Relatives as Parents Initiatives

The RAPP Local Initiative enables local agencies to:

Provide accessible support groups and other supportive services to relative caregivers and the children in their care;
Encourage cooperation and collaboration among various service delivery systems (i.e., child care, mental health, aging, family services, education, legal and health care);
Ensure the development, expansion and future continuity of local services; and
Create replicable models of service.

The RAPP Regional Initiative asks grantees to:

Serve a broad geographic area and support the development of a variety of local or regional group activities.
Assist local organizations to develop and operate services for relative caregivers and their families
Establish a broad-based Regional Advisory Committee to bring together representatives from various fields and communities to: facilitate program goals and serve as a focal point of information on programs and policies; stimulate the development of services to caregivers and their families across the region; and link local programs and interested agencies into a regional network to address the issues and service needs of relative caregivers and their families.

The RAPP Statewide Initiative requires State grantees to:

Initiate five new relative support groups in different parts of the state under the sponsorship and support of local agencies;
Develop a statewide Network of local organizations that link current programs and interested agencies; provide guidance and information to local communities; stimulate the expansion of services to grandparent caregivers and their families; and
Establish or expand an inter-system “Task Force” or committee of public state agencies and statewide organizations on the issue of relatives as surrogate parents.