Directory of Services

Source: AARP.org |  | April 25, 2006

Below you will find a list of government and non-profit resources available to grandparent and kinship caregivers in Wyoming. Private options were too numerous to include. Links are provided to access many of the agency or program Web sites.

Legal Services

• Wyoming State Bar
  • Lawyer Referral Service
    Includes information and answers to frequently asked questions about the service, which publicly provides names of attorneys based on the type of law practiced and geographical location. The service lists Wyoming-licensed attorneys that handle family law issues.
• Wyoming Legal Services
  A source of legal advice, brief services to persons age 60 and over and direct services to low-income clients in civil cases, as well as training and community education on elder law issues upon request. Offices are located in Lander, Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, and Fort Washakie (Wind River).
  Email: wrls@rmisp.com
  Phone: 1-888-737-5266
• Wyoming Guardianship Corporation
  Executive Director Sue Mydland and her team provide guardianship information and referral services, mental health ombudsmen services and assistance with management of Social Security and survivors' benefits. Her office is located in Cheyenne.
  Email: smydland@earthlink.net
  Phone: (307) 635-8422
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) trains community volunteers to serve in Juvenile District Court as advocates for children (0-17 years) who are the victims of abuse or neglect. Grandparents caring for such children may contact their local CASA office for assistance with navigating the system. Senior citizens are encouraged to contact their local CASA office to become a volunteer and be a "powerful voice in a child’s life." Local contacts can be found by contacting the individual Wyoming CASA programs:
  
  In Casper, Email: casa@mcmurray.net
  Phone: (307) 237-0889
  In Cheyenne, Email: lindikirkbride@casalc.org
  Phone: (307) 638-1151
  In Cody, Email: akrubeck@hotmail.com
  Phone: (307) 587-3545
  In Gillette, Email: casa6@vcn.com
  Phone: (307) 687-9440
  In Sheridan, Email: casabh@fiberpipe.net
  Phone: (307) 672-0311

Information & Support Services

• Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS)
  • District Offices
    Contact information for the field offices around the state. Offices provide information about programs, services and applicant eligibility, including financial assistance, Medicaid, child care and food stamps.
  • Food Stamp Program
    General information about Food Stamps and links to frequently asked questions, an eligibility calculator, and the DFS application for services.
  • Kinship Care Resources
    A resource bank of national Web sites with information about kinship care.
• Wyoming Department of Health
  You may also want to contact the public health office for assistance. Find contact information for your local office.
• Community and Family Health Division
  Various programs offer assistance in accessing and applying for local and specialty services, regarding dental, immunizations, parenting classes and developmental disabilities. Children's Health provides limited financial assistance via fee-for-service provider reimbursement for selected diagnoses. Contact information for main office only.
• KidCare CHIP
  State financial assistance for health care services or health insurance for low-income children in families below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program has two components, a "Medicaid look-alike" program and a "voucher" program.
• Covering Kids Coalition 
  State assistance in coordinating public and private insurance programs for children.
• Children's Home and Community-Based Waiver Program
  Serves children, adolescents and young adults with mental retardation ages birth to 21 with services designed to keep them in their home communities.
• Wyoming Dept. of Health Aging Division
  Links to information and frequently asked questions about a wide variety of community-based programs and services for senior citizens and disabled adults throughout Wyoming.
• National Family Caregiver Support Program
  The division assists grandparents raising grandkids through the National Family Caregiver Support Program's 23 programs functioning across the state. Services include respite care, support groups, outreach and group education, training and counseling. A client must be 60 years of age or older if caring for a child, or a family member caring for a qualified care receiver older than 60.
• Wyoming Dept. of Health Mental Health Division 
  Provides online resources and information about counseling and therapeutic services available in Wyoming. Find a list of providers in your area.
• Children and Nutrition Services, Inc. (CNS)
  CNS is known throughout Wyoming for supporting providers, families and children through dedicated programs and services. CNS is a statewide sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, for home-based child care.
• Child Care Finder
  Wyoming's Child Care Resource and Referral Network, funded by the Wyoming Department of Family Services, assists parents and guardians in locating child care and preschool programs that meet family needs. The program also provides consultation and assistance in evaluating and choosing appropriate childcare.
• Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming
  An affiliate of PCA America and sponsors of the Circle of Parents'™ parent and grandparent mutual support groups available throughout the state of Wyoming. Childcare and respite services are offered during meetings to enable caregivers to attend. Site also provides information and resources regarding prevention and reporting of child abuse as well as national and local news and statistics.
• Wyoming Senior Citizens, Inc.
  Provides senior information, counseling and referral services about respite care, Wyoming state health insurance, and employment programs for those 55 years and older.
• Casey Family Programs
  Links to research and other information relative to kinship care.
• Benefits Check-up Finder
  Finds programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other essential items or services by filling out a simple questionnaire.

If you have any suggestions of resources to be included in the resource bank, please contact AARP Wyoming by email.