Reposting a  Sun-Sentinel article from a few years ago – even more sobering today, as the numbers have continued to climb for both Kinship Care and Relative Care!

New Census Bureau figures show the number of South Florida grandparents raising their grandchildren skyrocketed between 2006 and 2010 — up 28 percent in Broward County and 11 percent in Palm Beach County.

That means 25,000 South Florida grandparents are stepping into mom and dad’s shoes, coming up with money for school clothes, a growing grocery list and rising housing costs.

Resources for grandparents

Senior service hotlines can make referrals to programs assisting grandparent parents. Call 954-745-9779 in Broward County and 866-684-5885 in Palm Beach County.

Other resources: In Broward: The Pantry of Broward at 954-358-1481, Kids in Distress Kinship program at 954-390-7654, HANDY (Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth) at 954-522-2911. In Palm Beach County: Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach’s Relative Caregivers Program at 561-655-8944, the Children, Youth and Families At Risk program with the University of Florida/Palm Beach CountyCooperative Extension office at 561-233-1742.

Read the full story here.