Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

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Grandparents Raising Grandkids Find Home
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See "Book" section too

All throughout human history, grandparents have raised the young while parents supplied the basic needs for survival. Parents and grandparent served as a family "team" supporting and nurturing the young. Lately however, the family team has broken apart for many with the result that over the last several decades the numbers of children being raised by grandparents, either solely, or part-time, has been on the increase. So pervasive is this situation that no grandparent can exclude the possibility that he or she might be faced with the decision to raise grandchildren, part or full time, at some time in their lives.

Here are some statistics that will give you an idea of the extent of the issue. A recent report from the U.S.Census (which only partially reflects the widespread nature of this issue) made the following comparison. In the year 1970, 2,214,000 children under 18 lived in grandparent-headed households, with the mother present in half of these households. By the year 1997, this number was reported as 5,435,000, or 7.7 percent of all children in the United States. The majority of children are being raised by 2 grandparents, or a grandmother alone, with different degrees of parent involvement. Since then, the number has increased substantially.

In families that have both grandparents and grandchildren, the grandparents are the head of the house three-quarters of the time. The parents are heads of the household in the remaining one-fourth of the homes. In the former arrangement, half of the families have a grandmother and grandfather present. The rest have a grandmother with no spouse. The majority are under 65 years of age and employed. Half of the grandchildren are under 6 years of age, and often have neither support nor health insurance. Which underlines the financial as well as the emotional burden for grandparents. Although official census estimates made in the year 2000 hint the number to be more than 6 million it does not present the full picture. I estimate that the number of children being raised by grandparents in America today, part- or full-time, is now close to 8 million.

The dramatic increase in the number of children who need to be rescued by their grandparents during the last several decades poses an important challenge for grandparents today. For many it involves making a life-changing decision to dedicate one’s life to raising a child at a time in life when one may be looking forward to more leisure and less responsibility (Minckler& Roe, 1993). The rise in grandparent-headed households reflects both a parent’s understandable need for help with childcare and, in the worst case "parental failure."

What follows will help you to understand some of the reasons for the explosion of this trend, its repercussions on the family and society, and what is being done to help grandparents do the job. For example, as a result of the increase in the number of grandparents raising grandchildren, personal and governmental support organizations have been created (thanks to the efforts of many fine and dedicated people). So, if you are raising your grandchild, there are lots of resources, and local support groups, that are available to help you do the best job possible. Some of them are listed at the end of this section and can also be found on websites like www.grandparenting.org and AARP.org.

The more children you have the greater the chance you will be caretaking a grandchild at some time or another. And, if you are presently raising a grandchild, or even caring part-time for a child, there is a lot you need to know. Some grandparents ask. Why is this so prevalent today? How do I cope with caring for a grandchild? How do I deal with being a grandparent, and yet sometimes having to act like a parent? Do I have legal standing? Is help available and where can I get it? What can I expect as far as problems are concerned? How does my grandchild feel? How do I deal with parents?

Raising a grandchild is a complicated matter. You will have to know about emotional, financial, health, legal and educational matters. In what follows I will discuss these matters and some emotional and psychological aspects of raising grandchildren that you need to know about. Let's start at the beginning.

The Cause: Parental Need or Failure

When parents falter, nature has arranged it so children naturally fall into the laps of their grandparents. Caring for a grandchild may be temporary, for example when a parent is ill or in turmoil. It can also be permanent, as in the case of death, serious substance abuse, or incarceration. Following are some of the common circumstances that place children in jeopardy, forcing them to seek the sanctuary of their grandparents.

Abandonment of the child by the parent. Parental illness (mental and physical). Teenage pregnancy. Substance abuse. Unemployment. Homelessness. Incarceration. Death of a parent. Divorce. Family violence. Child abuse and neglect. Poverty.

Many grandparents faced with raising a grandchild experience ambivalent feelings. They become concerned about the welfare of their own child (the parent) as well as their grandchild. They also have to deal with the reality that taking on the responsibility of caring for a grandchild will turn their lives topsy-turvy. This decision is further influenced by their personality type, values, priorities, life circumstances, how much time and effort will be required to raise a grandchild, how much help and support they can count on from their family and society, their financial status, their health, housing situation, and the amount of responsibility assumed and/or authority they have.

