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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Grandfamilies Webinar, Jan. 17, 2008 Amy Goyer, National Coordinator AARP Foundation

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Grandfamilies Webinar, Jan. 17, 2008 Amy Goyer, National Coordinator AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program. Introductions. Carmen Bovell, Senior Advisor Office of Head Start Kiersten Beigel, FCP Specialist Office of Head Start

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Grandfamilies Webinar, Jan. 17, 2008 Amy Goyer, National Coordinator AARP Foundation

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  1. Grandparents RaisingGrandchildren: GrandfamiliesWebinar, Jan. 17, 2008Amy Goyer, National CoordinatorAARP Foundation Grandparenting Program

  2. Introductions • Carmen Bovell, Senior Advisor Office of Head Start • Kiersten Beigel, FCP Specialist Office of Head Start • Amy Goyer, National Coordinator AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program AARP Foundation

  3. Facts About Grandparents (GP) • 70 – 80 million GP in U.S. • Approximately 75% of AARP members are GP • Estimate GP market at $40 billion plus • Average age of first-time GP is 48 • Half are under age 50 at first grandchild’s birth • Average number of grandchildren is 6 • 45% have grandchild living more than 200 miles away AARP Foundation

  4. Grandparents asSafety Net and Support • GP are leading child-care providers for pre-schoolers in U.S. • 2.4 million grandparents in U.S. are responsible for basic needs of grandchildren living with them (U.S. Census 2000) • 4.5 million children live in grandparent-headed homes in U.S. (U.S. Census 2000) AARP Foundation

  5. What are Grandfamilies? • Grandfamilies are those families in which grandparents or other relatives (aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousin, great-grandparents etc.) are raising children • Sometimes referred to as “kinship care”, however that can mean different things in different states, therefore we use the term grandfamilies AARP Foundation

  6. Grandfamilies:The Children • 4.5 million children under 18 in grandparent-headed households (6% of all children) • 1.5 million living with other relatives • About 1/3 have no parent present in the home AARP Foundation

  7. The Children • About half are under the age of 6 • 1/3 have no health insurance • All socio-economic levels; about 20% living in poverty • Higher incidence of physical mental, & learning disabilities AARP Foundation

  8. Racial/Ethnic Breakdown • 13% of all Black children • 11% of all “Other” children • (includes Native American) • 8% of all Hispanic children • 4% of all White children • 4% of all Asian children AARP Foundation

  9. Grandfamilies: The Grandparents • 2.4 million GP report they are responsible for most of the basic needs of grandchildren living in the same home • About one-third have no parents present in the home • 19% are living in poverty AARP Foundation

  10. Age of Grandparents • 71% are under the age of 60 • 6.7% age 30-39 • 29.2% age 40-49 • 35.1% age 50-59 • 21% age 60-69 • 7.1% age 70-79 • (U.S. Census 2000) AARP Foundation

  11. Substance Abuse Mental Health Incarceration HIV/AIDS Teen Pregnancy Death Child Abuse and Neglect Unemployment Divorce Family Violence Poverty Military Deployment Why are so many children beingraised by grandparents? Family Crisis or Chronic Problems: AARP Foundation

  12. Financial Legal Housing Health (physical and mental health; insurance) Special needs of grandchildren Education Child-rearing Family communication and relationships Social isolation Respite care Outreach and Information Grandparent Headed Families Face Overwhelming Issues and Needs AARP Foundation

  13. Legal • Informal vs. formal legal arrangement (guardianship, custody, adoption) • May need legal status to access educational, medical, mental health, financial and other services & benefits • Legal services expensive & long wait • Mediation services AARP Foundation

  14. Financial • Meeting children’s basic needs • Retirement savings & financial security • Legal barriers around obtaining assistance • Middle income - slip through cracks AARP Foundation

  15. Physical Health • High incidence of chronic health problems for children • Legal barriers around obtaining insurance & medical, mental health, and dental care • Caregiver’s physical health often suffers as they sacrifice their doc appts. and meds for the needs of the children AARP Foundation

  16. Mental Health Both grandparents and grandchildren may experience: • Grief & Loss • Fear • Anger • Resentment • Stress • Frustration • Insecurity • Loneliness AARP Foundation

  17. Grandchild Child’s history – abuse & neglect, no stability Behavior problems ADHD Depression Attachment disorder Grandparent Not planned Overwhelmed Afraid to say “No” Afraid to admit resentment Guilt Depression Mental Health AARP Foundation

  18. Housing • Space • Senior housing • Lease agreements • Difficulty accessing safe, affordable housing • Legal barriers AARP Foundation

  19. Childcare • Availability • Quality • Affordable • Location • Before/after school care • Summer and holidays AARP Foundation

