Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in North Carolina

Schema: Article + FAQPage

Internal links (5): North Carolina inmate search, send money, North Carolina reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub

Voice: Plain, honest, practical. No false comfort. No condescension. She made a choice. Honor it and give her what she needs.

META BLOCK:

[NOTE: 60 chars exactly -- at the limit. Acceptable.]

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in North Carolina | InmateAid

North Carolina calls its TANF program **Work First**. For grandparents and relative caregivers, the relevant pathway is **Work First Child Only (WFCO)** -- cash assistance for a child in the care of a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other qualifying relative. The grandparent's income is not counted for the child-only case.

North Carolina also has three levels of formal support for kinship caregivers whose grandchildren are involved with county child welfare:

The first is an **unlicensed kinship stipend** -- a monthly payment available to eligible unlicensed kinship caregivers of children in a county child welfare agency's custody.

The second is **KinGAP** (Kinship Foster Care and Guardianship Assistance Program) -- for licensed kinship caregivers who provide a permanent home when reunification and adoption are ruled out. KinGAP provides financial assistance and Medicaid, effective the first month after guardianship is granted.

The third is **GAP** (Guardianship Assistance Program) -- monthly payments and Medicaid for other foster care guardianship cases outside the KinGAP framework.

The NC DHHS kinship page -- ncdhhs.gov/kinshipcare -- is the central hub. For questions: KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov. For immediate community resource connections: dial 211 or (888) 892-1162 (24/7) to reach NCCARE360, North Carolina's statewide coordinated care network.

North Carolina's 2026-2028 TANF State Plan explicitly names turning the tide on the opioid and substance use crisis as a state goal. Grandparent and relative cases represent a significant share of North Carolina's TANF caseload. The plan was written around the reality you are already living.

You did not plan for this. You raised your children. You got to the other side of it. And then your child was incarcerated and the grandchildren needed somewhere to go. You said yes.

The Decision You Already Made

You already made the hardest decision. The grandchildren are with you. Everything else in this article is about making that workable.

A few things to understand about your position in North Carolina right now:

If you are caring for grandchildren without county child welfare involvement, Work First Child Only (WFCO) is your cash assistance pathway. Apply at your county DSS. North Carolina has 100 county DSS offices.

If county child welfare is involved and the grandchildren are in the agency's custody, ask your child welfare worker about the unlicensed kinship stipend, the kinship licensing process, and -- if guardianship is the permanency plan -- KinGAP or GAP eligibility.

For immediate resource connections: dial 211 (or 888-892-1162, 24/7) to reach NCCARE360.

For kinship questions: KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov.

Legal Authority: What It Is and How to Get It in North Carolina

**Custody (District Court)**

Legal custody through North Carolina district court is the primary long-term legal pathway for grandparents not in the child welfare system. With legal custody, you have authority to enroll children in school, make medical decisions, and manage their daily care.

The Work First Child Only case requires the caregiver to be a qualifying relative OR a nonrelative with a court order placing the child in legal custody or guardianship. If you are a grandparent, the qualifying relationship is sufficient without a court order for WFCO -- but legal custody substantially expands your authority and access to services.

**Guardianship (District Court or Clerk of Superior Court)**

Guardianship in North Carolina is established through district court or the Clerk of Superior Court. For children in county child welfare custody, guardianship is the exit from foster care into KinGAP or GAP.

**Power of Attorney**

A notarized parental POA from the incarcerated parent gives you immediate authority for school enrollment and medical care while you pursue custody or guardianship. NCDPS (NC Department of Public Safety / Department of Adult Correction) facilities have notary services -- contact the facility's case manager or unit manager.

**KinGAP (Kinship Foster Care and Guardianship Assistance Program)**

For licensed kinship caregivers in county child welfare cases when:

- Reunification and adoption are ruled out

- The child would otherwise remain in foster care

- The licensed kinship caregiver provides a permanent home

KinGAP provides:

- Monthly financial assistance

- Medicaid, effective the month after guardianship is granted

- Successor guardian provisions to protect continued benefits

Contact your county child welfare worker or NCDHHS for KinGAP eligibility.