Some grandparents perceive taking on a parental role late in life as a blessing and are grateful for the opportunity to form a deeper bond with their grandchild. Other grandparents while enjoying its pleasures, still resent the responsibility and attendant inconveniences that are involved in raising a grandchild. The health effects of raising a grandchild depend on the basic health and vitality of the grandparent. Some grandparents say that raising a grandchild, although stressful and tiring at times, has increased their vitality and zest for life (Caren 1991, Kornhaber 1996). Others say their health is adversely affected (Minckler 1999). Most researchers agree that more study is needed in this area (Bower 1991).

Many have to deal with their resentment toward the grandchild’s parents for thrusting the responsibility upon them. Others view the failure of the parent as their own failure and feel responsible and overwhelmed with guilt. Many other grandparents express concern about the fate of their grandchild if they die or become too ill to care for the child.

The degrees of resentment or acceptance they experience is closely related to whether or not they have a choice in the matter. Raquelle, a 47-year-old grandmother was awakened at 3 A.M. by a knock on her front door. When she opened the door she found her two-month old grandson on the front steps, neatly wrapped and sleeping in a small basket. Her drug-addicted daughter had left her baby there. "I had to take the baby in," Raquelle said. "My daughter was back on the street, and there was no one else to care for her. I don’t like it but what alternative do I have? I am not giving my grandchild over to strangers to raise."

When their daughter and son-in law were killed in an auto accident Peter and Gloria automatically took in their four grandchildren to care for them. "They are my grandchildren, my flesh and blood," said Peter. Who else is going to care for them the way Gloria and I do?" For some timing is a challenge. Elders who are ready to slow down and relax more, may understandably resent being forced into caretaking a young person. Della, 67 was ready to retire when her son, who was divorced and just joined the Air Force, deposited his two children at her home. "I wasn't happy about it," she said, "but I had no choice except to raise them up."

Naturally, the lives of grandparents undergo great change when their grandchild moves in with them. Instead of spending time with their friends, they become immersed in the social life and schoolwork of their grandchild. And it can be especially difficult when a grandparent has a grandchild with emotional or behavioral difficulties. Some complain about being tired and overworked and resent it. Others feel that raising a grandchild has given them new meaning which compensates for the fatigue they feel. So, if you are raising your grandchild, expect to have many different feelings. On the one hand you will have to sacrifice a certain amount of your freedom. On the other hand, you are saving your grandchild's life

The legal status of children raised by grandparents can be tenuous. For example, many children who live with their grandparents because of a parental substance abuse problem that waxes and wanes are often fearful because their parents still have legal custody. This tenuous situation makes children frightened of being taken from their grandparents by a parent in the process of recovering from a drug problem because of the fear of relapse. Bouncing back and forth between grandma’s house and a frequently relapsing parent is very disruptive to children. According to Sylvie de Toledo, L.C.S.W., who started Grandparents as Parents (GAP), a support system in California for grandparents raising grandchildren (see "Resources"), this "revolving door" syndrome is common. Parents with unresolved drug problems reclaim their children when they are in a period of remission. Then, when a relapse occurs, they abandon the youngster once again. When this happens the child gets confused about where he belongs and fearful that his living routine will be disrupted. That is why grandparents raising grandchild should obtain some kind of legal custody for their grandchildren until they are assured the parent is able to take over

One 8-year-old who participated in our Grandparent Study was shuttled back and forth between her mother and grandmother's homes seventeen times in just three years. She said, "My mother goes into rehab and she's all right for a little while. Then she leaves the hospital, takes me from Grandma and brings me to her house. In a week or two she's back on drugs. Then I go to Grandma's and Mom goes back to rehab." Barbara Kirkland, a pioneer in the grandparent caretaker movement, has stated that if parents aren't available, grandparents should be given the legal means to provide the stable environment children need. Ms. Kirkland told me, "Arrangements should be made for children to get on with their lives, not remain in limbo. All children deserve a future of belonging."

That is why a grandparent’s legal status is so important (see Chapter 42, "Legal Issues"). To have total responsibility and authority for your grandchild you may choose adoption, full or temporary custody, or guardianship. You can pursue full custody if your grandchild’s parents are dead, abusive, incarcerated or terminally ill. When custody is established by law, you gain rights and benefits not offered with other caretaking arrangements. For example, subsidized health insurance, social services housing, and school enrollment are made available to you as a grandparent raising a grandchild. Full custody is necessary if you wish to protect your grandchild from a parent's dysfunction, or to be free to raise your grandchild if the parent dies. When the parent is living and you have custody be aware that a situation might arise where the parent may wish to regain custody of their child. This can be a bad or good thing depending on the competence of the parent to take care of their child.

