Grandparent Family Connections University of Maryland School of Social Work Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children Mini-Med School University of Maryland School of Medicine September 29,

University of Maryland School of Social Work  Frederick H. Strieder, PhD, MSSA, Clinical Associate Professor University of Maryland School of Social Work Program Director, Family Connections 2

Family Connections is a program of the University of Maryland School of Social Work Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children that develops, implements, and tests community-based family strengthening services that empower vulnerable families to achieve their safety, well- being, and stability. The program is committed to educating social work and other professionals to use evidence-based models of practice. 3

Acknowledgements Family Connections – Original support received from U.S.D.H.H.S. Children’s Bureau, Grant 90-CA1580 – Diane DePanfilis, PI; Howard Dubowitz & Esta Glazer-Semmel, Co-PIs Grandparent Families – Pilot tests of interventions with grandparent families supported by Georgia State University & the Hasbro Foundation, MD Department of Human Resources, & Maryland Children’s Trust Fund 4

Current Support Replication of Family Connections with Intergenerational Families (Grandparent Family Connections) – U.S. D.H.H.S, Children’s Bureau, 5-Year Cooperative Agreement – Maryland’s Title IVE Education for Child Welfare Program (support for some program staff) – Annie E. Casey Foundation (10% cash match) – Maryland Department of Human Resources (partial support of operations for Family Connections program) 5

Prior Research on Family Connections Suggests that intervention may have an effect on: – Reducing Risk Factors depressive symptoms parenting stress life stress – Increasing Protective Factors parenting attitudes and satisfaction social support AND….. 6

Prior Research on Family Connections Results suggest improvement in targeted outcomes: Child Safety – decreased CPS involvement – fewer housing problems – improved mental health care – enhanced parental teaching of children Child Well-Being (Behavior) – decreased externalizing behavior and internalizing behavior Most positive effects endure six months following case closure. 7

Family Connections Received Recognition from U.S. DHHS Designated as “demonstrated effective” DHHS, ACYF Funding Announcement Priority area 2003D.1 Replication of Demonstrated Effective Practices in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. 8 cooperative agreements to replicate Family Connections (FY04 - FY08) – one of these is our project to replicate Family Connections with grandparent families. 8

Learning Objectives Unique needs and strengths of intergenerational families. Risk and protective factors associated with raising grandchildren. Principles and intervention strategies for effectively working with intergenerational families. Understand the perspective of grandparents receiving assistance. 9

10 Comments from Grandparent Caregivers

Trends The 2000 U.S. Census – 4.4 million children living in grandparent headed households under the age of 18 and another 1.5 million children under 18 living in other relative- maintained households. – 2.4 million grandparent-headed households – 19% below poverty line – 30% increase from 1990 – 72% under the age 65 11

Trends The 2000 U.S. Census Grandparents – 51% Caucasian – 38% African American – 13% Hispanics Proportion Caring for Grandchildren – 1% Caucasian – 4.3% African American – 2.9% Hispanics 12

Trends In Maryland – 125, 697 grandparents live with grandchildren and 50,974 are responsible for their grandchildren’s needs. – 14 th highest % of children living in grandparent- headed households of all 435 Congressional Districts in U.S. Maryland District 7 (Baltimore City and part of Baltimore Co.) 13

Explaining the Trend Increase in drug abuse, especially crack cocaine AIDS Parental incarceration Divorce Teen Pregnancy Rise in single-parent households Poverty Occurrences of child abuse and neglect 14

Challenges and Stressors Grandparents 45.9% African American care giving grandparents over 45 years of age have at least one disabled household member (Minkler & Fuller-Thomson, 2005) One third of African American care giving grandmothers over 45 years of age are below the poverty line (Minkler & Fuller- Thomson, 2005) African American care giving grandmothers over 45 years of age were more likely to live in overcrowded conditions and were more likely to have functional limitations (Minkler & Fuller-Thomson, 2005) 33% of children in grandparent-headed households lack health insurance (Kirby & Kaneda, 2002) 15

Challenges and Stressors Grandparents Providing long-term care (Fuller-Thomson et al., 1997) Complex legal situations (Grant, 2000) Intergenerational strain (Climo et al., 1999) Increased psychological distress, social isolation, depression, deteriorating health (Kelley et al., 2000; Minkler & Fuller- Thomson, 1999) 16

Challenges & Stressors Grandchildren Victims of abuse and neglect Victims of domestic violence Histories of living in unstable and chaotic households Problem behaviors in school, home, and community Emotional, academic difficulties and/or psychological or physical problems (e.g., Sands & Goldberg-Glen, 2000) 17

Prevention Framework Risk Factors 18 Protective Factors OUTCOMES Child Safety Child Well-Being Family Stability

19 Sample Risk & Protective Factors Risk Factors – Everyday stress – Parental stress – Mental health problems – Alcohol & drug problems – Family conflict Protective Factors – Parenting attitudes – Parenting competence – Family functioning – Social support – Safe neighborhoods – Family friendly community resources 19

