2023 Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP)

The Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) aims to develop or expand services for grandparents or other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting when the biological parents are unable to do so.

Goals of the Relatives as Parents Programs:

• Supportive services to relative caregivers and the children they are raising, with emphasis on relative caregiving families that are not in the formal foster care system.
  
• Start new or expand current services in response to caregiver and family needs.
  
• Services and assistance to relative caregivers and the children in their care must include regular ongoing support, educational or social groups, and at least two of the following:
• Benefits and legal guidance
• Educational seminars
• Individual and/or family counseling
• Health care services
• Childcare
• Housing assistance
• Children’s services
• Group recreational activities
• Transportation assistance
• Services to special populations
• Services with local schools
• Mental health services 
• Other programmatic initiatives
• Establish collaboration with community organizations and other service systems such as family services, childcare, aging, education, legal, health care, mental health, and extension services.
• Initiate programs that have an assurance of continuity beyond the two-year grant period; and
• Create replicable models of cost-effective, quality services across the region 

Priority will be given to those agencies that have access to relative caregivers, provide supportive services and demonstrate broad community involvement and support.

RAPP offers Local/Regional and Statewide initiatives:

• Local/Regional Initiative: Each selected organization will receive a seed grant of $30,000 ($20,000 year one and $10,000 tier two), contingent on progress made during year one and potential for continuity in the future. On-going technical assistance will be provided. 

For General and Additional guidelines for the Local/Regional initiative: http://www.brookdalefoundation.net/RAPP/2023RAPP/RAPP%20RFP%20Guidelines2023local%20and%20regional%20guidelinespdf.pdf#page=1

• Statewide Initiative: The Initiative provides $30,000 in funding ($20,000 first year and $10,000 tier two) for State Agencies that have demonstrated a commitment to relative caregiving activities, especially for relative caregiving families outside of the formal system.

For a list of Requirements and Sponsor Responsibilities for the Statewide initiative: http://www.brookdalefoundation.net/RAPP/2023RAPP/state%20RFP%20guidelines2023rapp.pdf#page=1