**GAP (Guardianship Assistance Program)**

For non-KinGAP foster care guardianship cases -- children in county custody who transition to guardianship outside the KinGAP framework. Monthly payments and Medicaid. Contact your county child welfare worker.

**Adoption**

Adoption permanently terminates the biological parent's parental rights. KinGAP is specifically designed for cases where adoption is not appropriate and the parent remains part of the child's life.

Money: What North Carolina Offers Kinship Caregivers

**Work First Child Only (WFCO)**

North Carolina's TANF child-only program. Key features:

- Cash assistance for a child in the care of a qualifying relative caregiver

- The grandparent's income is **not counted**

- Qualifying relatives include: grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent, uncle or aunt, great-uncle or great-aunt, great-great-uncle or great-great-aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin (kinship documentation must be provided)

- Nonrelatives who have legal custody (court order) also qualify

- No work requirements for the grandparent caregiver in a child-only case

- Apply at your county DSS

**Unlicensed Kinship Stipend (Child Welfare Cases)**

Eligible unlicensed kinship caregivers of children in the custody of a county child welfare agency may qualify for a monthly stipend. NCDHHS has a flyer with specific information -- ask your child welfare worker or email KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov.

**KinGAP and GAP Monthly Payments (Licensed, Foster Care Cases)**

Monthly financial assistance for licensed kinship caregivers who take guardianship through KinGAP or GAP. Medicaid is included. Ask your county child welfare worker.

**Foster Care Maintenance Payments (Licensed Kinship Foster Parents)**

If you are a licensed kinship foster parent in the county child welfare system, you receive foster care maintenance payments while the child remains in the agency's custody.

**NC Medicaid**

North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023 -- one of the last states to do so. Children in kinship care are generally eligible for NC Medicaid based on income. Apply through your county DSS or NC HealthConnex.

Medicaid covers doctor visits, dental, prescriptions, mental health services, emergency care, and vision.

**SNAP (Food Assistance)**

Apply through your county DSS. The grandchildren's presence increases your household food benefit.

**Social Security**

If the incarcerated parent was working before arrest, the grandchildren may be eligible for Social Security dependent benefits. Call 1-800-772-1213. SSI may be available for grandchildren with disabilities.

Area Agencies on Aging: Kinship Support Across NC

North Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are among the most active kinship support providers in the state. Several NC AAAs operate specific Grandparents Raising Grandchildren programs:

**High Country Area Agency on Aging (northwestern NC)**

Services include camp and after-school support, clothing and shoes, counseling, support group referrals, educational support, household supplies, and self-care items.

**Land of Sky Regional Council Area Agency on Aging (Asheville/western NC)**

Education, referral services, and grants for eligible kinship caregivers. Individual counseling, support groups, trainings, education, respite care, and limited supplemental services. Offers **PASTA (Parenting A Second Time Around)** trainings for grandparent caregivers.

**Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging (eastern NC)**

Serves Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, and neighboring eastern counties. Family Caregiver Support Program including kinship caregiver services.

Find your local Area Agency on Aging through the NC DHHS Aging and Adult Services Division at ncdhhs.gov or by dialing 211.

**PASTA (Parenting A Second Time Around)**

PASTA is a training program offered through some NC AAAs specifically for grandparent and kinship caregivers. It addresses the practical and emotional dimensions of raising children when you did not plan on starting over. Ask your local AAA if it is offered in your area.

NCCARE360: Your Starting Point for Local Resources

NCCARE360 is North Carolina's statewide, coordinated care network connecting individuals to local services including housing, transportation, food, childcare, and more.

**Dial 211 or (888) 892-1162 (available 24 hours a day, seven days a week)**

This is the starting point for any grandparent in any North Carolina county who does not know where to begin. A 211 staff person will connect you to resources specific to your county and situation.

For kinship-specific questions: email **KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov**. The NCDHHS kinship team responds to questions about benefits, programs, and navigation.

