The Point at (401) 462-4444 for referrals to available community services.

Legal Aid

For legal help with guardianship filings, custody questions, or school enrollment disputes:

• Rhode Island Legal Services' Volunteer Lawyer Program — (401) 421-7758 or 1-800-339-7758. It screens low-income applicants for civil matters, including housing and guardianship; accepted attorney services are free, though court fees may apply.
• Rhode Island Center for Justice — (401) 491-1101. Its legal practice includes education law and disputes with public schools, with representation provided through community partnerships.

Both organizations have limited capacity and prioritize emergency cases. If your situation is not urgent, expect a waitlist.

What These Programs Do Not Cover

None of these programs will prepare the specific consent documents you need for school enrollment or medical appointments. They provide support, referrals, and community connection — valuable resources, but not a replacement for having the right paperwork ready when you walk into the registration office or the pediatrician's clinic.

The Rhode Island School and Medical Consent Guide covers the document preparation side — the consent forms, school enrollment steps, and medical consent pathways that these support programs do not address.

See more Rhode Island guides →