WV Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP)

The number of children who are living with grandparents or another relative caregiver has been increasing in recent years. These trends can be attributed to a number of factors, including increasing parental substance abuse, parent's incarceration and difficult economic circumstances. In addition, there are also situations that have long accounted for some care by relatives, this includes parent's death or serious disability, parental abuse or neglect and family or cultural preferences. 

The Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) is a service provided by Mission West Virginia, in partnership with the WV Bureau of Senior Services and the Brookdale Foundation. RAPP provides support through a warm-line, hosts training opportunities and works with support groups for relatives who are raising their family member's children. You can learn more about the RAPP program by visiting our RAPP web page.

The West Virginia RAPP program has a private Facebook group that we encourage you to join. If you are a WV resident who has custody or is currently seeking custody of a family member's child, this group is a resource for you. Participants must agree to terms of use to ensure a safe and empowering environment. An experienced grandparent who is raising her grandchildren moderates the group. To find the support group, click here: WV RAPP Facebook Support Group