  20. Education • Legal barriers to enrollment • Costly “extras” – tutoring, camps, field trips • Children w/special needs • High incidence of learning disabilities • Behavior problems • ADHD • Participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) for children with special needs AARP Foundation

  21. Respite • Need a break • Shopping, doctor visits, business, rest • Trusted person • Assistance to pay AARP Foundation

  22. Child-rearing • Raising a child is “different now” • Safety • Substance Abuse (drugs/alcohol/tobacco) • Behavior problems: • Discipline • Boundaries • Societal/peer pressures AARP Foundation

  23. Social & Family • What social life?! • “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…” • Friendships change • Marriage and relationships suffer • Other GC feel neglected • Focus on the GC AARP Foundation

  24. Lean on Me…Support and Minority Outreach for Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenAARP Research Study, 2003 Goals of the Study: • Learn more about grandparent support groups • Increase knowledge about outreach to minority grandparent caregivers Study Components: • 14 focus groups with grandparents raising grandchildren (some current members of support groups and some not in support groups) • Survey of 236 support Groups AARP Foundation

  25. Study Results:Need for Information • Outreach efforts have not adequately educated grandfamilies re: services/benefits/supports • Lack of information • Misinformation • Unaware of existing supports • GP in support groups are better informed AARP Foundation

  26. Study Results:Support Groups • Growing trend • Effective outreach and education mechanism • Benefits include information as well as emotional support • Dual agenda is key to promotion AARP Foundation

  27. Study Results:“One-stop” Grandparent caregivers want a comprehensive “one-stop” approach where they can get services and/or information and referral. AARP Foundation

  28. Study Results:Minority Grandparents • Generally less informed; fewer supports available • Spanish speaking Hispanic and Native American grandparents especially isolated • Some geographic differences AARP Foundation

  29. AARP Foundation Grandparenting

  30. AARP Foundation GrandparentingProgram • Strives to ensure that grandparents and grandchildren have access to resources that strengthen their health,finances and family connections. • Provides Navigation: Information & Referral, Education & Training, Resource Materials, Benefits Screening, WorkSearch Connections AARP Foundation

  31. AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program Information and Resource Materials • GrandCare News, a FREE quarterly newsletter • Website www.aarp.org/grandparents • Local Grandparent Support Database - searchable • State Fact Sheets – English & Spanish for every state, DC, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico • Subscribe to newsletter • Benefits QuickLINK AARP Foundation

  32. AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program Information and Resource Materials • Free print publications in English, with some bi-lingual or Spanish versions, including: • Guide to Public Benefits for Grandfamilies • 15 Minutes to Your Family’s Financial Health • Raising your Grandchildren: Tips for Promoting Positive Behavior Today and for the Future • Grandparenting: The Joys and the Challenges • English and Spanish language DVDs • Promotional items • Special order form for Head Start available on the Head Start Website AARP Foundation

  33. Benefits Outreach • Connecting grandfamilies to public and private benefits • Benefits QuickLink online screening tool • Collaborative relationships: Organizational Edition • Other resources: State fact sheets (English and Spanish), Guide to Public Benefits for Grandfamilies (bi-lingual), website AARP Foundation

  34. WorkSearch • Connecting grandparent caregivers with jobs and training opportunities. • Grandfamilies often face financial challenges and many grandparents have to go back to work or find more flexible jobs that support balancing work and family • Helping grandparent caregivers find jobs by providing online job interests/skills screening tool and job search with online training/certificate component AARP Foundation

  35. Financial Health • Connecting grandfamilies with AARP Foundation tools and resources to support their basic money management, including budgeting and asset-building. • Grandfamilies are often overwhelmed with the expenses of raising grandchildren and need to learn or update basic financial skills to protect themselves and ensure their future. • Grandparents and their grandchildren need to learn more about how to earn, spend, save, invest, and protect their own money. AARP Foundation

  36. Women’s Scholarship Program • Connecting grandmothers or other female relatives raising children with scholarships to support education and training. • This target audience is one of three priority categories for applicants. • Other priorities: • Returning to the workforce after an extended absence • Underemployed (in a job with limited pay, limited growth opportunities, limited benefits etc.) AARP Foundation

  37. Capitol HillWashington, DCMay 7, 2008 Co-Sponsors are: CDF, AARPCWLA, GU, GFA, NCGPCR AARP Foundation

  38. Discussion:How can we work together most effectively to support Grandfamilies?What are the best ways to get our information and resources to local Head Start programs and into the hands of Grandfamilies?How can we best support your work?What additional kinds of resources are needed?

  39. Questions or Follow Up? Amy Goyer, National Coordinator Grandparenting Program AARP Foundation 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 202-434-2218 agoyer@aarp.org www.aarp.org/grandparents AARP Foundation

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