Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The United States Census Bureau lists the statistics of Grandparents raising their Grandchildren. Nationally, roughly 32.7% of grandparents living with their grandchildren under the age of 18 were responsible for their care. March 19, 2024 Written by: Clayton Buck, George M. Hayward, and Lydia R. Anderson

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/03/grandparents-living-with-grandchildren.html

About 1.3 million Grandparents are still working to support their grandchildren living with them.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/grandparents-day.html September 10, 2023

There were 6.0 million U.S. multigenerational households in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to 2020 Census data released recently. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/06/several-generations-under-one-roof.html

When Grandparents Become Parents To their Grandchildren; an article published online March 2021

Potential Reasons a Child is Cared for by a Grandparent

The reasons a grandparent may provide needed care for a grandchild vary and can include:

• Parent has an addiction or difficulties with alcohol or drugs

• Parent has mental health challenges or emotional problems

• Child neglect, abandonment or abuse

• Parent is in jail

• Youth or inexperience of parents (teen pregnancy, etc.)

• Physical health issues or death of parent

• Unstable home life, homelessness

• Lack of financial resources, lack of general ability

• Domestic violence in the home, divorce, other family challenges

• Military deployment

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/when-grandparents-become-parents-their-grandchildren# Lead Author: Divya Saxena, M.S., Family Science Associate, Sean Brotherson, Ph.D., Family Science Specialist

Are you counted among this growing number of Grandparents raising their grandchildren?

Available Resources:

AARP Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Grandfamilies Guide A guide for grandparents raising grandchildren with tips, tools and resources.Information: www.aarp.org/relationships/friends-family/info-08-2011/grandfamilies-guide-getting-started.html

Brookdale Foundation Group Relatives as Parents Program www.brookdalefoundation.org

Child Welfare League of America Phone: (202) 688-4200 www.cwla.org/

Generations United – National Center on Grandfamilies Grandfamilies Resource page www.gu.org/explore-our-topics/grandfamilies/

Grandfamilies.org A national legal resource in support of grandfamilies.www.grandfamilies.org/

Help Guide on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren A guide on navigating the varied challenges of raising grandchildren.www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/grandparents-raising-grandchildren.htm

National Community Reinvestment Coalition – Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren https://ncrc.org/resources-for-grandparents-raising-grandchildren/

Zero to Three – The Grand Connector: Grandparent Resources A resource listing with specific resources for grandparents as caregivers.www.zerotothree.org/resources/2464-the-grand-connector-grandparent-resources

Here's a list of books for grandparents to check out at your local library regarding raising your grandchildren:

"Raising your Children's Children" by Marth Evans Sparks

"Grandparents as Parents- A Survival Guide" by Sylvie de Toledo and Deborah Edler Brown

" When Grandparents Become Parents - How to Succeed" by Rick Johnson

"Grandparents Return to Parenthood - A Supportive Guide" by Tabitha Sage

"The Grandfamily Guide Book" by Andrew Adesman and Christine Adamec

"The Sacred Work of Grandparents raising Grandchildren" by Elaine K. Williams

"Grandparents and Young Children with Autism" by Susan Louise Patterson

"Defusing Explosive Behaviour in Children with ADHD" by Rose Lyons

"Ultimate Guide to Raising Mixed Race Kids" by J Lindt

"Unconditional Love" by Jane Isay