State and County Resources
Skamania County ResourcesKlickitat County Resources
Cowlitz County Resources
Wahkiakum County Resources
Clark County Resources
State and National Resources
Skamania County Resources
Kinship Navigator Program
Contact Lauren Head
(360) 695-1325 ext. 4224 or 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546) or send an email
Skamania Klickitat Community Network
http://community.gorge.net/skcnparentsupport/index.html
1-866-631-1997
Washington Gorge Action Program (WGAP)
www.wgap.ws
(509) 493-2662
Big Brothers Big Sisters
www.bbbsnorthwest.org
Contact Margie Michaels at margie_michaels@live.com
Skamania County Government Website
http://www.skamaniacounty.org/
Southwest Washington Agency on Agency and Disabilites (SWAAD)
http://www.helpingelders.org/
(360) 694-8144 or 888-637-6060 (toll free)
Senior Services
http://www.skamaniacounty.org/senior_services.htm
(509) 427-3990
Crossroads Behavioral Systems
Stevenson: (509) 427-7100
Washougal: (360) 835-1046
Skamania Counseling Center
(509) 427-3850
Lifeline Connections
(360) 969-1631
Mid-Columbia Children's Council, Inc
http://mcccheadstart.org
Skamania County Resources Website
https://4people.communityos.org
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Klickitat County Resources
Kinship Navigator ProgramContact Lauren Head (360) 695-1325 ext. 4224 or 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546), or send an email
Klickitat County Government Website
http://www.klickitatcounty.org/
Southwest Washington Agency on Agency and Disabilites (SWAAD)
http://www.helpingelders.org/
(360) 694-8144 or 888-637-6060 (toll free)
Skamania Klickitat Community Network
http://community.gorge.net/skcnparentsupport/index.html
1-866-631-1997
Washington Gorge Action Program (WGAP)
www.wgap.ws
(509) 493-2662
Goldendale Senior Center
(509)773-5663
Mid-Columbia Children's Council, Inc
http://mcccheadstart.org/index.html
Klickitat County Resources Website
https://4people.communityos.org
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Cowlitz County Resources
Kinship Navigator Program
Contact Lauren Head at
(360) 695-1325 ext. 4224 or 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546), or send an email
Lower Columbia College Head Start/ECEAP
http://lowercolumbia.edu/Common/services-for-students/childcare/head_start/
(360) 422-2819
Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments
http://www.cwcog.org/
(360) 577-3041
Southwest Washington Agency on Agency and Disabilites (SWAAD)
http://www.helpingelders.org/
(360) 694-8144 or 888-637-6060 (toll free)
Cowlitz County Health Department
http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/health/
(360) 414-5599 or (360) 414-5595 (info line)
Cowlitz County Government Website
http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/
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Wahkiakum County Resources
Kinship Navigator Program
Contact Lauren Head at
(360) 695-1325 ext. 4224 or 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546), or send an email
St. James Family Center
http://www.stjamesfamilycenter.org/index.htm
(360) 795-8612 or 1-800-350-8622
Wahkiakum Community Network
http://www.wahkiakumcommunitynetwork.org/
(360) 795-8040
Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments
http://www.cwcog.org/
(360) 577-3041
Southwest Washington Agency on Agency and Disabilites (SWAAD)
http://www.helpingelders.org/
(360) 694-8144 or 888-637-6060 (toll free)
Wahkiakum County Government Website
http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/
Cathlamet Head Start Program
(360) 795-8748
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Clark County Resources
Children's Home Society of Washington (CHSW) is the state's largest children's non-profit organization dedicated to providing innovative and exceptional services to children and families. CHSW's mission is to develop healthy children, create strong families, build engaged communities, and speak and advocate for children. With over 20 service sites across the state including sites in Vancouver and Washougal, CHSW supports over 39,000 children and families each year. Learn more at www.childrenshomesociety.org or by calling (360) 695-1325
CHSW's programs for kinship caregivers include:
Parents Again
This program provides information and resources, support groups, workshops and an education series, as well as occasional respite events.
