Too often, grandparents and kinship caregivers are handed life-changing responsibility with little warning, legal clarity, or support—quietly absorbing the weight of the child welfare system at their kitchen tables. In this episode, we move beyond mere survival, highlighting how kin caregivers are stepping into leadership, building peer networks, and mobilizing for policy reform that makes children and caregivers visible and supported. Join us for a grounded, hope-infused look at hidden foster care, resource gaps, and the community-driven mission to make policymakers accountable.
Featured Guest, Deborah Willett, a former foster parent, fictive kin caregiver, and founder of Grand Family Connections in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Deborah Willett has spent decades navigating and exposing the realities of hidden foster care. With lived experience raising both her granddaughter and a non-relative child, Deborah understands the legal, emotional, and financial labyrinth kin caregivers face. She has translated her journey into tangible support—forging peer groups, advocating for policy change, and connecting hundreds of families to essential resources. Through Grand Family Connections, her work is guided by one simple rule: those with lived experience must have a seat at every table where decisions are made. Grand Family Connections (https://www.coatesvillecenter.org/event/program/grandfamily/) : Program under Coatesville Center for Community Health
Contact: deb@coatesvillecenter.org, 610-246-2261
Deborah recounts how kin are often handed children with only a generic notarized paper—no legal rights, financial help, Medicaid, or caseworker backup—demonstrating how the state quietly shifts responsibility while families shoulder the risk and cost .
Listeners hear how the lack of meaningful financial and legal support, even for those in active kinship care, forces families to patch together support through overloaded legal aid and limited reimbursement programs, with many left behind due to upfront funding requirements or service gaps.
Strengthen Peer-Led Support Grand Family Connections’ peer-to-peer model shows how authentic community—including care circles, group meals, and respite sponsorship—helps kin caregivers avoid isolation, share knowledge, and validate each other's experiences. Lived experience is leveraged as expertise, creating networks where families support one another and children see they are not alone.
The conversation spotlights needed policy reform—calling for financial parity with foster parents, continued support after adoption, and trauma-informed respite care. Deborah urges policymakers to ensure opioid settlement funds and Title IV-E adoption subsidies reach those caring for vulnerable children, not just the traditional system.
\If you are raising a grandchild, kin, or are a supporter, you are not alone—and you have a voice. Audit your support system today: connect with a local peer group, contact your Area Agency on Aging, or join an online community. Share your story, reach out for available resources, and let local and state leaders know that kinship families deserve clear rights, real support, and a place at the table. Pass this episode along to another caregiver who might need support and solidarity on this journey.
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New! Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Online Support Circle (https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/online-support-circle/) ! Starting Wednesday, October 7th, we meet every other Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Eastern.
A peer-first, confidential space—free from cross-talk, judgment, or unsolicited advice. Guided by certified therapists, specialized family coaches, and counselors who truly understand kinship care.
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Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.
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