North Carolina's Tribal Context

North Carolina is home to the **Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)** -- one federally recognized tribe based in Cherokee, NC (Swain and Jackson Counties in the far western mountains). North Carolina also recognizes several state-recognized tribes.

NCDHHS specifically names resources for EBCI kinship families on its kinship page, including a resource guide: "Raising Relatives: A Resource Guide for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Families Caring for Their Kin."

ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) applies to children who are enrolled members or eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe when child welfare proceedings are opened. If the grandchildren are EBCI members or eligible for membership, confirm ICWA was applied and contact EBCI's social services program.

The School Question

With a POA, legal custody, or guardianship, school enrollment in North Carolina is straightforward.

Without legal authority: North Carolina schools must enroll children under McKinney-Vento. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires immediate enrollment for children in unstable housing, including children living with relatives due to a parent's incarceration. Ask the school district for its McKinney-Vento liaison.

For children with IEPs, you will need legal authority or signed parental authorization from the incarcerated parent to participate in planning meetings. NCDAC facilities have notary services -- contact the facility's case manager or unit manager.

Work First Child Only eligibility includes grandparents with kinship documentation -- you do not need a court order to apply for WFCO if you are a qualifying relative.

Medical Authorization Before Court Paperwork Is Done

Get a notarized parental POA from the incarcerated parent through NC Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) notary services. Contact the facility's case manager or unit manager.

Apply for NC Medicaid for the grandchildren through your county DSS. Medicaid enrollment does not require legal authority.

North Carolina's Geographic Reality

North Carolina spans three distinct geographic regions: the western mountains (Asheville, Cherokee, Boone), the central Piedmont (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham, Winston-Salem), and the eastern coastal plain (Wilmington, Fayetteville, Greenville, Rocky Mount).

NCDAC facilities are distributed across all three regions. Central Prison is in Raleigh. Maury Correctional Institution is in Greene County (eastern NC). Tabor Correctional Institution is in Columbus County (southeastern NC). Lanesboro Correctional Institution is in Anson County (south-central NC). For a family in Asheville visiting Maury CI in Goldsboro: about 5 hours east across the state.

North Carolina's rural eastern counties -- among the state's most economically challenged -- have significant kinship care populations and fewer local resources. The AAAs that serve these counties (Eastern Carolina Council and others) are often the primary available support. Dial 211 to find what is in your specific county.

What She Is Carrying That He Cannot See

You did not plan for this stage of your life. The grandchildren arrived and with them came school forms, doctor appointments, someone to be home, someone to sit with a child who wakes up afraid.

You are also carrying your feelings about your child who is incarcerated. North Carolina named the opioid crisis as a driving force in its most recent TANF plan. The pattern is recognizable across the state: substance use, then charges, then incarceration, then the grandchildren arriving. You know that pattern better than any state plan does.

The support groups offered through NC AAAs, the PASTA training through Land of Sky and other agencies, and the 211 connection to local resources are there to put you with other people doing what you are doing. None of this is easy to find alone. You should not have to.

Talking to the Grandchildren About Where Their Parent Is

The children know something is wrong. Silence does not protect them.

Use honest, age-appropriate language. For a young child: "Your dad made a mistake and he has to stay somewhere else while he learns from it. You are safe and I am here." For an older child: "Your mom is in prison. She did something against the law and a judge decided she needs to be there for a while. She loves you. She is not in danger."

Do not make promises about when the parent will be home that you cannot keep. Let the children have their feelings. Keep the parent present in appropriate ways: photos, letters, phone calls.

NC Department of Adult Correction phone calls go through ICS Corrections / GTL. You control which numbers are approved. The grandchildren's relationship with their incarcerated parent is theirs.

NC Medicaid covers mental health services for children. If the grandchildren are struggling, ask the school counselor for a referral or the child's Medicaid primary care provider.

Your Relationship With Your Incarcerated Child

Your feelings about your child are complicated. You are raising their children because they cannot. Both things are true.

What the grandchildren need: to see that you are not punishing their parent through them.