A Population in Need of Services Though their needs are serious and unique, few programs assist intergenerational families. Grandparent caregivers often fall between the cracks of foster care, aging, education, and disability service systems. 20

Resilience Reduction of risk impact Reduction of negative chain reactions Establishment and maintenance of self-esteem and self- efficacy Opening up opportunities 21 Processes or mechanisms that protect people against the psychological risks associated with adversity Rutter, 1987

Resilience 22 - the developmental and situational mechanisms involved in protective process Rutter, 1987

Resilience Not a fixed attribute – changes related to time and circumstances Protection resides, not in the evasion of the risk, but in successful management with it. Change in risk trajectory to a more adaptive path Not invulnerability 23 Rutter, 1987

Functions of Grandparent Caregiver… Co-parenting Grandparent vs Custodial Grandparent Co-parenting grandparents Those who share responsibility for a grandchild in households that includes at least one of the child’s parents (Fuller- Thomson, Hayslip, & Patrick, 2005). Custodial grandparents Those who provide full care for the grandchild when the grandchild’s parents is not present in the household (Fuller- Thomson, Hayslip, & Patrick, 2005). 24

Functions as Caregiver… Role Identity Three constructs of social role theory within the context of the grandparent caregiver experience: Role timing Role ambiguity Role conflict 25

Role Timing The concept of “off-time” is established when the grandparent feels that the transition from parent to grandparent has been disrupted. The grandparent does not get to fully act in their role as grandparent, due to new parental role. The age of the grandparent affects their willingness to take on this new role. Many of the grandparents are in their “twenties and thirties and did not welcome the early transition to grandparenthood”. Grandparents may see it as an opportunity to pass on familial values and beliefs, as they redefine their new role. (Landry-Meyer & Newman, 2004) 26

Role Ambiguity… Refers to “lack of clear guidelines or socially agreed on behaviors regarding a role”. Grandparent caregiver may struggle with their role as grandparent vs parental role. Grandparent caregiver have to face the challenges that come with lack of legal authority, such as medical care, school enrollment, and applying for financial assistance through public social services agencies. (Landry-Meyer & Newman, 2004) 27

Role Conflict… “May emerge between the enactment of an unanticipated role and the external pressures of society.” Grandparent caregivers no longer experience the “traditional” role of being a grandparent, they now have to struggle with their new grandparent role. Grandparents may experience a sense of loss, as they lose their traditional grandparent role, in order to incorporate their new role as primary caregiver. (Landry-Meyer & Newman, 2004) 28

29 Comments from Grandparent Caregivers

Intervention Strategies for Working With Intergenerational Families Increasing Capacity and Reducing Risk 30

Practice Principles Ecological developmental framework Community outreach Family assessment & tailored intervention Helping alliance with family Empowerment/strengths-based Cultural competence Outcome-driven service plans 31

Intervention Services Crisis Intervention Emergency Assistance Individualized Outcomes-Based Services Individual and Family Counseling Advocacy Case Management Interdisciplinary Practice 32

Special Considerations Life Stage Issues Traumatized Children Attachment Challenges Intergenerational Conflict Legal Issues Health Care Issues 33

Additional Resources AARP Generations United GrandFamilies of America 34

DISCUSSION Questions? Comments? 35

To retrieve a copy of this presentation, please visit: The Family Connections Web Site 36

References American Association of Retired Persons (n.d.). Facts about raising grandchildren.Retrieved October 23, 2002 from Caliber Associates, Thomas, D., Leicht, C., Hughes, C., Madigan, A., & Dowell, K. (2003). Emerging practices in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. Harburger, D. S. & White, R. A. (2004) Reunifying Families, Cutting Costs: Housing- Child Welfare Partnerships for Permanent Supportive Housing. Child Welfare, 88 (5), McCallion, P., Janicki, M.P., Grant-Griffin, L., & Kolomer, S.R. (2000). Grandparent caregivers II: Service needs and service provision issues. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 33(3), 57-84). Minkler, M. (1999). Intergenerational households headed by grandparents: Contexts, realities and implications for policy. Journal of Aging Studies, 13 (2), Minkler, M., & Fuller-Thompson, E. (2000). Second time around parenting: Factors predictive of grandparents becoming caregivers for their grandchildren. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 50 (3),

References Minkler, M. & Fuller-Thomson, E. (2005). African American Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: QA National Study Using the Census 2000 American Community Survey. Journal of Gerontology, 60B (2), S82-S92. Rutter, M. Psychosocial resilience and protective factors. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 1987, 57(3), Saluter, A.F. (1992). Marital status and living arrangements: March Current population reports. Series P Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. Sands, R.G., & Goldberg-Glen, R.S. (2000). Factors associated with stress among grandparents raising their grandchildren. Family Relations, 49, Scarcella, C. A., Macomber J. E., & Geen, R. (2003). Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Children in Grandparent Care: New Federalism: National Survey of America’s Families. Urban Institute, Retrieved 12/4/2006 at U.S. Bureau of the Census (2002).U.S. Census Bureau State and County Quick Facts, Baltimore City, Maryland, Retrieved 7/21/03 at