Grandparents Raising Kids

Ruffin, W (2009), Kindship Care: Grandparents and Relatives as Parents. Retrieved on April 7, 2010 from http://www.aces.edu/urban/FamilyWebsite/grgfeature.html

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Feature Article

Kinship Care: Grandparents and Relatives as Parents
By: Dr. Wilma J. Ruffin, Family & Human Development Specialist
Many grandparents in the United States (US) are finding grandparenthood different from what they expected. Instead of the occasional visits from their grandchildren, they have taken on the role of primary parents to their grandchildren. According to 2000 US Census data, six million (8.4 percent) of all children under the age of 18 are living in grandparent or other relative-maintained households across the nation. The Census further found that nearly 5.8 million grandparents are living in households with one or more of their own grandchildren under the age of 18. More than 2.4 million of these grandparents are primarily responsible for meeting the basic needs of these children. In Alabama, more than 113,000 (10.1 percent) children are now living in these conditions.
Although the percentage of children in Alabama living in grandparent or relative-maintained households is somewhat higher than the national percentage, a closer look at Alabama counties reveals other astounding percentages. For example, in Madison County 7.2 percent of children are living with grandparents or relatives. While this percentage is lower than the national average, two counties in West Alabama, Lowndes (19 percent) and Wilcox (17.3), both have higher national percentages. And Huntsville located in Northern Alabama, reported that as many as 1524 grandparents are the primary caregivers of grandchildren, and at least 2922 grandparents now live in the household with one or more grandchildren under the age 18.
Certainly, grandparents and relatives serving as the primary parent is not a new phenomenon; however, it is a rapidly growing trend that transcends all socioeconomic groups, geographic areas, and ethnicities. A variety of family circumstances such as the death of one or both parents, parental abandonment, family violence, the high incidence of divorce, parental imprisonment, drug addiction, or mental illness, and an increase in the number of never-married mothers (especially teen mothers) have all contributed to this rapidly growing trend. Unfortunately, the AIDS epidemic also plays a role in this increasing shift of responsibility for child rearing. These influences give rise to the increasing number of "skipped generation families," where the biological parent is absent from the home and grandparents serve as the sole or primary caregivers for their grandchildren.
Regardless of the diverse circumstances that led to grandparents and relatives new role, they share the common goal of wanting to provide a stable, nurturing environment for the children. Dedicated caregivers often take on their new roles at tremendous personal sacrifice. In fact, many grandparent caregivers find their personal resources stretched to the limit, and they lack the support of friends who can identify with the stressors they may be facing. Issues of health financial stability and parenting are also important to these individuals. Financial resources planned for the retirement years may be quickly depleted as the children 's needs are addressed. In addition, grandparents often report other obstacles, including difficulty obtaining insurance coverage for dependent grandchildren and enrolling their grandchildren in school when they do not have formal guardianship of the child. Even when the grandparent has obtained legal authority over the child, custody arrangements are continually subject to challenge from biological parents and the stability of the arrangements remain uncertain (Family Information Services, 1999).
Working through the many bureaucratic systems that the family may be involved with can be frustrating and difficult. Grandparents, who serve as surrogate parents, face a different set of psychological challenges than first time parents and non-care-giving grandparents. Three main areas of concern for grandparents parenting grandchildren are: 1) loss of the expected and preferred grandparent role; 2) uncertainty about the permanence of the childcare arrangements; and 3) the relationship with the son or daughter who is unable to fulfill the parenting role.
Other emotional difficulties may include feelings of disappointment; shame; anger; conflict with their offspring who are unwilling or unable to raise their own children; jealousy within the family unit; self-doubt about the ability to parent effectively; loss of freedom; disruption of friendships with peers; loss of control over one 's future; and worry about the stability of the child 's placement and the child 's future. Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren often express significantly lower feelings of life satisfaction when compared to non-care-giving grandparents.
Grandparents and other relatives rarely plan to parent a second generation of children. Those who do assume surrogate parenting roles agree to take on the responsibility of providing full-time care rather than allow harmful living situations to continue or the child to be placed in foster care outside the family. Given the personal and economic strain that often accompanies surrogate parents, many grandparents need support and/or interventions tailored to their unique needs. Education that addresses these issues at the level of personal adjustment, skill enhancement, emotional support and advocacy for greater systemic support, can greatly assist this population.
Sadly, many organizations that provide services for both generations are not prepared to deal with the special needs and situations presented. Policies and practices nationally should encourage rather than discourage the responsible actions of those relatives who come forward to care for children of kin. It is imperative that policies are created to support the many challenges these families face.
Extension 's Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs unit as the lead agency in collaboration with American Association of Retired Persons, the Alabama Department of Human Services, and the Alabama Department of Senior Services have formed a coalition to address the needs of relative caregivers through the Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP). This network of state agencies, with Cooperative Extension serving as the lead agency, received a seed grant from the Brookdale Foundation of New York to create or expand services to grandparents or other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting.
The goals of the Alabama RAPP Coalition are to provide technical assistance for establishing and facilitating support groups, to conduct informational sessions, and to identify community resources for grandparents and other relatives parenting children. Currently, three local programs are being conducted in Blount and Madison Counties and through the Florence City Schools.
For information on starting a support network or participating in an existing group, contact Dr. Wilma J. Ruffin (256-372-4960), Kevin H. Crenshaw (256-372-4939), or Alison Couch (256-372-4584).

