STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE GROUP HELPS GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

Byline: Mark Kellam Valley News Writer

More and more these days, grandparents are taking over as primary caregivers for their grandchildren. It can be a difficult situation for some, both emotionally and financially.

Grandparents As Parents, a non-profit headquartered in Canoga Park, helps grandparents who are legal guardians of their grandchildren.

Diane Ellison, who is raising her three grandchildren, said she appreciates everything GAP does. Through GAP, Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village worked with Ellison so her two grandsons, Scott, 14, and William, 15, could receive Hebrew training. The temple is also assisting with Hebrew training for her 9-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany.

All three of her grandchildren have muscular dystrophy and learning disabilities.

The temple also helped four other families where grandparents are raising their grandchildren in the same way, Ellison said.

Rabbis Jim Kaufman and Sarah Hronsky make sure the training is customized to each child's abilities, Ellison added.

Also, William recently job a job at the temple as a teacher's assistant, working two days a week.

GAP was started about 18 years ago by Sylvie de Toledo after she saw her own parents bring up her nephew after her sister's death.

De Toledo, who now lives in Encino, recognized a need for a family niche that was rapidly growing and not receiving the proper attention, support or resources.

Reason vary as to why grandparents take over custody of their grandchildren, but usually it's due to either death, incarceration or drug use, said Ivy Weiss, executive director of GAP.

GAP aids caregivers who are grandparents or other relatives through support groups, one-on-one counseling and assistance with emergency needs. Perhaps the most important service it provides is the comfort in knowing they are not alone, Weiss said.

De Toledo said GAP members often face the dual challenge of unexpectedly having to raise their grandchildren while dealing the fact their own children cannot be sufficient parents.

``The 'grand' is taken out of grandparenting,'' she said. At a time when they are expecting to be doting grandparents, they are having to be the disciplinarians, she added. Plus, the grandparents often haven't raised a child in 20 years and parenting today is much different than two decades ago. ``Kids today can have so many issues,'' de Toledo said.

The dramatic change can lead to stresses on the grandparents' emotions, finances and marriages.

GAP holds two weekly meetings in the Valley. On Tuesdays, there's a meeting at 9:30 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente in Panorama City. On Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., a meeting is held at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills.

In addition, GAP holds potluck picnic the third Saturday of every month during the spring and summer and organizes monthly field trips during the fall and winter.

Ellison said there is tremendous support among GAP members. She recalled on time when a grandmother who was a GAP member went into the hospital. Another GAP member took care of her grandchild for a month. Ellison said.

GAP's offices are located on the southeast corner of Sherman Way and Glade Avenue in Canoga Park.

For more information, call [phone] or visit www.grandparentsasparents.com.

Before attending any meeting, call de Toledo. [phone].

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Photo:

(color) Diane Ellison, center, with her grandchildren, William, Scott and Tiffany.

Mark Kellam/Valley News