Other legal arrangements such as adoption, which terminates a parent's rights, temporary custody, and obtaining the status of a foster parent, serve you with a measure of legal security that will help you maintain a balance of power between yourself and the parents. If you have no legal recognition of your caretaking status, you may have difficulty accessing social support systems or medical, educational or financial services.

You can expect a radical change in your lifestyle when you raise a grandchild full-time. If you have full, uninterrupted custody you will experience lifestyle changes that can affect your work life, friendships, daily activities and retirement plans. You will have to be involved with your grandchild's health, education and social life. If you are single, or have economic or health problems, you will need personal support as well as that of social service agencies. You will have to deal with the common issues grandparents are concerned about; their legal rights, attitudes of insurance companies toward insuring grandchildren, financial strain, health problems, dealing with parents, obtaining adequate school service for the grandchild.

The quality of your relationship with your grandchild’s parent and the terms of your arrangement with them will obviously impact dramatically on your degree of responsibility as your grandchild’s caretaker. For example, if you are parenting a child and grandchild at the same time, you will have constant, but varying, responsibility and authority because you have to act as a full-time parent and grandparent at the same time (Jendrek 1993).

You may have other grandchildren who need your attention too. If you are providing regular daycare while parents work, you can send your grandchild home at the end of the day. You can also provide "stop gap" respite care. For example, providing sanctuary for a teenager having difficulty with parents is a temporary situation that ends when parents and child are reunited

Although grandparents raising a grandchild full-time recognize the life giving and energizing benefits of their position, they are also aware that the role can be time-consuming, fatiguing and often financially and emotionally burdensome. In one study of grandparents and great-grandparents rearing their children's children as a consequence of parental drug addiction, Burton (1992) concluded that while "respondents found parenting their grandchildren an emotionally rewarding experience, they also incurred psychological, physical and economic costs in performing their roles. Some grandparents resent the disruption in their lives caused by their grandchildren's needs for time and attention. Others raising debilitated grandchildren - children addicted to cocaine, afflicted with fetal alcohol syndrome, malnourished, or suffering with other health, behavioral or learning problems - may be resentful of the extra care the child requires."

Support for grandparents raising grandchildren is vital for successful caretaking. Studies show that grandparents who cope well with their situation are those who seek out other family members and support groups to help them deal with their concerns. Others use their strong spiritual beliefs to bolster them. It is important that grandparents take care of themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually to be effective caretakers of their grandchildren.

Grandparents raising a grandchild must learn how to deal with organizations and institutions to obtain the support they so desperately need. In the past, society's institutions did not support grandparent's efforts to obtain adequate funding, health care, education, or respite resources for their grandchild. Neither was help available to grandparents raising grandchildren who were concerned with issues such as their authority, control, sibling rivalry, the generation gap, their grandchild’s education, their own illness and mortality, their sense of isolation, defensiveness, anger, fear of going crazy, guilt, shame, separation and abandonment. Because of the efforts of dedicated, caring advocates, today there is a great deal of help available for grandparents from social agencies. Joining a local grandparent support group is a great way to get the latest information as well as support from grandparents who are in the same situation as you. The names of groups in your area can be obtained from organizations like Generations United and the AARP Information Center (see "Resources").

If you choose to join a support group, here are some of the issues and problems that you may want to discuss with your peers:

The difficulties in obtaining medical attention without formal custody. 
Many insurance companies do not allow grandparents to carry their grandchildren as dependents.
Many schools will not admit a child unless the child's parent is living with the grandparent; thus grandparents are denied authority concerning the schooling of their grandchildren and even transportation to another school district.
Grandparents often cannot obtain emergency medical care for their grandchild unless they have legal custody.
Social security benefits are not payable to caregiving grandparents unless they adopt the child.
Financial assistance, especially problems in receiving adequate financial help on a par with foster parents.
Housing issues. The households of caretaking grandparents do not conform to the traditional definition of family as defined in zoning laws thus they may be excluded from living in a single family-zoned community.
Grandparents cannot help their grandchildren in treatment centers without parents' permission.
Caregiving grandparents without legal custody must give up their grandchildren to the child's parents without assurance of the child's health or well-being.