References
U.S. Census 2000 SF1, table P28. Relationship by household type for population under 18 years.
U.S. Census 2000 DP-2. Grandparent caregivers in the United States, the 50 states, and the District of Columbia.
Dannison, L. and Dannison C. (1999), Grandparents raising grandchildren. Family Information Services Professional Resource Materials, Family Information Services: Minneapolis, MN.

Kathey (2009). Grandsplace, Texas State Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 7, 2010 from http://www.grandsplace.org/gp8/tx.html Texas
State Fact Sheet
Across the country, more than six million children -- approximately 1 in 12 children -- are living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. The District of Columbia has more than 113,000 children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. In many of these households, grandparents and other relatives are the primary caregivers (“kinship caregivers”) for children whose parents cannot or will not care for them due to substance abuse, illness and death, abuse and neglect, economic hardship, incarceration, divorce, domestic violence, and other family and community crises.
A Look at the Numbers: Kinship Care in Texas
The data below show the numbers of grandparents who are living in households with at least one grandchild under the age of 18, as well as the numbers of grandparents who are the primary caregivers for these grandchildren. These numbers were reported by the 2000 U.S. Census and are available for every place (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau) in the country, including cities, towns, villages, and boroughs, on the U.S. Census website. | Grandparents Living in Households with One or More Own Grandchildren Under 18 | Grandparents Responsible for Meeting the Basic Needs of Grandchildren | Location | # | # | United States | 5,771,671 | 2,426,730 | Texas | 551,047 | 257,074 | Houston city | 57,190 | 25,347 | Dallas city | 32,640 | 15,019 | San Antonio city | 37,267 | 15,075 | Austin city | 11,697 | 5,105 | El Paso city | 24,452 | 10,055 |
*These data are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau Table DP-2. Profile Selected Social Characteristics: 2000.
Kinship Care Initiatives in Texas
In Texas, public and private agencies and grassroots coalitions of grandparents and other relative caregivers have begun working together to expand the services available to kinship caregivers who are caring for children outside of the foster care system.
Several of the major kinship care programs and supports are listed below. Additional support groups can be found through the AARP Grandparent Information Center Database. Call 1-800-424-3410, e-mail information requests to [e-mail], or search AARP’s online kinship care support group database at http://www.aarp.org/grandparents/searchsupport/.
Additional state and national kinship care resources and supports are available on the Generations United website at http://www.gu.org, and GrandsPlace at http://www.grandsplace.org and Grandparent Again at http://www.grandparentagain.com, two websites coordinated by grandparents raising grandchildren.
Statewide Resource and Referrals for Senior Caregivers: The Texas Department of Aging’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) offer information and referrals for all Texas seniors, including grandparents raising grandchildren. Referrals are available for support groups, respite care, and other services. Seniors are connected to the agency in their local county, where the availability of services for kinship care families varies. Contact: AAA hotline at 1-800-252-9240 or http://www.tdoa.state.tx.us/AAADirectory.htm. or Gary Jesse, Director, Office of AAA Support and Operations, Texas Department of Aging, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Elder Options of Texas is another on-line information and referral resource for senior housing and elder care information. The site offers information on support groups, respite care, and contact information based on location. Contact: Log on to http://elderoptionsoftexas.com.
Building Coalitions of Kinship Caregivers: The AARP’s Texas Office is leading a growing effort to create grassroots coalitions of grandparents and other relatives raising children in the San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. With the resources and support of AARP’s national office, the coalitions will focus on creating public awareness about the needs of Texas kinship care families and educating Texas legislators and policy makers about the services they need. Contact: For more information about how to join these coalitions, Texas kinship caregivers should send their name, address, phone, and e-mail address to: AARP Texas Office, 98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 750, Austin, Texas 78701, call [phone].
