KINSHIP

SUPPORT

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Texas

Grandmother raising her grandchild in Texas, representing kinship caregivers navigating healthcare and support services.

If you are a grandparent raising your grandchild, you are not alone. Across Texas, many grandparents are stepping in as primary caregivers—often unexpectedly—while navigating healthcare, financial support, and daily needs.

Taking on this role can be both meaningful and overwhelming. You may be figuring out how to enroll your grandchild in programs like Medicaid or WIC, find nearby healthcare providers, or access basic essentials like diapers and food, sometimes with limited support or in areas with few local services.

Save Texas Moms is here to help you navigate these systems and find the resources you need. Whether you are caring for a newborn or an older child, we are working to connect families like yours to healthcare services, community support, and practical tools across Texas.

Grandma Time!

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Generational Support

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A Family Affair

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Grandma Time! · Generational Support · A Family Affair ·

Grandmother holding and looking at her newborn grandchild, representing a grandparent acting as a primary caregiver.

Healthcare Coverage (Medicaid and CHIP)

Children may qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), even if you are not their parent. These programs can cover doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions.

You can apply or learn more here.

If you need help applying, you can:

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

If your grandchild is under age 5, they may qualify for WIC. This program provides:

  • Healthy food and formula

  • Nutrition support

  • Breastfeeding support and lactation services

WIC can support both you and your grandchild, even if you are the primary caregiver.

You can apply and learn more here.

Finding Healthcare Providers

Access to pediatric and maternal healthcare services can vary widely across Texas. In some communities, especially rural areas, families may need to travel longer distances to reach care.

Save Texas Moms provides tools to help you:

  • Identify nearby clinics and providers

  • Understand what services are available in your area

  • Navigate care in maternity care deserts and low-access regions

Reach out to us. We’re here to help you!

You Are the Caregiver

If you are raising your grandchild, you are the one making daily decisions about their health, safety, and well-being. That includes enrolling them in health care, finding providers, and ensuring they have what they need to grow and thrive.

You may not have expected to take on this role, and the systems can be confusing, especially if you do not have formal legal custody. The good news is that there are programs in Texas designed to support children being raised by grandparents and other relatives.

Important to Know

  • You do not have to figure this out alone

  • Many programs allow grandparents or relatives to apply on behalf of a child

  • Local organizations can help you complete applications and connect to services

Need Support Right Now?

Daily Care Support

Diapers and Basic Needs

Diapers, wipes, and other essentials can add up quickly. Many families rely on a combination of local organizations and statewide programs for support.

Save Texas Moms can help you:

  • Find diaper banks and community resources near you

  • Connect with local organizations that distribute baby supplies

  • Identify additional support through food banks and family services

👉 Visit our Diaper Resources page!

Safe Sleep and Daily Routines

Creating a safe and consistent routine helps your grandchild grow and develop.

  • Place babies on their backs to sleep

  • Use a firm sleep surface with no loose blankets or pillows

  • Expect frequent sleep and feeding cycles, especially in the early months

If you are unsure about sleep safety or routines, your pediatric provider or local clinic can help guide you.

You Matter, Too!

Caring for your grandchild can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. It is okay to need support.

If you are feeling stressed, isolated, or unsure where to turn:

  • Talk to someone you trust

  • Reach out to a local organization for support

  • Call the Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) for free, confidential help

Taking care of yourself helps you take better care of your grandchild.

Caring for a baby or young child can be demanding, especially if you are stepping into this role later in life or with limited support nearby. You may be balancing your own health, finances, and responsibilities while making sure your grandchild has everything they need.

This section focuses on practical, day-to-day support to help you care for your grandchild with confidence.

Feeding Your Grandchild

Whether you are supporting breastfeeding, using formula, or both, feeding your grandchild is one of the most important parts of daily care.

  • Babies often eat every 2–3 hours

  • Waking during the night is normal

  • Hunger cues can include sucking on hands, rooting, or fussiness

If you are supporting a breastfeeding mother, your role matters. Encouragement, help with household tasks, and allowing time for feeding can make a big difference.

If you have questions about feeding, WIC can provide guidance and support.

Transportation and Getting to Appointments

In many parts of Texas, getting to healthcare appointments can be a challenge.

You may be able to access:

  • Medicaid transportation services (if enrolled)

  • Local nonprofit or community-based transportation support

  • Assistance through 2-1-1 to find options near you

Planning ahead for appointments and asking about transportation support can make a big difference.

Multi-generational Texas family with grandparent acting as primary caregiver for a young child.
Grandparent caring for young child during daily routine, highlighting kinship caregiving in Texas families.

If you are raising your grandchild and have had trouble finding care or support, you are not alone—and your experience matters.

Grandmother caring for young child during daily routine, highlighting kinship caregiving in Texas families
Grandfather caring for young child during daily routine, highlighting kinship caregiving in Texas families.
Grandfather caring for his young grandchild outdoors, reflecting grandparents as primary caregivers.

Get Help Now

If you need support, there are free, statewide services that can help you right now.

Find Local Help (24/7)

Call the 2-1-1 hotline (a Texas Information and Referral Network)

  • Free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

  • Speak with a real person who can connect you to local resources

  • Get help with diapers, food, housing, healthcare, and more

  • Available in English and Spanish

Or search online: https://www.211texas.org

Apply for Financial and Healthcare Support

If you are caring for your grandchild, they may qualify for benefits like Medicaid, CHIP, WIC, or SNAP.

You can apply and learn more here.

You can:

  • Apply online

  • Check eligibility

  • Find step-by-step guidance

Talk to Someone Now (Free & Confidential)

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just need someone to talk to:

Maternal Mental Health Hotline (granddad can call in, too!)

Call or text: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)

  • Available 24/7

  • Free and confidential

  • Support in English and Spanish

How Save Texas Moms Can Help

We are working to make it easier for families like yours to find and access care across the entire state of Texas.

Through our website, you can:

  • Search for local diaper and baby supply resources

  • Explore healthcare access in your area

  • Find support services for families and caregivers

👉 Diapers & Supplies

👉Resources for Mothers

Why Save Texas Moms Advocates for You

Across Texas, grandparents and other relatives are stepping in to raise children, often without clear pathways to healthcare services, support programs, or local resources. While these families are critical to keeping children safe and stable, they are frequently navigating systems that were not built with them in mind.

Save Texas Moms is working to change that.

We focus on improving access to maternal and pediatric healthcare services across Texas, especially in communities where providers are limited, systems are fragmented, and families are left to figure things out on their own.

Grandparents raising grandchildren are an important part of this work. Your experience helps highlight where systems are falling short—and where change is needed.

We are committed to building a more connected, accessible system so families like yours can find care, support, and answers more easily.

Our work includes:

  • Mapping access to healthcare services across Texas to identify gaps and barriers

  • Connecting families to local resources, including diapers, food, and healthcare support

  • Partnering with community organizations, clinics, and statewide networks to strengthen support systems

  • Advocating for policies that improve access to care for families, including those in rural and low-access areas