Grandparents whose grandchildren live with them full-time yet who do not have custody may have to pay for their grandchild's education and medical needs as well as day-to-day support. Although the state offers financial support to parents and foster parents through the Aid to Dependent Children Program, no such help is easily given to grandparents. Furthermore, grandparent groups claim that some government agencies have been negligent in seeking counsel from grandparents concerning the disposition of an abandoned child. There are cases cited in which state agencies, ignoring the wishes of grandparents seeking to raise their own grandchild, have placed the child in the care of a series of strangers.

Caring for your grandchild challenges your generational identity. The difficult and tricky task is to maintain your grandparent identity while acting as a parent. My experience, and that of others (Kennedy & Keeny 1988) shows that children raised by grandparents would prefer their grandparents to remain grandparents. Even if they want to, children cannot banish their parents from their minds and hearts; it is common knowledge that children who lose their parents create dreams and fantasies to deal with the loss, such as idealizing their parents, having fantasies of being reunited with them, etc. Just as they may project anger onto a custodial parent as a result of the pain of divorce, children may rationalize the loss of parents and even blame grandparents for their loss. Therefore, grandparents must be very careful not to be caught in the battle zone between their grandchild and the psychological work he or she has to do to resolve issues with the parent.

Whatever his or her experience with a parent, your grandchild has a need to have a healthy and loving parent. As a grandparent who is aware of this fact, try to defer your own needs to those of your grandchild. Demonstrate flexibility by moving in and out of the various roles you may be required to play, such as nurturer, mentor, role model, playmate and "parent." Your support and love can help your grandchild work through the difficult issues they may be grappling with.

One grandmother in the Grandparent Study asked her granddaughter, Paula, "Do you want me to be your grandmother acting like a parent or should I just be your mother?" Paula replied, "If I am your grandchild I will not have a mother or father. And if I don't have you I don't have anybody." When her grandmother signed the custody papers, Paula said, "Grandma, when I go to school tomorrow can I tell them I have a real Mom now?" Clearly, Paula needed her grandmother to play the role of parent. As Paula ages, her feelings may change or perhaps she will always need to see her grandmother in the guise of "parent."

The extent to which you play the "parent" over the "grandparent" is affected by a number of factors, i.e., the presence of other young children at home, your age, whether or not you have custody of your grandchild, etc. Providing children with a sense of stability and continuity is critical. Whether or not you play the role of parent for your grandchild, it is reassuring to know that, having learned from your own mistakes, you will be more competent at parenting a second time around. Daisy, a 55-year-old grandmother, said, "I feel good that I’m not making the same mistakes with my grandchild that I did with my children." Her husband, Olin, 60-years-old, agrees: "I never gave my own children the time and attention I give my grandson. I wish I had my own family to raise again. I would be a much better father."

Grandparents acting in a parental role often ask me about what happens to the "magical" ingredients of the grandparent-grandchild relationship-- the unconditional love, playfulness, spoiling, and loving "conspiracy" against the middle generation? These are qualities that are usually rooted in the grandparent's lack of direct responsibility for their grandchild. When you raise a grandchild, you may have to relinquish some of your grandparental prerogatives. Children need behavioral limits and lacking a parent to enforce the rules, you must step in and lay down the law. If your grandchild has behavioral difficulties, you may have to play the role of "enforcer" even more than usual. Grandparents who raise their grandchildren do tend to lose some of the "magical" qualities of their relationship with their grandchild, but at the same time also experience a degree of intimacy that might not otherwise be attained. Remember that a loving and flexible grandparent responds to the needs of the child. Be what the child needs you to be at that moment.

I have found that children raised by grandparents tend to be less rebellious and more understanding and grateful than other children. Christine, 21-years-old and raised by her grandmother, said, "When I was a teenager most of my friends stayed out well beyond their curfew and often fought like hell with their parents. Not me. I knew my grandparents were doing all they could to keep things together. I didn't want to give them any grief so I always tried to come home on time."

Studies hint that children without serious pre-existing problems who are raised by grandparents are healthier than children in single parent or remarried families, have fewer behavioral problems and are better adapted socially. On the other hand, they recognize that many children do have problems that started before their grandparents took over. In that case as well intentioned as the grandparent may be, the problems still need to be addressed.

