Shelby County Relative
Caregiver Program The Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program is a comprehensive
public/private collaboration designed to support children whose parents are not
able to raise them, and are being cared for by a grandmother, aunt, uncle, or
other extended family members. Program staff respect what is unique and
special within each family, provide accurate, easy-to-follow information about
existing resources available to families, and fill in gaps where services are
not available.
Program Eligiblity
- The Relative Caregiver must have primary care and control of the child through informal family arrangements or through legal custody or guardianship.
- The Relative Cargiver must be related to the child(ren) by blood, marriage or adoption. Proof of relationship is required to receive services.
- In order to receive emergency financial or start-up assistance from RCP, the Relative Caregiver family must not be in reciept of any type of kinship payment or subsidy (i.e. foster care board payment, Families First Kinship Care payment, or subsidized guardianship) and the household income cannot exceed twice (2X) the current federal poverty guideline.
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Services Offered
- Family Advocacy/Shorterm Case Management
- Youth and Teen Activitiy Groups
- Emergency One-time Financial or Start-up Assistance
- Educational Workshops
- Information and Referral
- Respite and Recreation
- Caregiver Support Groups
- Material Assistance
Program Update
The Relative Caregiver Program helped to prepare many caregivers and their
children for the 2006-07 School year. RCP started the school year off by holding a “Back to School Educational Session” at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. There were 59 caregivers in attendance with each of them receiving back packs and school supplies for the children in their care.
Staff:
- Juanita A. Williams, Program Administrator
- Teresa Daniels Jones, Senior Family Advocate Counselor
- Detris Whitten, Family Advocate Counselor
- Toshia Dixon, Family Advocate Counselor
- Rhonda Ferguson, Family Advocate Counselor
- Rodney Johnson, Family Advocate Counselor
- Pamela D. Beckley, Administrative
Services Assistant
- Stephanie W. Nunn, Principal Secretary
- Melissa Duckworth, UT College of Social Work Trainee
Support Groups:
South Memphis - New Life Missionary Baptist Church, 1275 Latham Street, First Thursday each month
Whitehaven - Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 620 Parkrose Street, Second Thursday each month
Midtown - Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave. Last Thursday each month
Birth Parent Support Group -UT Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, 711 Jefferson Ave. Third Tuesday each month 3pm - 4 pm
Contact:
For
more information, contact Program Staff at (901) 448-3133 or (901) 448-3926. For information on the program in other parts of the state visit the website at http://www.state.tn.us/youth/rcp.htm.
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