Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in the 21st Century

Jessica HernandezCalifornia State University of Long Beach

School of Social Work

May 2012

Introduction Grandparent involvement in raising grandchildren has become increasinglyprevalent and represent the family’s strength for managing crises. During the past 30 years, three have been an increasingly number of children in the United States raised in grandparent –households (Goodman, 2005).

Due to their involvement, grandparent have become visible in the school setting and more involved in the child’s education. They have been instrumental in overseeing school attendance, homework, and supervision of field trips and responding to disciplinary actions from teachers.

Although grandparents have strong parenting skills , several studies have also suggested that children raised by grandparents may encounter behavioral, emotional, and academic problems at school and require emotional and social intervention by school professionals (Anft, 2009).

RESEARCHGrandparent caregivers are the fastest growing out -of -home placement funded by child welfare agencies and in many large urban areas. The increase is attributed to the legal mandates and changes in child welfare policies and practices that encourage temporary and permanent placement with grandparents.

Grandparents headed households are still found in every segment and geographic regions in the United States (Fuller –Thomson & Minkler, 2005).

According to 2010 U.S. Census, more than 4.5 million children less than 18 years of age live in grandparent-run households .

In Los Angeles County, over 330,000 homes were headed by grandparents and over 170,000 children age newborn to 11 years old are in the care of the grandparents (U.S. Census, 2010).

From 2000 to 2010, the United States experienced an increase in the number of young elementary school-aged children raised by their grandparents and it is believed that the numbers will continue to increase (U.S. Census, 2010).

Children raised by their grandparents can be found among all religions, ethnicities, and socio-economic classes.

Social workers can directly serve this population by assessing and providing necessary support such as support groups, grandparent education, and resources on community agencies and provide information on self -care.

Services to grandparents caregivers should be geared to the dynamic of the family and relevant to the grandparent’s life experience, including age, life phase, race, and ethnicity (Reynolds, Wright, & Beale, 2003).

Social Workers can empower grandparents to identify strengths and improve their ability to use their parenting skills and guide them to utilize community services that provide, predictability and healthy family model for their grandchildren.

Social Work and Cross Cultural Relevance

Implications for Grandparents

• Interruption to their retirement years.

• Transition from the grandparent role to parent may cause emotional stress.

• Contemporary culture is different from when they raised their adult children.

• Health complications due to aging, lack of access to health care, and increased

psychological distress.

• Children may arrive with existing behavioral and emotional problems that can

become overwhelmed, anxious or depressed to the grandparent.

Grandparents in the School System

• Grandparents are most likely to be involved as volunteers in the classroom, field

trips, and in the school yard.

• School system can gain a better understanding of the dynamic and relationship

between grandparent and grandchild.

• Administrators and school social workers can help connect grandparents to

community resources and services.

• Providing information for tutors, mentors and other resources for academic

success.

Goal of the Grandparent Curriculum

The curriculum will provide grandparents with the appropriate skills and attitudes that promote a healthy development for their grandchildren and educate them on how to enhance the quality of a family relationship by:

1. Promote an understanding and knowledge of the development patterns and characteristics of children.

2. Developing an awareness and appreciation of parental roles, including the critical role parents play in supporting and encouraging their children’s success in school.

3. Teaching skills, attitudes, and understanding related to the discipline, nurturance, and support of children.

4. Enabling the capability of establishing and maintaining positive communication between grandparents and grandchildren throughout their development phases.

Grandparent Curriculum will

• The curriculum will provide grandparents the opportunity to discuss and gain

insight on their new parenting role.

• Be able to assess grandparents for specific individual needs.

• Provide interventions to improve family communication and relationships.

• Be able to identify and build coping techniques.

• Be able to share their stories and provide support with other peers.

• Will build knowledge of the availability of services that can help grandparents

meet their needs.

Curriculum Topics

• Parenting the 21st Century Generation

• Emotional and Social Development Young Children

• Communicating Effectively with your Grandchildren

• Disciplining the New Generation of Children

• Grandparents Coping with Stress

• Helping Children Succeed in School

ReferencesAnft, M. (2009). Non Profit Advocacy Groups Take on the Cause of Custodial Grandparents.

Chronicle of Philanthropy, 21(17), 3.

Fuller-Thomson, E., & Minkler, M. (2007). Central American Grandparents raising grandchildren. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Science, 29(1), 5-18.

Goodman, C.(2005). Latina grandmothers raising grandchildren: Acculturation and psycholgical well-being. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 60(4), 305-316.

Reynolds, G., Wright, J.V., & Beale, B. (2003). The Role of Grandparents in Educating Today’s Children. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30(4), 316-325.

United States Census Bureau (2010 ). Current Population Survey, 2010 American Community survey, data profile. Retrieved June 29,2011., from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/datasetMainPageServlet_program=ACS.