Direct Practice with Children and Families – Parenting Grandchildren The development of this learning module was made possible through a Gero Innovations Grant from the CSWE Gero-Ed Center’s Master’s Advanced Curriculum (MAC) Project and the John A. Hartford Foundation. Direct Practice with Children and Families – Parenting Grandchildren Funded by Master’s Advanced Curriculum Project Grant University of Texas at Arlington

Definition of the Issue Issue: Grandparents parenting grandchildren Defined: Grandparents who provide regular care to grandchildren either formally (court orders, personal decision) or informally (grandchild lives with the grandparent or spends a regular portion of his day with the grandparent) (Jendrek, 1994). Jendrek, M. P. (1994). Grandparents who parent their grandchildren: Circumstances and decisions. The Gerontologist, 34 (2), 206-216

Grandparents raising Grandchildren - National Data More than 6 million children are being raised by grandparents or other relatives; 2.5 million children are in households without parents present 2.4 million grandparents report being responsible for grandchildren 71% grandparents are under age 60 19% grandparents live in poverty U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000. These data are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren -National Data by Race 47% grandparents are White 29% grandparents are African-American 17% grandparents are Hispanic/Latino 3% grandparents are Asian 2% grandparents are American Indian or Alaskan Native U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 These data are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000.

Grandparents raising Grandchildren - Texas Data 448,439 children live in grandparent-headed households (7.6% of all children in the state) Of these, 244,100 are living with grandparent or other relative without either parent present 257,074 grandparents report being responsible for their grandchildren living with them 25,347 in Houston 15,075 in San Antonio 15,019 in Dallas U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 Texas: A State Fact Sheet for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, October 2008. Retrieved from http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Texas%20New%20Template%2008.pdf U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 Texas: A State Fact Sheet for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, October 2008. http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Texas%20New%20Template%2008.pdf

Grandparents raising Grandchildren Texas Data by Race 42% grandparents are Hispanic/Latino 35% grandparents are White 21% grandparents are African American 1% grandparents are Asian 74% grandparents are under the age of 60 21% grandparents live in poverty U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000

Circumstances Leading to Parenting Grandchildren Substance abuse Teenage pregnancy Death of parent Divorce Unemployment

Circumstances Leading to Parenting Grandchildren Neglect Incarceration Child abuse Illness and disease: HIV/AIDS, disability

Challenges and Concerns Employment and Childcare Legal Financial Health Housing Children with Special Needs

Consequences Social and Lifestyle Changes Disruptive family life Poverty Health Depression Physical health Legal Ambiguity

Class Discussion Examples View and discuss film, Big Mama Case studies to discuss concerns of parenting grandchildren and the roles of the social worker

Roles of Social Worker Assessment Use a life-span developmental perspective Assessment content: mental health: grief, stress, depression physical health assessing home and ability to care for child(ren) social contacts and isolation financial

Roles of Social Worker Advocacy Education Time management Child care Child rearing

Roles of the Social Worker Support Local support group Counseling Case management

References AARP. (October 2008). Fact Sheet- Texas. Jendrek, M. P. (1993). Grandparents who parent their grandchildren: Effects on lifestyle. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55, 609-621. Jendrek, M. P. (1994). Grandparents who parent their grandchildren: Circumstances and decisions. The Gerontologist, 34(2), 206-216. Karp, N. (1996). Legal problems of grandparents and other kinship caregivers. Generations, 20(1), 57-60. Minkler, M., & Roe, K. M. (1996). Grandparents as surrogate parents. Generations, 20(1), 34-38.

References Murphy, S. Y., Hunter, A. G., & Johnson, D. J. (2008). Transforming caregiving: African American custodial grandmothers and the child welfare system. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 35(2), 67-89. Pruchno, R. A., & Johnson, K.W. (1996). Research on grandparenting: Review of current studies and future needs. Generations, 20, 65-70. Thomas, J. L., Sperry, L., & Yarbrough, M. S. (2000). Grandparents as parents: Research findings and policy recommendations. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 31(1), 3-22. U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000.