Grandparents raising their Grandchildren: Key findings in the United States - Essay Example

Running head: Grandparents raising grandchildren Grandparents raising their Grandchildren: Key findings in United s and Financial Assistance Abstract United States is reported to be home for 6.1 million of grandparents and 5.7 million children who live with their grandparents. (US Census 2006) Out of 6.1 million, 1.6 million are grandmothers and 896,000 are grandfathers and remaining are caregivers. 2.1 million Children live with both their grandparents. Increasing divorce rate, teen pregnancy rates, drug abuse, child abuse are forcing the grandparent to step in the role of acting parents for development of the child's future. In this process, grandparents have to go through legal process so that they can be legal custodian or guardian and avail various benefits under various programmes. This paper discusses the difficulties, benefits, causes and other such factor related to the topic of grandparents acting as parent to their grandchildren. Introduction Grandparents who raise their grandchildren have become prevalent as an alternative family.(Bert, 2005) It is reported that 5.7 million children are living with their grandparents out of which 3.7 million live in grandparents household. Various factsheets reveal that there thousands of grandparents in United States taking care of their grandchildren due to numerous reasons. It is not an easy task to identify the exact number of grandparents raising their grandchildren without a parent due to informal relationships. With rising divorces, death of parents, disability, inability to care for their children, have increased the number of grandchildren being raised by grandparents. Types of Grandparents Kleiner et. al (1998) has classified grandparents into three sub groups as custodial grandparents, caregivers and day care parents. Casper & Bryson (1998) Custodial grand parenting is growing trend in American society with some 5.5 million grandparents have reported to be housing their own grandchildren in the year 1997. (Bert, 2005) It is also reported that the ages of most of the grandparents are between 55 and 64 years and 20% are over 65 years. Caregiver is explained as 'living with' grandparents who provide daily care but do not have legal custody. In such cases, grandparents focus on providing the child with economically and emotionally stable environment. The another classification 'day care' grandparents focus on helping the child's parent and function closest to societal function of grandparent. Causes for Grandparents Acting as Grandparents According to American Community Survey, 6.1 million grandparents are engaged in parenting activity in respect to their grandchild. 8% of grandchildren lived with their grandparent in the year 2006 in United States. (US Census Bureau, 2006) Grandparent after retiring from parenting activities after their child has settled well, if resumes the parenting job again, it needs a lot of careful thinking on the topic. Grandparents usually accept the task out of natural love and affection towards their grandchildren and would not accept the role of stranger in raising their grandchildren. (www.cornellcares.org) Most of the causes would revolve around the normal parents. Most of the statistics reveal that drug or alcohol abuse among natural parents is the main cause for inviting grandparent to step in and take over the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. It has been reported that in 1998 nearly 44% of youngsters were living with their grandparents because of their parents' substance abuse. And interestingly 28% were victims of child abuse, neglect or improper attention and 11% because of death of their any one or both of the parents. (www.egyptianaaa.org) Various reasons include ill health of their parents, or inability of parents to take the responsibility of their child, divorce, unexpected pregnancy of teen or adult child, etc. The reasons why the grandparents are acting as parents may vary on various factors. Difficulties of Grandparents to raise their child Many researches have been carried out to measure the difficulties of grandparents acting as parent. Some challenges include lack of legal custody or guardianship, limited time and money as they may be retired and may not be able to find suitable employment due to declining health and stamina, unaware of or unfamiliar with accessing community resources, intimidated or frustrated by the eligibility requirements for financial support, role and relationship changes to act as parent, financial strain and lack of housing space in some cases. (www.ndkidscount.org) There were 544,000 grandparents with disability, 477,000 who are below poverty line, and 1.4 million are in labor force who are also responsible for the basic needs of their grandchildren. (US Census Bureau, 2006) In the year 1998, median income for grandparents' care giving households was $19,750 as compared to $27,798 in the year 2006. The poverty rate of people above 65 yrs is 9.4% which makes it arduous task for senior citizens to take care of their grandchildren. (US Census Bureau, 2008) In the process of acting as parent, these grandparents may left isolate from other family members. Parenting grandchild often isolates them from social activity since many caregivers are not in the same situation as their friends. Some grandparents may find it difficult to handle their grandchild as he may not listen to them and is addicted to drug and alcohol. Such circumstances coupled with financial strains add to the difficulties of grandparents in raising their grandchild. Benefits of raising grandchildren Grandparents experience self renewal through their grandchildren and giving them the sense of security by helping them grow in their self confidence, self identity, self respect and self esteem brings happiness and utmost satisfaction to the grandparents. Burton, et al., (1995) also includes rewards such as a chance to raise a child differently, to nurture family relationships, continue family histories and to receive love and companionship from their grandchild. (Kleiner, 1998) And more importantly grand parents can provide stability, predictability and a healthy role model for their grandchildren. Providing the grandchildren with some help serves as greater purpose for most of the grandparent who are left with no motive in their lives. It is known fact that grandparents have strong familial bond with their grandchildren and despite many challenges financially, emotionally and physically derive great satisfaction from the service as acting as parent. (www.cornellcares.org) Development among grandchildren According to Solomon and Marx (1995) grandchildren raised by grandparents were healthy and performed at the same academic level or above than the children living with single parent or re-married parent. It is also reported that they has lesser behavioral problems than those who are raised in other non traditional family types. It was also reported that some grandchildren had mood swings, were argumentative and impulsive, and did not paid attention. (www.ssw.unc.edu) The research carried out by Shore and Hayslip gives negative picture stating that most of the custodial grandparents reported increased rate of behavioral problems as compared to traditional grandparents. It is difficult for the grandparent, whether custodial or traditional, to