Did you know that over 266,000 grandparents in Texas are primary caregivers for their grandchildren, often stepping in due to parental substance abuse, neglect or incarceration. Organizations like Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TGRG) provide essential resources, support groups, and advocacy to help these families navigate financial and legal challenges, as many grandparents face poverty, lack of resources and sudden lifestyle changes.
KEY ASPECTS OF GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN IN TEXAS:
Need of Support:Many grandparent caregivers face high costs (roughly $23,000) per year and roughly 23% live in poverty, requiring assistance for food, clothing and legal aid.
Key Support Organization: Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TGRG) based in San Antonio, offers 24+support groups and resources, assisting over 2,800 families across the state, according to YouTube Video.
Challenges: The transition is often abrupt leading to immense strain on retirees’ finances, physical health and emotional well-being.
Resources & Rights: Texas Law Help highlights that caregivers might be eligible for one-time Temporary Assistance for Needy families (TANF) payments and other benefits.
Legal Standing:Texas Family Code Section 153.432 allows grandparents to request visitation or access in certain circumstance, though they do not have automatic, absolute rights.
COMMON REASONS FOR CAREGIVING:
Parents drug or alcohol addition
Neglect or abuse
Incarceration
FEW RESOURCES TO CONTACT:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (https://texaslawhelp.org)
Grandparents raising grandchildren need specialized legal options. Explore legal options like guardianship and grandparent power of attorney to ensure well-being of grandchildren you’re raising. (www.texastrustlaw.com)
National Grandparents Day: Parenting Redux (San Antonio Area Foundation) (https://saafdn.org) (national grandparents day parenting)
The Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Founder is one of our members on one of the agencies as I am a member: Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Mexican-American Mercedes Bristol is a single grandmother in Texas raising her five grandchildren and the Founder of Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. She became an Advocate for grandparents raising grandchildren at City, State and Federal levels.
If you like more information contact Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
San Antonio, TX Ph: 210-762-3208. They are a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under IRS Sec. 501©(3). (Always looking for Volunteers)
Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA/Geriatric Advisor
The Next Horizon Seniors & Military (Veterans/Spouses) Advocate/Resources/Services
Bus. Ph: 210-275-3002
Email: deverb@att.net