What you need: a place to hold the complicated feelings that is not in front of the grandchildren. The AAA support groups, the PASTA training, a therapist, a trusted person -- any of these is better than holding it alone.

What to Do First: A Practical Checklist

Dial 211 (or 888-892-1162, 24/7). NCCARE360 will connect you to resources in your county.

Email KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov with your situation and questions. The NCDHHS kinship team can point you in the right direction.

Apply for Work First Child Only (WFCO) at your county DSS. The grandparent's income is not counted. You need kinship documentation verifying your relationship to the child.

Apply for NC Medicaid and SNAP at your county DSS at the same time.

Get a notarized POA from the incarcerated parent through NCDAC notary services. Contact the facility case manager or unit manager.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (find through 211 or ncdhhs.gov) about GRG programs, PASTA training, respite care, and support groups in your area.

If county child welfare is involved: ask your worker about the unlicensed kinship stipend, the kinship licensing process, and KinGAP/GAP eligibility.

Start the custody or guardianship process through district court. Contact Legal Aid of North Carolina for free civil legal help if income-eligible. Senior Law Project serves grandparents 60+.

If grandchildren are EBCI enrolled members: contact EBCI social services and confirm ICWA was applied.

Enroll the grandchildren in school. Use McKinney-Vento if needed.

Take care of yourself. The support groups and PASTA training are there. Find them.

FAQ

**What is Work First Child Only (WFCO)?** Work First is North Carolina's TANF program. The Child Only (WFCO) pathway provides cash assistance for a child in the care of a qualifying relative -- including grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins (with kinship documentation). The grandparent's income is not counted. No work requirements apply to the grandparent in a child-only case. Apply at your county DSS.

**What is KinGAP in North Carolina?** The Kinship Foster Care and Guardianship Assistance Program. It provides monthly financial assistance and Medicaid for licensed kinship caregivers who take guardianship of children in county custody when reunification and adoption are ruled out. Benefits begin the first month after guardianship is granted. Ask your county child welfare worker.

**What is the unlicensed kinship stipend?** A monthly payment available to eligible unlicensed kinship caregivers of children in a county child welfare agency's custody. Ask your child welfare worker or email KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov for the current NCDHHS information flyer.

**What is NCCARE360 and how do I reach it?** NCCARE360 is North Carolina's statewide coordinated care network connecting people to local services like housing, transportation, food, and childcare. Dial 211 or (888) 892-1162, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the starting point for finding what is available in your county.

**What Area Agencies on Aging serve grandparent caregivers in NC?** Several NC AAAs operate GRG programs: High Country AAA (northwestern NC), Land of Sky Regional Council AAA (Asheville/western NC, offers PASTA training), and Eastern Carolina Council AAA (eastern NC). Find your local AAA by dialing 211 or visiting ncdhhs.gov/aging.

**What is PASTA?** Parenting A Second Time Around -- a training program offered through some NC Area Agencies on Aging specifically for grandparent and kinship caregivers. Contact your local AAA to ask if it is offered in your area.

**How do I talk to the grandchildren about their parent being in prison?** Use honest, age-appropriate language without promises about when the parent will be home. Let the children have feelings. Keep the parent present appropriately -- photos, letters, NCDAC phone calls through ICS Corrections/GTL. NC Medicaid covers children's mental health services; ask the school counselor or primary care provider for a referral if needed.

