Since 1995, The Consultation Center has been providing grandparents with a range of services and supports, including group meetings both days and evenings, newsletter, parenting skills training, respite opportunities and legislative advocacy. In addition there are many opportunities for socializing for families, grandparents and children.

Group Meetings:

• Morning Group: The Coffee Hour.  Meets the first and third Monday of each month, 10:30:12:00 noon at The Consultation Center, 389 Whitney Ave, New Haven. The group is parent-driven and decides on topics and direction. The meeting agenda includes open conversation, resource sharing, program development, financial help and advocacy. No child supervisor is available.
• Evening Group: Conversations and Education.  Meets the third Thursday of each month, 6:00:8:00 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 830 Whitney Ave, New Haven. A light dinner for grandparents and grandchildren is offered. Occasional Educational speaker, interactive workshops, wellness programs are offered. Fun and enriching programming for children aged 4-14 provided.

Please check the Calendar for group meeting dates.

All custodial Grandparents and other relative caregivers are welcome.
There are no membership fees.

Opportunities for Respite and Socializing. In the past, members have enjoyed picnics at Lighthouse Point Park and Indian Well State Park, holiday bowling events, trips to Lake Quassy amusement park, and the annual Grandfamily Camping Retreat at Camp Hazen in Chester, CT.

Current Special Initiatives:

• Health & Wellness Program for Grandfamilies “ Grandparents Raising Grandchildren operate at the intersection of aging and kinship. Although it's critical for caregivers to remain healthy, they will often back-burner their own needs in order to care for children. Through this special initiative, educational health and wellness programs and health screenings are tailored for grandfamilies. Programs are presented in collaboration with the Hospital of Saint Raphael CareCard Program. This program is supported by a grant from the Brookdale Foundation Relative as Parents Program (RAPP).
• College Culture for Grandfamilies “ This program seeks to encourage all children raised in grandfamilies to earn a college degree. We accomplish this goal by providing access to college planning services through collaboration with Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc. We are also working to change the culture within grandfamilies so all families see college as preferred and attainable. This program is funded by a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation; New Haven Direct Services Grants Program.

Current funders of special respite programs include the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Clifford W. Beers Clinic, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Wal-mart Foundation. Selected special initiatives and funders from our recent past include: The Intergenerational Photography Project (funded by Generations United and MetLife Foundation); the development of grandfamily respite models (funded by Adopt US Kids & the North American Council on Adoptable Children); the creation and delivery of a GrandParenting curriculum to update the parenting skills of relative caregivers (funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, New Haven Direct Services Grants Program).

Advisory Board. Made up of relative caregivers who volunteer their services, the Advisory Board provides leadership in program planning, sets program policies, oversees respite distribution to be sure it is fair and transparent, and assists in planning group activities.

How to join the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program. Membership is free and open to any grandparent or other relative raising children under age 18 who live with them throughout Greater New Haven. Individuals wishing to join must complete an application. Completed applications can be returned to Donna Fedus, The Consultation Center, 389 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511. Once we have your completed application, you will be added to the mailing list.

Contributions. Grandparents make many financial sacrifices to raise their grandchildren. They see saving accounts and hard-earned pensions going to pay for kids sneakers, clothes and school supplies. Often, there is little left over to provide fun or extra curricular activities. Contributions are gratefully accepted. Are you a dancer, artist, sports enthusiast, scholar? You could set up a scholarship to fund a child's ability to take lessons or advance in the area of interest you share. Mark your loved one's milestone birthday, anniversary, or becoming a grandparent with a contribution to grandparents who have taken on the awesome task of raising children for the second time around. Email email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call her at (203) 789-7645 to discuss setting up a respite scholarship, contribution to a special program, or to make a general donation to help grandparents raising grandchildren. All contributions are tax deductible.

Volunteer Opportunities. It takes a village to raise a child. Many of the villagers are members of our program who generously volunteer their time to keep our program going, and assist other families in need. We can also use the help of villagers outside of our membership. Consider volunteering time on a regular basis or whenever you have the time. We can benefit from behind the scenes help with fundraising, locating computers for college bound students, letting the media know about our programs, and internet research. You can also make a difference by tutoring a child, or assisting families who may have to interact with health care, educational, and legal systems. Email email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call her at (203) 789-7645 to discuss your interest in volunteer opportunities.

Help us Go Green. We ask your help in our effort to ˜go green. If you are interested in receiving our newsletter, GrandNews, via email, please email your request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .