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 grandparent, aunt, uncle, or
other extended family member.
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 Eligibility
- 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 receipt 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/Short-term Case Management
- Youth and Teen Activity Groups
- Emergency One-time Financial or Start-up Assistance
- Educational Workshops
- Information and Referral
- Caregiver Respite and Enrichment
- Caregiver Support Groups
- Material Assistance
Program Update
The Youth Enrichment Program is held on the third Saturday of each month. Children and teens participate in therapeutic, age appropriate discussions, arts and crafts, and athletic activities. These sessions are formatted to encourage individuals to express themselves in a safe and nurturing environment as well as provide opportunities to engage with other children being raised by relatives. Children and teens will benefit from topics such as:
- Who Am I
- Loving Myself
- Developing a Greater Appreciation for Life
- Respecting My Caregiver
- Emotional Intelligence
- Social Intelligence
- Mapping Personal Goals
- Nutrition and more
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
- Shunta Adams, Community Outreach Coordinator
Support Groups:
Whitehaven - Whitehaven Branch Library, 4120 Millbranch, Memphis, TN, 38116 First Thursday each month, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Westwood - Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 620 Parkrose, Memphis, Second Thursday each month 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Midtown - Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, 711 Jefferson Ave. Memphis, Third Thursday each month 11:00 am - 12:30 pm & Third Saturday each month 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
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 Shunta Adams, Community Outreach Coordinator at (901) 448-3323 or by email. For information on the program in other parts of the state visit the website at http://www.state.tn.us/youth/.
This program is in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
View informational flyer [pdf]
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