Grandparents as caregivers program; administration

(a) In accordance with the provisions of the grandparents as caregivers act and subject to the provisions of appropriation acts, the secretary shall establish a grandparents as caregivers program within the Kansas department for children and families. The program shall be administered in a manner which recognizes that: (1) The relationship between a child and a parent differs from the relationship between a child and a grandparent; (2) society and the demands and needs of the members of society change between the time a person raises a child and the time the same person raises a grandchild; (3) caring for a grandchild often places additional financial, social and psychological strain on grandparents with fixed incomes; (4) different parenting skills are necessary when raising a grandchild, and many grandparents do not possess such skills, are not aware of how to obtain such skills and cannot afford access to the services necessary to obtain such skills; (5) grandparents acting as caregivers need a support structure, including counseling for both the grandparent and grandchild, respite care, transportation assistance and child care; and (6) grandparents are often unaware of medical and other assistance, including cash assistance for which they may be eligible.