The Second Shift Issues Related to Grandparents Raising - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Second Shift – Issues Related to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren October 10, 2019

Our Second Shift Story

The Scope How many grandparents are raising their grandchildren? “In 2016, 2.6 million grandparents in the United States were responsible for raising their own grandchildren under the age of eighteen, according to the US Census Bureau.” (1) 3

Grandparent Profile “Grandparents make the world a little softer, a little kinder, and a little warmer.” -- Unknown (4) Gender: Age: Two-thirds are female 39% are in their fifties 26% are in their sixties Marital/cohabitating status: How many grandchildren are they raising? 60% are married One grandchild: 54% 21% are divorced Two grandchildren: 28% 8% are widowed Three grandchildren: 12% 5% are living with a partner Four grandchildren: 4% 3% are separated Five or more grandchildren: 2% Custodial status Legal custody or guardianship: 62% Adopted the grandchild: 19% Informal custody: 17% Uncertain of status: 2% (2) Adesman, A., & Adamec, C. (2018). 4

The Causes  Addiction/substance abuse issues  Incarceration  Child abuse/neglect  Mental illness  Emotional immaturity  Death  Financial issues  Common theme – crisis created 5

The Needs and Issues  Childcare  Financial  Legal  Dealing with the adult child/parents  CPS/state agency involvement  “Life doesn’t stop”  Medical issues/aging issues  Aging parents of their own  Other adult children issues  Affects normal grandparenting of other grandchildren  Issues with exhaustion/depression  Affects on grandparents social life 6

Common Pitfalls  This is only temporary.  I don’t need a legal status.  What did I do wrong?  I can save the parents (adult children).  My needs aren’t important.  I’ve done this before and I will do it the same way again. 7

Intervention and Support Tips for Grandparents  Boundaries Grandchildren Adult children/parents  Communication with grandchildren  Legal authority Informal physical authority Temporary legal authority Guardianship Adoption  Respite and resources  Back to school 8

Resources for Grandparents Books • The Grandfamily Guidebook by Andrew Adesman, MD, and Christine Adamec, (Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden Publishing, 2018). • Grandparents as Parents, Second Edition: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family by Deborah Edler Brown and Sylvie de Toledo, (New York, The Guildford Press, 2013). • Parenting With Love and Logic , Foster Cline, MD, and Jim Fay, (NavPress resource in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, 1990). 9

Resources for Grandparents Financial Resources • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) • Foster care/kinship care payments • Guardianship/adoption subsidy • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • Medicaid • Free lunch • Childcare assistance • Social Security payment for retired adults • IRS tax credits • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (3) Adesman, A., & Adamec, C. (2018). 10

Resources for Grandparents National Organizations • AARP – https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info- 2019/grandparents-survey.html • American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law – https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/child_law/ • Generations United – National Center for Grandfamilies – http://www.gu.org • Grandfamilies of America – http://www.grandfamiliesofamerica.org • National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights – http://www.grandparentsforchildren.wordpress.com 11

Intervention and Support Role for Human Services Professionals  Awareness Scope/needs in your community Resources in your community  Involvement/advocacy Partner with other professionals Partner with school districts Partner with service organizations Expo/workshops/support groups  Education Community Grandparents in need 12

References (1) U.S. Census Bureau (2018). Grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 years by responsibility for own grandchildren by length of time responsible for own grandchildren for the population 30 years and over. Retrieved from https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pi d=ACS_16_5YR_B10050&prodTYPE=table. (2) Adesman, A., & Adamec, C. (2018). The Grandfamily Guidebook (38–40) . Center City, MN: Hazelden Publishing. (3) Adesman, A., & Adamec, C. (2018). The Grandfamily Guidebook (249–251). Center City, MN: Hazelden Publishing. (4) Chapman, R. (2017). 27 national grandparents day quotes that perfectly describe your love for them. Retrieved from https://www.elitedaily.com/life/national- grandparents-day-quotes/2065875. 13