Intergenerational Relationships: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

In the U.S., and across the globe, growing numbers of children are being raised by their grandparents or other relatives. The 2000 U.S. Census reported 4.5 million children living in grandparent-headed homes (a 30% increase from 1990). That is 6.3% of all the children under age 18 in the U.S. Thirteen percent of all African American children are living with grandparents, along with 8% of all Hispanic children, and 4% of all Caucasian and Asian children. Large proportions of Native American children are being raised by grandparents – with some Indian Tribes estimating up to 60% of their children in this living situation. Another 1.5 million children in the U.S. are living with other relatives.

The 2000 Census also counted, for the first time, the number of grandparents who say they are responsible for the basic needs of grandchildren living with them, with a reported 2.4 million grandparents falling into that category. About one-third of these heroic grandparents are stepping in to raise their grandchildren with no parent present in the home. Almost 19% of these grandparents are living in poverty (100% of poverty level.) The age distribution of these grandparents indicates that 71% are under the age of 60. Many of these grandparents are still working, or go back to work to support their family. Caregiving issues can be very difficult for these working grandparents.

Why are so many children in the U.S being raised by grandparents and other relatives? At the Grandparent Information Center, we hear the most that drugs and alcohol problems are causing parents to be unable to raise their children. Mental illness is also a strong contributor, as well as incarceration, death of a parent, poverty, divorce, child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, or domestic violence. Military deployment is also a reason that grandparents are called to step in and raise their grandchildren while one or both parents are deployed in military service and unable to care for their children.

AARP conducted research in 2003 to examine the unique needs of diverse grandparents raising grandchildren. The study included fourteen focus groups with diverse grandparents as well as a survey of grandparent support groups across the nation. The study resulted in a report, Lean on Me: Support and Minority Outreach for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The report outlines the results of the research, and highlights the various issues these grandparent-headed families are facing, including:

• Financial
• Legal
• Health (physical and mental health; insurance)
• Housing
• Education
• Respite Care
• Supportive "wrap-around" Services
• Child Rearing/Special Needs of Grandchildren
• Social isolation
• Access to Information/Education

This AARP research found that outreach efforts have not adequately educated grandparent caregivers about the services, benefits and other resources available to them. Grandparents are highly uninformed about existing supports and services, and are often mis-informed – even by the professionals who seek to help them. African American, Hispanic (particularly those whose preferred primary language is Spanish) and Native American grandparents were found to be, generally, more isolated and less informed. We found that grandparents who were members of grandparents support groups were much more informed and had access to more services and benefits – leading to the conclusion that support groups are an excellent outreach and delivery mechanism that can be used to provide education and information for grandparents, as well as provide emotional support. Formation of grandparent support groups by local community organizations and faith-based organizations or schools are a growing trend in the U.S.

While support groups serve as an excellent delivery mechanism, what grandparents want the most is a "one-stop shop". One source or location they can access for counseling, assistance completing forms and applying for benefits, legal advice, services for their grandchildren (such as tutoring or mentoring), and other information/referral.

As a result of this research, AARP has engaged in targeted national and state/local level outreach to African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American grandparents. AARP is working collaboratively with state and local partners in building coalitions, creating resource guides, increasing support groups, creating "one-stop shop" approaches such as warm-lines and resource centers, and raising awareness of grandparents about the resources available to them through media and networking among various organizations that regularly come in contact with grandparent caregivers. AARP is engaged in ongoing evaluation to determine the effectiveness of these outreach efforts.

While the numbers of children being raised by grandparents in the U.S. are significantly high, there is no comparison to the millions of children in Africa and other nations who are being raised by grandparents or other relatives. Grandparents in these countries are heroically struggling to provide basic subsistence for their grandchildren. The AARP Grandparent Information Center is reaching out to other nations that are experiencing growth of this issue to determine the best ways to share and learn from each other. The International Consortium of Intergenerational Programmes (ICIP) will hold its biennial conference in Melbourne, Australia on June 26-29, 2006. This conference will provide an excellent opportunity for networking among nations about the growing concern over providing support for grandparents and other relatives raising children. Information about the conference can be accessed at http://conferences.vu.edu.au/icip

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