Grandparents in Distress: Supporting Grandparents Who Are Raising their Grandchildren Kathleen Coulborn Faller, Ph. D., A.C.S.W. Marion Elizabeth Blue Professor Emerita of Children and Families University of Michigan School of Social Work Co-Director, Family Assessment Clinic Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County Mary B. Ortega, A.C.S.W., L.M.S.W.r Adjunct Lecturer University of Michigan School of Social Work Administrator, Family Assessment Clinic Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County

Grandparents in Distress We recognized the plight of grandfamilies because we see a lot of them at the Family Assessment Clinic. The bad news is that grandfamilies face many challenges; they may have been looking forward to a relaxed retirement, and they don’t get it. The good news is that the professional community is becoming aware of this population and their special needs. Another piece of good news is there is an increased availability of resources and support for them.

Our Grandchildren

Agenda Prevalence statistics Reasons why grandparents are primary caretakers Other important considerations Common psychological challenges for grandparents Common material challenges of grandparents Illustrative examples Interventions that can be useful with grandparent families Resources and support

How common are grandparent/grandchild family units? (The State of Grandfamilies in America, 2014) During the last 40 years, the percentage of grandparent families has steadily increased, 3% of children in 1970 to 7% in 2010; 10% of grandparents in 2014 are raising their grandchildren 7.8 million children total according to Generations United. African American families are more likely to be grandparent families Impact of culture and of poverty There was a spike in grandparent families during the crack-cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and more recently during the recession ( ) (U.S.Census Bureau, 2010).

Pew Charitable Trust (2009) & U.S. Census (2010) Both the Census data and the Pew data suggest with the recent recession, grandparent headed households are increasing Census 7,010,181 households Pew 1 in 10 children—73,700,000 children in 2006=7,370,000 children Increases higher among white grand families Approximately one-third are single grandparents. Approximately one-fourth have a disability. 20% are living below the poverty level.

Types of Grandfamilies Three generation: grandparent, parent, and grandchild(ren). Spilt or skipped generation: grandparent and grandchild(ren). Reasons that grandchildren are in the household of grandparents vary by type of grandfamily.

Reasons why grandparents are caretakers (U.S. Census, 2010; State of Grandfamilies in America, 2014) Parental substance abuse—split generation Death of a parent—split generation Child abuse & neglect—split generation Child abandonment—split generation Teenage pregnancy—3 generation HIV/AIDS—split generation Unemployment of parent—3 generation Incarceration of parent—split generation Divorce of parents—3 generation Parental mental health problems—split generation Family violence—3 or split Parental poverty—3 generation

Other reasons why grandparents are caretakers (Generations United, 2014) In three generation households Unemployment Underemployment Health care costs Home foreclosure Split generation households Deportation or detention of parents who are undocumented. Military deployment on mother or both parents. Out of state employment. Impact of the Great Recession 40% of grandparents have had custody more than 5 years.

Grandfamilies and the Child Welfare System With the policy preference for kinship care, the proportion of grandfamilies is increasing. In 2013, 28% of children who had been removed from their parents were in relative care. (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 2013) But for every child placed with relatives by the child welfare system, there are 23 children being raised by relatives outside the child welfare system. Grandfamilies are estimated to save the social welfare system $4 billion annually.

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

Other important issues Grandparents take custody because they do not want their grandchildren to go into foster care. Or grandparents are asked by child welfare to take custody. These custodial arrangements can be permanent or temporary. Parents may be in and out of the grandparent home. In 3 generation households, the needs of the parents seem to take precedence. In split generation households, the needs of the children take precedence. Grandparents’ needs hardly ever take precedence.

Common psychosocial challenges for grandparent families Stability of the living situation Grandparents may not have appropriate legal documents. To enroll children in school, to obtain social services, to access health care. Grandparents may not have stable custody. Parent may be in and out of the home. Parental visitation may be disruptive. Parent may maltreat the child on visits. Functioning of the grandparents. Grandparents may have been abusive or neglectful as parents. Grandparents may have health problems.

Common psychosocial challenges for grandparent families Functioning of the child(ren). If there was pre-natal substance abuse, Children may have FAS or FAE (alcohol) Children may have emotional dysregulation (cocaine, crack) May have developmental challenges because lived in an abusive or neglectful environment. Children may have sexualized behavior because they were sexually abused or exposed to sexual behavior (e.g., mom is a prostitute or dad is a pimp) Children may be aggressive because they were physically abused or exposed to domestic violence. Children may have attachment problems. Having adolescent grandchildren is especially challenging.

Grandmothers have special challenges More likely to be raising grandchildren as a single grandparent. Research indicates that the first 2 years of raising grandchildren are especially challenging. Increases in depression. Lack of preventative health care such as flu shots, cholesterol tests, pap smear. Physical health declines. More likely to be poor and face the threat of hunger.

Common material challenges of grandparents Inadequate physical space for child. Inability to meet licensing requirements as foster parents (physical plant; foster parent classes; past maltreatment history) Do not qualify for benefits because custody arrangement informal (e.g., social security, TANF). May not be aware of benefits. Parent is taking the child’s benefits. Parent is failing to pay child support. Grandparent may not be able to work because of age or disability.

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION First Case Example: The S Family

Case Example

Common treatment issues Grandparents need support— grandcaretaker a new role Grandparents need to provide child safety Protection from abusive parent Protection from other abusers Safe environment, e.g., no guns, matches Supervision-sleeping, bathing, nudity Stability/permanency Legal custody issues—e.g., guardianship Financial help Parenting Discipline Dealing with problematic behavior—Behavioral intervention Dealing with the impact of trauma—TF-CBT; experiential interventions

Questions and Discussion Case Example: The H Family

Essential Treatment Components: Lessons Learned Establish trust/rapport incrementally-be prepared to “prove” yourself Provide psycho-education about childhood trauma, PTSD and attachment issues Use conjoint grandparent-child sessions to practice parenting skills and enhance trauma-related discussions Use CBT or other strengths-based approaches to manage children’s negative behaviors (“I can’t punish them after what they’ve been through”) Collaborate with creating and maintaining safety plans Build coping skills to reduce anxiety about grandchild’s future and trauma reminders

More Lessons Learned: Assist with transition to the role of grandparent/parent, “grandcaretaker” including both life stage dilemmas and impact on peer relationships Address system issues including hesitancy to involve system/outsiders while facilitating external support Cultural humility approach includes Deference to values, attitudes and beliefs of grandparents Ability to look through and appreciate grandparents’ lens Ability to collaborate and respect grandparents’ wishes (i.e., concerns, prior efforts, transitions, anticipated worries)

Discussion and questions

Resources U.S. Gov Grandparents raising grandchildren-- Child Welfare Information Gateway esources/grandparents.cfm Grandparenting Foundation Sands, R., Goldberg-Glen, R, & Shin, H. (2009). The voices of grandchildren of grandparent caregivers. Child Welfare, 88(2), Hayslip, B. & Goldberg-Glen, R. (2000). Grandparents raising grandchildren. New York: Springer.

More resources Grandfamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice, & Policy. Grandfamilies of America: Generations United AARP family/info /grandfamilies