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 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 

We can expect at least an extra 30 years of life, so there are more people living to be grandparents and great-grandparents and great, great-grandparents.

Sadly, a rapidly growing number of these grandparents, middle-aged to elderly, are finding it necessary to raise their grandchildren. Census 2000 data tells us that six million grandchildren are living in households maintained by grandparents or another relative, with or without the presence of parents.

Census data also states that 2.1 million children are being raised solely by their grandparents or other relatives. Of these 2.1 million children, 145,150 are in the foster care system. If only one million of the remaining children were to enter the foster-care system, it would cost taxpayers 4.5 billion and the system would be overwhelmed.

Why Is This Issue Growing So Rapidly?

Raising grandchildren is an American tradition that goes back to our founding fathers. George and Martha Washington raised grandchildren.

In the past 25 years, this phenomenon has increased radically throughout the U.S. Since the 1990 census, “grandfamilies” have increased nationally by 53 percent. The following factors are primary contributors to this rapid increase:

• Substance Abuse (anecdotally, we know this is the most common reason grandparents have to step in to raise their grandchildren)
• Death
• Child Abuse and neglect
• Teen pregnancy
• HIV/AIDS
• Unemployment
• Incarceration
• Divorce
• Mental Illness
• Family violence
• Poverty

What Are The Challenges Faced By These Dedicated Caregivers?

Legal. Grandparents may need legally recognized status as primary caregivers for school enrollment and/or medical consent. Legal options include:

• Custody and Guardianship — Gives parental authority, but parents still have some rights, such as visitation.
  
  
• De Facto Custodian — Same standing as parents in court if grandparent has been the primary caregiver for six months if child is under age 3, or one year if child older than 3.)
  
  
• Adoption — Gives all authority to grandparents or other relatives seeking adoption, and replaces rights, responsibilities, and authority of parents. Open adoption allows for visitation by parent/s after adoption.
  
  
• Foster Parents — If the state child welfare agency takes custody of the grandchild, grandparents may qualify as foster parents, or they may qualify for special recognition of kinship foster care. There is a great deal of need for affordable legal assistance, mediation services, and less red tape.

Financial

• These families often have a hard time with day-to-day living expenses.
• Many grandparents and other caregivers don’t know they can access benefits.
• Grandparents in the middle-income levels slip through cracks. There is no assistance available to them.

Health/Medical

• One-third of grandchildren in “grandfamilies” have no medical insurance.
• Without legal guardianship or custody, caregivers may not be able to get their children on their insurance.
• Some children are eligible for Medicaid or the state Children’s Health Insurance Programs (S-CHIPS.)

Child Care

• It’s difficult to find affordable child care.
• It’s not usually available (varies by state) unless the caregivers have legal custody or guardianship.

Education

• An Idaho educational consent law is needed to help grandparents who don’t have legal custody.
• Changes may be difficult for the child. They may show difficult/disruptive behaviors.
• Research indicates higher incidences of learning disabilities among these children (ADD and ADHD.)
• Teachers need to be sensitive to the unique situations of these children.

Emotional/Psychological

Grandparents, other caregivers, and the children experience anger, fear, grief, loss, and stress levels that can affect their mental and physical health.

Housing

Grandparents are often living in senior housing or retirement communities that don’t allow children.
 

From a KinShip Care Tip Sheet written by Pam Catt-Oliason, Idaho Commission on Aging.

Additional Articles/Resources

Note: You'll find these articles at different web sites. Use the "back" button when you're done to return to this page.

AARP Grandparent Information Center (GIC) — The AARP Grandparent Information Center provides information about services and programs that can help improve the lives of grandparent-headed households. The GIC also offers Spanish-language publications.

Generations United — is a national organization that focuses solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, programs, and policies. This site has several fact sheets about grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren. 

Grand Parent Again — Information about education, legal support, support groups, and other organizations for grandparents raising grandchildren.

The American Bar Association (ABA) — How to find legal assistance, even if you cannot afford a lawyer.  Information about the judicial system is available as well.

The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) — Educates the nation about the needs of children and provides information about children's issues such as health insurance, child care, and school-age care.