raise the grandchild. (Kleiner et al, 1998) Some may not do well in studies, other may misbehave, and lots of many other uncharacteristic things, to which grandparent have to respond positively. Legal issues for grandparents Raising grandchildren by the grandparents requires legal communication to the authorities. Even if grandparent is raising the child and giving him social and financial security, their natural parents can come on any giving day and ask for the custody and that's legal. Therefore it is necessary for grandparents to obtain legal custody of their grandchildren in order to have full authority over the child and can obtain various benefits through various schemes offered by the government. Some of the methods of obtaining legal custody includes formal kinship care where they can raise the grandchildren in foster system care which will also avail the grandparent for some financial assistance of the education and other financial needs which also means legal custody in true sense. Adoption gives the status of parent and child's natural parents are no longer termed as his parents and will also provide support to grandparent from Social Security or the federal adoption subsidy program. Legal guardianship and custody allows the grandparents to take decisions for the child. (www.aarp.org) In situation, when the grandchild safety is in trouble from an abusive parent, there are certain laws that restrict the parent from visiting the child in safer circumstances. (www.fcs.uga.edu) Financial Assistance There are several sources of financial assistance to the grandparents so that they can carry out the necessary activities in respect of developing the child's future. As per the National Grandfacts, 2.4 million grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren and 19% of these parents are living in poverty. (www.aarp.org) Some of the potential financial assistance providers include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which determines the amount of assistance to be provided to families under 'child only' grant considering the needs and income of the child and average grant in 2001 was $7 per child. Under TANF 'family grant' amount of assistance is provided to needy families in case of children living in the house of grandparents. Foster Care Payments are higher than TANF payment and the payment could be received by grandparent or any such relative who is care giver, on behalf of the child. The amount of assistance increases with increase in number of children. Other assistance includes adopted assistance payments, subsidized guardianship, child support payments, social security payments, tax credits, Child Tax Credits, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, etc. are available to the grandparents or anyone acting as parent to the child. (cdf.convio.net) Children who are at risk or already disabled can receive education through special services or at no cost as per Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (assets.aarp.org) Therefore, there are many programs and initiatives taken by the government and other charity organizations to provide financial to the grandparents. More Study and research is necessary It is stated earlier that more than 6.1 million grandchildren are living their grandparent. And 2.5 million grandparents are responsible for the most basic needs out of which 1.6 million are grandmothers and 896,000 are grandfathers. (US Census Bureau, 2006) There are lots facts speaking volume about the type of grandparents, their gender issues, financial status, marital status and the number of children living with them. These are very helpful, but the fact that how did they behaved prior to adoption, their mental condition, their education background and how much did they loved their grandparents when they lived with their parents is still an awaited response that should be answered. Basing on this data, it could be easier to evaluate the role of grandparents in the development of child's future and other activities. Future Outlook According to enrichment journal, the divorce rate in America is 41% for first marriage, 60% for second marriage, and 73% for third marriage. (www.divorcerate.org) And according to data revealed by the U.S Teenage Pregnancy Statistics (2006), 750,000 teenage women aged 15-19 become pregnant. With increasing number of terror incidents and other natural calamities taking place, it is inevitable that deaths can be controlled. In such circumstances, the future remains to be unchanged and grandparents have to don the role of acting parents to their grandchildren. Conclusion In the above circumstances, it is necessary to empower the grandparents with special acts so that they can act as parents and take decisions without the fear of being isolated again from the child. The grandparents should be provided with necessary training on how to manage the child. They should be given legal assistance, financial, medical and housing and education assistance too. Raising grandchildren serves a purpose of living for the old aged people who do not have any other motive in life. Both grandchildren and grandparents are vulnerable to difficulties from various sources. References 1. Bert Hayslip Jr and Patricia L. Kaminski, Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, Richard K. Caputo, Challenges of aging on U.S. families: policy and practice implications, Haworth Press, 2005 2. Disabilities http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/wdi/families/grandparents/public_assistance/disabilities.pdf 3. Divorce Rate www.divorcerate.org 4. Financial Assistance for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, Children Defense Fund, 2004 http://cdf.convio.net/site/DocServer/financialassistance0805.pdf 5. Grandfacts, A State Fact Sheet for Grandparents and Other relatives raising children, National October, 2007. www.aarp.org 6. Grandparents Day 2008: Sept. 7, US Census Bureau, Newsroom, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012095.html 7. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Family Trends, Volume I, No. 1, University of North Carolina , 2004 http://ssw.unc.edu/jif/famtrend/docs/GrandGrand.pdf 8. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, http://www.ndkidscount.org/publications/inform/3_3Inform.pdf 9. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Role Change/ Transitions, New York Presbyterian, http://www.cornellcares.org/pdf/handouts/rct_grandparents.pdf 10. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Legal Issues in Caring for your grandchildren, http://www.fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/CHFD-E-59-7.pdf 11. Holly S. Kleiner and Jodie Hertzog, and Dena B. Targ, Grandparents Acting as Parents, National Satellite Video Conference, 1998 http://www.uwex.edu/ces/gprg/article.html 12. Legal Issues, Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, AARP.org, http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/raising_grandchild/a2004-09-01-grandparents-legal.html 13. Older Americans Month: May 2008, Newsroom, US Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/011603.html 14. Statistics for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, http://www.egyptianaaa.org/GRGstatistics.htm 15. U.S Teenage Pregnancy Statistics, National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, 2006 http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf Read More