[SPEC NOTE: Folder 1mWUamVufeanK-LZbmcw4rbPb7yRIWRSP. Internal CTAs: North Carolina inmate search, send money, North Carolina reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub. NOTE ON META TITLE: "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in North Carolina | InmateAid" -- verify character count exactly 60; at the limit. SOURCING: ncdhhs.gov/kinshipcare (Work First Family Assistance grandparents relatives caring relative children legal guardians services support prevent children entering foster care; eligible unlicensed kinship caregivers children custody county child welfare agency may qualify monthly stipend refer flyer; KinGAP Kinship Foster Care Guardianship Assistance Program financial assistance Medicaid youth permanent family setting unlikely obtain permanency reunification adoption; licensed kinship caregivers licensed foster families willing provide permanent home eligible KinGAP; KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov; NCCARE360 dial 211 or 888-892-1162 24/7 statewide coordinated care network housing transportation food; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Raising Relatives resource guide; Kinship/Grandfamilies FAFSA resource; Legal Assistance Native Kinship Grandfamilies; How Relative Caregivers Advocate Relative Native Children); ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/work-first-family-assistance (Work First NC TANF; strengths-based family-centered practice; grandparents relatives caring relative children legal guardians services support prevent children entering foster care; Work First emphasizes Diversion Work Retention; counties services transportation child care financial counseling short-term training child family enrichment 200% FPL; families leaving WFFA job bonus payment up to three months); onslowcountync.gov Work First (WFCO financial assistance caregivers child under 18 deprived parental support; relative degree of kinship or court order; grandparent great-grandparent great-great-grandparent uncle aunt great uncle aunt great-great-uncle aunt nephew niece first cousin kinship documentation; nonrelatives legal custody court order; kinship documentation required); davidson county NC Work First (WFCO provides financial assistance caregivers child under 18 deprived parental support various reasons; related degree kinship or documents signed judge legal custody guardianship); ncdhhs.gov 2026-2028 TANF State Plan July 2025 (Work First NC TANF opioid substance use crisis state goal; grandparent relative cases represent significant share TANF caseload; county DSS 100 counties regions; five-year lifetime limit federal TANF adult recipient; family cap with exception child only child; brother sister grandparent great-grandparent great-great-grandparent; brother sister etc listed); policies.ncdhhs.gov Appendix 3.7 GAP September 2025 (KinGAP licensed kinship caregivers and licensed foster families assume legal guardianship children cared foster parents committed care permanent basis; Guardianship Assistance benefits first month following month legal guardianship granted; GAP separate program; Medicaid entitled KinGAP GAP; application Medicaid required; successor guardian provisions continuation benefits); grandfamilies.org NC 2023 (High Country AAA camp after school support clothing shoes counseling support group educational household self-care; Land of Sky Education referral services grants eligible kinship caregivers individual counseling support groups trainings education respite limited supplemental PASTA Parenting Second Time Around; Eastern Carolina Council Family Caregiver Support Program Carteret Craven Duplin Greene; Senior Law Project free legal services civil child custody government benefits housing low-income Senior Law Project; Bair Foundation kinship foster homes; 2-1-1 NC); ncdhhs.gov 2022-2025 TANF plan (Work First NC TANF; 91,537 cases 166,000 participants prior years; grandparent relative cases share caseload; Benefit Diversion cash payment alternative; 5-year lifetime limit adult; exceptions child only; county DSS 100 counties); NCDAC ICS Corrections GTL phone; NCDAC notary services; ncdhhs.gov/kinshipcare; 211 NC NCCARE360 888-892-1162; McKinney-Vento school enrollment; Social Security 1-800-772-1213; Legal Aid of North Carolina Senior Law Project. NOTE for Poorwa: verify Work First Child Only (WFCO) still NC child-only TANF; verify grandparent income not counted WFCO; verify qualifying relative list (grandparent through first cousin) current NC statute; verify unlicensed kinship stipend still available from county child welfare ncdhhs.gov/kinshipcare; verify KinGAP still Kinship Foster Care Guardianship Assistance Program NC; verify GAP still Guardianship Assistance Program NC; verify KinGAP GAP Medicaid triggers current; verify KinshipKonnectNC@dhhs.nc.gov current; verify 211 and 888-892-1162 NCCARE360 current; verify High Country AAA Land of Sky Eastern Carolina Council AAA GRG programs current; verify PASTA training Land of Sky still offered; verify Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Raising Relatives resource current; verify NCDAC ICS Corrections GTL phone provider; verify NCDAC notary services; verify McKinney-Vento still applicable; verify NC Medicaid expansion December 2023 current; verify Legal Aid NC Senior Law Project current; len/character check before publish; verify meta title exactly 60 chars.]