Grandparents raising grandchildren is not a new phenomenon.  Whether because of substance abuse, child abuse or neglect, incarceration, mental illness, or physical illness, some of the biological parents of our clients may not be able to care for them. Instead, their grandparents raise them. For these grandparents, the full-time care of their grandchildren is an unexpected return to responsibilities and challenges that they thought were long over. The difference this time around is that they face some unique disadvantages:  most of them are between 55 and 64, have to find additional resources to address the financial burden of raising a second generation of children, and address the emotional problems posed by both their own adult children and their grandchildren. Since 1989, the Grandparent Support Program provides a place for grandparents to learn about resources, give and receive support, and get help with parenting approaches.  Grandchildren also participate in a group that helps them get to know other children being raised by grandparents.  There they can develop a sense of belonging, play and engage in other activities that help build self-esteem and social skills.  Optimally, they can support each other as they deal with the loss of their own parents and learn better ways of coping.  The Grandparent Support Program is currently supported by a Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services grant. For more information on the grandparent support program, please contact Dr. Kelley Bryan Gin, Director of Clinical Services at 510 269-9042 or by email at kgin@westcoastcc.org