My own experience convinces me that children are thankful for what their grandparents are doing for them. Most grandparents realize the importance of what they are doing as well; being quite aware they are saving their grandchild. Few have reservations about what they have given up to achieve this. "Not for one second," James, 52-years-old, answered when asked if he had any hesitation about raising his grandchildren after their parents were killed in a car crash. "It's natural to take them. That's what grandparents are for." "If my grandparents didn't take care of me, I'd be dead," said James’ 6-year-old grandson, Ralph.

If you are raising your grandchild, you must not forget you are still the parent of your grandchild’s parent. Even though you may be very angry and have lost respect for your child, it is very important to recognize your child as your grandchild’s parent and to help your own child as much as possible. Perhaps your ability to be kind and forgiving will be taxed, but always remember that people do grow and change. Maintain a hopeful attitude, yet at the same time, always look reality in the face. Assure your child that there will always be a place for her in the family. This behavior on your part sends a wonderful message to your grandchild, for they will be observing how you relate to their parent. For the sake of your grandchild, keep the lines of communication open to the parents.

To help grandparents raising grandchildren manage their responsibilities, a plethora of local support groups and national organizations have sprung up all across THE United States. Support groups such as The AARP Grandparent Information Center, Generations United, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, GAP (Grandparents As Parents), and ROCKing (Raising Our Children's Kids) can help (see "Resources" below for more). If you are raising a grandchild, I urge you to join a local support group. Here are some guidelines to follow to increase public awareness about this issue, and the quality of services available in your community. Share these ideas and suggestions with local agencies.

Establish community-training courses for grandparent caregivers and group support systems for grandparents and their grandchildren.

Research the effects of current grandparent caregiver support groups to adapt them to your specific population and then upgrade their quality.

Establish uniform qualitative standards for grandparent caregiver groups by providing a basic standardized curriculum and training course that may be locally adapted.

Form a network of group leaders to interface with local and state organizations. Convene on a regular basis to discuss changing needs, enhance and update the curriculum, and plan, advocate, and implement policy.

Document and assess benefits derived by caregiving grandparents, thereby encouraging others to take responsibility for their grandchildren.

Establish uniform federally mandated legal rights and social privileges that support the efforts of caretaking grandparents and kin.

Research the effect of caregiving on the mental and physical health of caregiving grandparents and grandchildren. Elders who are cut off from other generations are more likely to suffer from depression than those who remain actively involved.

Demonstrate to society and elders, by the means of social programs, the importance of the grandparents' role and intergenerational relationships as emotional and spiritual work that elders can perform for their families and society.

Raising a grandchild can be challenging and yet highly rewarding. Indeed, what greater gift could a grandparent receive than the love and respect of their grandchild who appreciates the sacrifices their grandparents made so that they would grow to be happy, healthy people? The words of loving praise that these grandchildren have for their grandparents brings tears to the eyes of all who hear them and a glow to the hearts of the grandparents who deserve them.

If you are raising a grandchild, you have an added responsibility to educate others about what you are doing so you are supported and respected for your efforts. To this end make the effort to join together with other grandparents raising grandchildren and urge government agencies, the legal system, schools, insurance companies, social agencies, religious and other institutions to recognize the good you are doing and to help lighten your burden as much as possible. To begin this effort get in touch with one of the organizations I have listed in the resources section. You will find that they have already done a great deal of work on your behalf. There is strength in numbers.

Resources for grandparents raising grandchild have proliferated recently. For information about local resources, it is best to do a search on the World Wide Web. Contact your state agency on aging for help. The following organizations and agencies are very helpful too.

The AARP Grandparent Information Center. Lists support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren, publishes a helpful and informative bulletin, and works hard in the best interest of grandparents and grandchildren.  www.aarp.org

Generations United. Lists support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren and publishes supplies helpful information and woeks hard to affect public policy for the better.. 122 C. Street N.W. Suite 820 Washington, DC 20001-2109    Phone 202-638-1263  www.gu.org.

The Foundation for Grandparenting, promotes all aspects of raising grandparents consciousness to bettter themselves, their familes, community and nation. www.grandparenting.org

Boston Grandfamilies Home Grandfamilies House caters to grandparent raising grandchildren families. For information, call  (617) 266-2257

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Educational Program.

A coalition including the AARP, University of Wisconsin Extension Services, and the Purdue Research Foundation have put together a three session educational program for grandparents raising grandchildren. You can use this program for grandparents in your locale. Contact Margaret Hollidge (e-mail to mhollidge@aarp,org.) Highly recommended.

