Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

1
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

• Partnering to Build Support
• A Blueprint for Action
• Judith L. Warren, Ph.D. Janis Thompson
• Professor Special Initiatives Director
• Coordinator Texoma Area Agency on Aging
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service

2
Objectives

• Adopt a collaborative approach to GRG programming
  in your community
• Develop an understanding of the multiple issues
  facing GRGs
• Gain skills in working with GRGs
• Develop an action plan for your community

3
Who Are Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRGs)?

• In 2003, 4.3 million children under 18 live with
  a grandparent (6.3 of children with GRGs) 1.5
  live with other kin
• 448,439 are in Texas
• 30 increase in grandparent-headed households
  with children
• Types of household structure
• Grandparent Household Children
• Grandparent-Parent-Children
• Shuttle Household Children

4
Family Characteristics

• All races and ethnicities
• In all geographic regions urban, rural,
  suburban
• All socioeconomic levels
• Income level ---Age
• Education level ---Genders
• Religion ---Marital Status
• More Likely to Live in Poverty

5
What Triggers GRGs?

• Unexpected pregnancy of teen or adult child
• Death, illness or disability of adult child
• Divorce
• Abandonment of grandchild
• Drugs, abuse or family violence in grandchild
  household
• Arrest and incarceration of adult child

6
What are GRGs Feelings and Reactions

• Anger toward adult child
• Sorrow about adult child
• Embarrassment toward neighbors friends
• Joy toward grandchild
• Other

7
What Motivates GRGs?

• Love for Grandchildren
• Filling a gap created by a problem
• Guilt over adult child behavior
• Other

8
What Issues Will GRGs Face?

• Role Change
• Relationship Changes
• Financial Strain
• Health Issues
• Legal Issues
• Housing Issues

9
Starting a GRG Support Program

• Goals for the Group
• Support
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Access
• Advocacy

10
Working with Older Adults

• Aging is universal, variable, not disease
• Chronic conditions may contribute to stress
• Learning may require multi-modes of instruction
• Meeting time/place needs to take into
• account vision and mobility difficulties

11
Facilitating the GRG Group

• Co-facilitators
• Identify GRGs
• Determine meeting place
• Identify issues
• Form group
• Trust, respect, confidentiality
• Alert to emerging issues
• Evaluate
• Alternative support phone groups

12
Building an Action Plan for Your Community

• Partners
• Target Audience
• Topics
• Support
• Sustaining