Diane and Mark Saincome of Novi were looking forward to retirement. Diane had spent her career as a registered nurse; Mark had spent his time as an ironworker. They had plans to travel and finally slow down. Then their daughter Amy passed away, leaving behind four children, plus another child in their extended family who needed a home. The Saincomes stepped up. Today, instead of packing suitcases, they’re packing lunches, driving carpools, and helping with homework, all over again.
Diane and Mark aren’t alone. Across Southeast Michigan, more grandparents and relatives are stepping in to raise grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and siblings, often without warning and without a roadmap. As we head into National Grandparents Day on September 13, we want to give special recognition to a group of caregivers who rarely get the spotlight: kinship caregivers.
Kinship caregiving is when a grandparent or other relative, such as an aunt, uncle, or adult sibling, takes on full-time, day-to-day responsibility for raising a child because the child’s parents aren’t able to. It’s different from occasional babysitting or weekend visits. Kinship caregivers are often stepping into a parenting role suddenly, in response to a family crisis like illness, addiction, incarceration, or the loss of a parent, and they’re doing it without the built-in support systems that come with the traditional foster care system.
Many kinship caregivers never planned to raise children again. They’re navigating school enrollment, pediatrician visits, and bedtime routines while also managing their own health, retirement, and finances, often with little formal preparation for the role. Along with the practical challenges can come grief, isolation, complicated family relationships, and the emotional adjustment of becoming a full-time parent again. That gap between the need and the support available is exactly why programs built specifically for kinship caregivers matter.
For families like the Saincomes, the AgeWays-funded Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program has become an anchor. Offered through the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) and Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw, GRG provides monthly support groups, education, and connection for kinship caregivers age 55 and older in Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties. “At the meetings, you realize you’re not the only one,” Diane says. “New people come all the time, and you’re able to support them.”
The program has grown quickly, from about 40 caregivers a few years ago to more than 100 today, and offers far more than a place to talk. Benefits include:
“It’s a true community,” says GRG Coordinator Lisa Grodsky. “There have been tears, there have been hugs. They want to help each other.”
AgeWays helps fund two GRG programs across our six-county service area. OLHSA serves kinship caregivers in Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties, while Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw serves families in Washtenaw County. If you live in Macomb or Oakland County, you can reach the program directly at 248-209-2721 to learn about upcoming meetings and events.
Support for kinship caregivers also means helping grandparents navigate guidance that may have changed significantly since they last cared for a baby.
Many kinship caregivers are raising infants and toddlers, sometimes for the first time in decades, and sleep guidance has changed a lot since their own children were babies. Michigan loses a baby to unsafe sleep every two to three days, and most of those deaths are preventable. Use this quick reference to keep sleep time safe:
If you’re caring for an infant and have questions about a safe sleep environment, your local county health department can help. In Oakland County, call the Nurse on Call line at (800) 848-5533.
Stepping in to raise a grandchild or other relative can reshape nearly every part of a caregiver’s life, but no one should have to navigate that responsibility without support. Whether you’re weeks into a new arrangement or years into raising your grandchildren, AgeWays and our partner programs are here to help you find a support group, connect with resources, and navigate what comes next. Call AgeWays at (800) 852-7795, or reach the GRG program in Macomb and Oakland counties directly at 248-209-2721.