Grandparents Raising Grandkids Find Home

Boston (AP)- The parents are dead, on drugs, in jail, off where nobody knows. Grandma is left to raise her grandchildren. With the number of such families skyrocketing nationally, Boston is constructing what's billed as the nation's first public housings for grandparents raising their grandchildren. Grandfamilies House," a complex of 26 apartments, will be handicapped accessible for the elders and toddler-proofed for the youngsters. Developers said it would offer a network of support for- families struggling with some very different generational needs.

"I think this is a miracle," said Elizabeth Hick, 58, who is raising her three grandchildren two by her son, one by her daughter. Her 12-year-old granddaughter Asia Harris has lived with her since she was three days- old. Her mother said, 'Will you baby-sit a couple hours?" " I've had her since," Hicks said at the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday,

Hicks said she is glad this special home will be available if she needs it. Hicks, whose vision and kidneys have been impaired from diabetes, said Asia often worries about her health. "She tells me, 'Oh, grandmother-, Please don't die,'"  Hicks said. "Please don't let anything happen to you."

About 400 Support groups offer advice to grandparents raising their children’s children, although Boston’s housing development is unique, experts say. Government and private dollars are contributing to tile $4 million housing complex, which is being built on the site of an abandoned nursing, home in an inner-city Boston neighborhood. For the seniors, there will be elevators, ramps and grab bars in tile apartments, which are scheduled to open in a year. For the children, there will BC safety electrical outlets, window guards and storage areas for toxic household products Large bay windows will let grandparents keep watchful eyes on their youngsters playing in the park out back-. Programs run by the YMCA will teach everything from computers to aerobics - to both age groups.

Residents will pay rents equal to 30 percent of their family income in some cases that could be as much as $375 a month. Of 50 child-rearing grandparents interviewed for a recent Boston study, all had incomes below $15,000 a year. Money isn't the only problem, Some seniors find their apartments won't allow young children. Others can't get food stamps or adequate medical care for the children.

We wish this great project lots of luck and follow this story closely.

 Resources

 AARP Grandparent Information Center has comprehensive information to help grandparents raising grandchildren. Call 202-434-2296.                www.aarp.org.

Generations United.    www.gu.org.

State of Maine.          www.kinshipconnections.org.

See chapters on "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" in "Grandparent Power," and "Contemporary Grandparenting" in "Book" section.

Se books on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in the "Books" section

Florida Kinship Care Center

We are writing this letter to announce the formation of the new Kinship Care Warmline, a toll free listening line (1-800-640-6444) available to all kinship caregivers in Florida who need emotional support and a feeling that someone cares about them. The primary objective of the Warmline is to provide an understanding ear and information and referral services for grandparents and other relatives raising children in Florida. Throughout Florida, it is estimated that over 231,000 children are living with relatives. While there are many advantages to kinship care, such as the preservation of family ties, community and ethnic/cultural consistency, and reduced trauma of separation, there are also many difficulties associated with this kind of caregiving. Kinship caregivers must make great personal sacrifices, and they tend to be older and less financially secure than traditional families.

The Warmline helps to provide answers to the questions asked by kinship care givers regarding medical services, child care, support groups, housing, and educational services. The new Warmline also provides appropriate information about local resources needed by kinship caregivers. We would appreciate your help in advertising the Kinship Care Warmline.

We would also like to ask your help in our efforts to create a comprehensive list of service providers, emergency contact numbers, and agency contact persons to be used when assisting caregivers who call the Warmline. Because the Kinship Care Warmline serves caregivers throughout the entire state, we will need help from you and other key agencies in Florida to create the most comprehensive resource list possible. We greatly appreciate if you would call or email us with any resource information that may be helpful to kinship caregivers. We thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide us.

Contact: Kerry Krisman Aaron Smith, Ph.D., MSW Anne Strozier, Ph.D., MSW
Program Coordinator Co-Director, USF Co-Director, USF
Kinship Care Warmline Kinship Care Center Kinship Care Center
kerrykrisman@yahoo.com asmith@chuma1.cas.usf.edu strozier@chuma1.cas.usf.edu

Websites

See "Grandparent Network" page.

Books (See "Books" page).

Home Page

Copyright 1998 by The Foundation For Grandparenting
Last revised: 20 Dec 2005