
At Aging Ahead, we work hard on identifying needs throughout our service area to create a long-lasting and positive impact within our community. Our programs and services are not only aimed at serving older adults, but also their families and caregivers, making our community stronger for it. The Aging Ahead Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) has become one of these full-spectrum impact programs, recognizing that families are not always traditional in nature. This program was designed to help older adults who care for children, providing energy assistance and meeting situational needs, coordinated by Anton Clark, an Aging Ahead Community Options Specialist.
Aging Ahead was fortunate enough to receive a $10,000 donation from the Brookdale Foundation’s national RAPP program last summer. The funds made it possible to provide an at-home family fun night, back-to-school assistance, and a special gift for Relatives participating in the program. “I have limited mobility and also a compromised immune system, so heading outside is hard. The family game night we received was so much fun!” Back-to-school shopping is costly, so RAPP also provided children of Relatives with a $100 Kohl’s gift card in August. For Grandparents Day, Relatives were recognized with a $100 Kohl’s gift card to spend on themselves. A Relative called in to express his gratitude by saying, “This support is priceless. I wanted to thank you again, and really appreciate what you’re doing because a lot of grandparents are in my same situation! I was able to buy my grandkid new clothes for school.”
Aging Ahead was able to purchase 80 Kohl’s gift cards and chose to distribute them to Title 1 schools within Jefferson, Franklin, St. Louis, and St. Charles counties, providing back-to-school assistance to around 20 students in each county! Shannon, a social worker in Jefferson County said, “So many grandparents have cried to me because they are so grateful for the gift cards. You have been a huge blessing to them. Thank you so much for blessing the families in our district!” Aging Ahead also partnered with Big Brother Big Sister to connect with Relatives living in St. Charles County, providing programs and assistance to 20 students who are being raised by a grandparent or older adult relative. Anton worked hard to coordinate efforts with Relatives, students, school social workers & administration, and Big Brother Big Sister, “It’s been so fulfilling to work with everyone involved in RAPP. It was amazing to see the smiles and impact of this program firsthand, and I hope we can continue to help families in this way.”
Aging Ahead is proud to have a Relatives as Parents Program to provide support to the many non-traditional families in need, with older adults raising children. If you’re interested in learning more about RAPP, please contact Anton Clark, 636-207-4215 or aclark@agingahead.org. To donate to this program, or other Aging Ahead programs that positively impact the community, please visit agingahead.org/donate.
Support Highlights
- Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP)
- Community Options & Services (COS)
- Caregiver Assistance
