The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM)'s mission is to provide older adults and adults living with a disability an array of services designed to promote independence and dignity in their homes and their communities. AAAWM is The Source for Seniors in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties. Together with our partners, through the Older Americans Act and Kent County Senior Millage, and through in-house programs such as Care Management and the Ml Choice Medicaid Waiver (Ml Choice), we help provide person-centered care that empowers individuals to age in place.

Intention: This initiative, supported by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, will provide a $250 Meijer gift card to grandparents for the purchase of back-to-school supplies and clothing for their grandchildren.

Who Qualifies: Individuals must meet the Older Americans Act definition of Kinship Care and live within the nine-county region (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Osceola).

  • Definition: An individual aged 55 or over is the primary caregiver for a child no more than 18 years old.

How to apply: Contact your partner agency to complete a National Aging Programs Information System (NAPIS) form. Need to be connected? Check out our list of partners in each county below.

Limited Quantity: There will be FIFTY-TWO $250 gift cards available for grandparents raising their grandchildren. If more than 52 NAPIS forms are received, we will be selecting grandparents to receive the gift cards based on priority criteria.

Notification: Gift Cards will be mailed out by AAAWM to selected grandparents on Friday, 7/19.

Questions: If you have questions, you can contact Ashley Schwartz, AshleySc@aaawm.org

The deadline for submission is Monday, July 8.


County Contacts for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Please reach out to the contact in your county below to receive and fill out a NAPIS form for submission.

Allegan County

Community Action of Allegan County

Esperanza Carrasco-Morales

ecarrascomorales@communityactionallegan.org

Phone: 269-673-5472 (ext: 241)

Ionia County

Ionia County Commission on Aging

Phone: (616) 527-5365

Kent County

Kent County Community Action

Phone: (616) 632-7950

Senior Neighbors

Phone: (616) 459-6019

Lake County

Baldwin Family Health Care

Renee Kopach

(231) 689-0885 (ext. 44428)

rkopach@familyhealthcare.org

Mason County

Scottville Senior Center

Phone: (231) 757-4705

Mecosta County

Mecosta County Commission on Aging

Phone: (231) 972-2884

Montcalm County

Montcalm County Commission on Aging

Phone: (989) 831-7476

Newaygo County

Baldwin Family Health Care

Renee Kopach

(231) 689-0885 (ext. 44428)

rkopach@familyhealthcare.org

Osceola County

Osceola County Commission on Aging

Phone: (231) 734-5559


Looking for further resources?

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Groups

Caregiver Resource Network

Family Caregiver University

Senior Support Services

Or call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to discuss your unique needs with our Information and Assistance team at (616) 456-5664.

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The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM)'s mission is to provide older adults and adults living with a disability an array of services designed to promote independence and dignity in their homes and their communities. AAAWM is The Source for Seniors in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties. Together with our partners, through the Older Americans Act and Kent County Senior Millage, and through in-house programs such as Care Management and the Ml Choice Medicaid Waiver (Ml Choice), we help provide person-centered care that empowers individuals to age in place.

Intention: This initiative, supported by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, will provide a $250 Meijer gift card to grandparents for the purchase of back-to-school supplies and clothing for their grandchildren.

Who Qualifies: Individuals must meet the Older Americans Act definition of Kinship Care and live within the nine-county region (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Osceola).

  • Definition: An individual aged 55 or over is the primary caregiver for a child no more than 18 years old.

How to apply: Complete a NAPIS form with your partner agency. Need to be connected? Check out our list of partners in each county below. (link)

Limited Quantity: There will be FORTY-EIGHT $250 gift cards available for grandparents raising their grandchildren. If more than 48 NAPIS forms are received, we will be selecting grandparents to receive the gift cards based on priority criteria.

Notification: Gift Cards will be mailed out by AAAWM to selected grandparents on Wednesday, 7/19.

The deadline for submission is Friday, June 30


County Contacts for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Allegan County

Ionia County

Kent County

Lake County

Mason County

Mecosta County

Montcalm County

Newaygo County

Osceola County


Looking for further resources?

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Groups

Caregiver Resource Network

Family Caregiver University

Senior Support Services

Or call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to discuss your unique needs with our Information and Assistance team at (616) 456-5664.