The Parents Again support group provides kinship caregivers:
- Opportunities to meet, support, and learn from each other
- Social and educational activities for adults and children
- Resources for financial, legal, medical, and emotional supports
- Encouragement for family members raising a child with a disability
- Information about abuse of alcohol and other drugs
The support groups are held the first Friday of each month from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. at the Human Services Council located at 201 NE 73rd Street in Vancouver as well as on the second Tuesday of each month from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. at the Jim Parsley Community Center at 2901 Falk Road in Vancouver.
For more information, contact Viola Hansel at (360) 695-1325 ext. 4130.
Kinship Caregiver Support Program
CHSW coordinates this program funded by Washington State legislators to provide resources that help informal kinship caregivers meet urgent needs that result from taking in a related child into the caregivers home. Request more info here or call 1-877-SWAAKIN (792-1546).
Southwest Washington Agency on Agency and Disabilities (SWAAD)http://www.helpingelders.org/
(360) 694-8144 or 888-637-6060 (toll free)
Educational Opportunities for Children and Families
Early Head Start, Head Start
http://www.eocfwa.org/eocf/aboutEOCF.php
(360) 896-9912 Option 1
EOCF InfantToddler Early Intervention Program
http://www.eocfwa.org/eocf/aboutEOCF.php
(360) 896-9912 Option 2
Big Brothers Big Sisters
www.bbbsnorthwest.org
(360) 891-8382
211-INFO
You can always call 211 for information
You can also access 211's comprehensive on-line directory
http://www.irissoft.com/INFO/
Children's Center PARC or Post-Adoptive Resource Center serves adoptive, guardianship and kinship families and provides information, assistance, referrals to community resources, a lending library for both adults and children, and a parent support group which meets the first Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm.
We are located at 415 West 11th Street, Vancouver,
and our phone number is 699-2244.
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State and National Resources
Kinship Caregiver Support Program (KCSP)
Children's Home Society coordinates this program funded by Washington State legislators to provide resources to help informal kinship caregivers meet emergent needs arising out of taking a related child into the caregiver's home.
Information may be requested via email or by calling 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546)
Below are useful sites that provide information to help you, as you take on the challenge of raising a related child in today's complex world!If you need help navigating the system after checking out these sites, don't hesitate to call the Kinship Navigator at 1-877-SWWAKIN (1-877-799-2546), or send an email
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Check out this special web page for kinship caregivers: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/kinshipcare/
And general page for other information including on line applications www.dshs.wa.gov
Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities
http://www.helpingelders.org/
Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities (SWAAD) is authorized by the Older American Act to administer the Family Caregiver Support Program. SWAAD's major responsibility is to develop resources for kinship caregivers throughout the five county service areas and builds collaboration among local agencies to enhance services. The services provided through these contracts include respite, support groups, education and financial assistance for emergent needs that sometimes arise when families are faced with the responsibility of caring for a relative child. The contracts, in Southwest Washington are with Children's Home Society of Washington for Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties and through the Lower Columbia Community Action Council for Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), The Children's Administration
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/
Children's Administration staff in 44 field offices work with children and families to identify their needs and develop a plan for services which support families and assure safety and well-being for children. These services are designed to reduce the risk of abuse, prevent out-of-home placement, and assure safety and permanency for children in care.
AARP
www.aarp.org
(enter kinship care into their search line)
AARP The GIC Voice: a newsletter for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Free Subscription
http://www.aarp.org/life/grandparents
AARP Grandparent Information Center
601 E St. NW
Washington, DC 20049
Grandfamilies Fact sheet
www.Grandfactsheets.org
Washington state information:
http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Washington%2007%20New%20Template.pdf
Generations United
www.gu.org
http://www.gu.org/Defin8191322.asp (more detail)
Northwest Justice Project
http://www.nwjustice.org/
The Brookdale Foundation Group
http://www.brookdalefoundation.org/
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