About GAP
“GAP’s mission is to provide programs and services that meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relatives raising at-risk children.”
Grandparents as Parents, Inc. (GAP), was founded in 1987 by Ms. Sylvie de Toledo, LCSW, as a grassroots reaction to the rising tide of abandoned children created by the drug epidemic.
GAP currently serves approximately 1000 relative caregivers, 90 percent of them grandparents and the children they are raising.
GAP offers a many-tiered support program which includes cross-county emergency referrals for food, housing and other essentials; crisis counseling, intervention and support groups; workshops and educational programs; advocacy on behalf of caregiver families to schools, doctors and the legal system; community outreach programs, respite care; and advocating with, and educating, government officials and institutions about the rights and concerns of caregiver-headed families.
GAP maintains several weekly support groups, quarterly newsletters and an information/ resource/referral hotline.
GAP provides cost-free, community-based programs (follow links to Services, Resources) which include: emergency resource referrals for food, clothing & shelter; crisis counseling, interventions and support groups; workshops and educational programs; advocacy on behalf of caregiver families to schools, doctors and the legal system; community outreach programs; respite care; education of government officials and institutions, and advocacy for the rights and concerns of caregiver-headed families.
Currently, there are nine support groups meeting weekly throughout the greater Los Angeles area. In addition to the emotional support, education and guidance that participants receive, group facilitators create opportunities for fun via social activities for the grandparents and their children.