A new regional support group for grandparents raising grandchildren will be hosted monthly on the fourth Monday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Estuary, 220 Main Street, Old Saybrook.

The group will meet in person and is open to adults 18 years of age and older. Registration is optional and can be done by emailing Heather McNeil, LMFT, LADC, at heather.mcneil@oldsaybrookct.gov or by calling 860-510-5042.

In Connecticut, almost 20,000 grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren, and more than 61,000 children live in homes where a relative other than the parents are the head of the household. More than 19,000 children are being raised by relatives with no parent present, and more than 1,600 children in foster care are being raised by alternate relatives.

A grandparent’s life journey often takes an unplanned detour when they become a parent to a grandchild. This may occur due to the premature death of a child’s parent, a parent’s incarceration, the occurrence of mental health or substance abuse concerns, or other unexpected reasons.

Millions of family relatives—particularly grandparents, become “parents the second time around” when parents experience difficulties and their children need care. Grandparents in these situations need answers regarding concerns they may face, insight into feelings and experiences in their unique role as parent to a grandchild, and support in finding sources of strength for themselves and the grandchildren in their care.

If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild, join this recently expanded regional support group may be of interest. Residents of all towns are welcome to the meetings, which will be facilitated by Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services clinical staff.