For Grandparents Raising Grandkids

You Are Not Alone

Across Texas, thousands of grandparents are raising grandchildren. Maybe the call came in the middle of the night. Maybe it happened slowly, and one day you realized the child was not going home. However it began, the love you have for that child is already the most important thing you bring. The paperwork, the licensing, the support that is available to you — those are things we can help you sort out together.

What Is Kinship Care?

When a child cannot safely remain with their parents, Texas law gives preference to placing that child with people they already know and trust — grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins, and other relatives. This is called kinship care. The goal of the Department of Family and Protective Services is rehabilitation and, whenever possible, reunifying the child with their parents. Keeping the child with family in the meantime preserves a sense of normalcy, identity, and connection during a frightening time.

If you would like a fuller picture of how this works, our guide What Is Kinship Care? Why It Matters and How It Works in Texas walks through it in plain language.

You Do Not Have to Do This Alone

Becoming a licensed kinship caregiver through Angelheart opens the door to real, practical support — so the weight of caring for a child does not fall on your shoulders alone. Licensed relative caregivers receive:

• Case management — a dedicated worker who knows your situation and helps you navigate the system, appointments, and paperwork.
• Trauma-informed care training — practical guidance for understanding what the child has been through and how to help them feel safe and settled.
• Financial support — assistance to help with the everyday costs of raising a child you may not have planned for.
• A path to permanency — if reunification with the child's parents is not possible, we provide the verification and support needed to achieve a permanent, stable home.

Becoming a Licensed Kinship Caregiver

Getting licensed may sound daunting, but you will not face it alone — your Angelheart caseworker guides you through each step. You can read what the process involves on our Becoming a Licensed Kinship Caregiver page, and find resources gathered specifically for relative caregivers in our For Kinship Caregivers resource center.

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Raising a child later in life — often while processing your own worry for that child's parents — is a lot to carry. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, grieved, or simply tired. Asking for help is not a sign that you are failing; it is part of being the steady, loving presence this child needs. Lean on the support that is available to you. That is exactly what it is there for.

Have Questions?

Wondering whether you qualify, what support you can receive, or what licensing involves? Our Kinship Care FAQ answers the questions relative caregivers ask most — or you can simply reach out and talk with someone who understands.