Resources for Dallas Kinship Care Families: The City of Dallas Office of Senior Affairs has a partnership with the Urban League of Dallas and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to provide resource materials to kinship caregivers in the Dallas metropolitan area. The materials connect kinship care families to local services and provide general information about public benefits, support groups, and coalition-building efforts in the area. Contact: Constance Smith, Dallas Office of Senior Affairs, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Support for Kinship Care Providers: University of Houston Parent Education Project offers the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program to grandparents and other relatives providing kinship care in Houston. The program is located in Thompson Elementary School in south Houston. It provides weekly meetings, educational classes, and field trips. The program also offers referrals to kinship care providers for resources in the area. The program uses an in-house therapist and a family resource coordinator to address the needs and concerns of the kinship caregivers. Contact: Angie Grindon, Director, at [phone].
Parenting Skills for Houston Kinship Caregivers: ESCAPE Family Resource Center offers Circle of Love, a parenting course for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising in the Houston area. The six-week course includes such topics as how to deal with the absence of the biological parents, caregivers’ loss of their roles as traditional grandparents, how to ease transitions for children, helping everyone to maintain a positive relationship with the biological parent, and a broad range of communication, problem solving, and family living skills. Caregivers and children are divided into separate discussion groups and are then brought back together at the end of class to explore relevant issues as a family. Classes are free. Contact: Jennifer Montes, Program Support, Circle of Love, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Supports for Kinship Care Families in the Panhandle: The Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle provides information and services to grandparents and other senior relatives ages 60 and over who are raising children under the age of 18. Serving 26 counties in the Texas Pandhandle, the organization provides basic information on public benefits, support groups, limited funding for respite services, and a “Grandparents Day Out” social event. The organization also works closely with the Community Resource Coordination Groups to provide individual case services. Contact: Melissa Bjerke, Caregiver Specialist, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Kinship Care and Texas’s Foster Care System
Sometimes children in the care of the states are placed in foster care with grandparents or other relatives. In Texas, the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) reports:
Number of children in kinship foster placements: As of August 31, 2001, there were 13,729 children in paid out-of-home placements. Of these children, 2,871 children (20.9%) were placed with kin.
Preference for kinship placements: State law requires that kin be considered first when an out-of-home placement is sought for a child under DPRS’s care.
Licensing for kinship foster parents: There is no separate licensing program for kinship foster parents. Kin have to meet the same licensing standards and receive the same foster care payment rate as non-kin foster parents.
Subsidized Guardianship: In addition to foster care payments and other benefits available to kin raising children in the foster care system, some states also have subsidized guardianship programs. Most of these programs offer ongoing subsidies to children who have left foster care to live permanently under the legal custody of guardianship of relatives. Texas currently does not have a subsidized guardianship program.
State foster care contact: Questions about kinship foster placements should be directed to Norton Teutsch, Program Specialist V, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Training and support for kinship foster parents: The State Foster Parent Association in Texas, Texas State Foster Parents, Inc. (TSFPI), serves kin and non-kin foster parents. Contact: Roy Block, President, at [phone] or [e-mail]. The website is http://www.TSFPI.org.
Supports for kinship foster parents: Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center in Plano provides one-stop services for abused and neglected children and their families. The Center provides services ranging from forensic interviewing to a full range of therapy and support services. Among the services provided is a support group for relatives raising kin who are in foster care or at risk of entering the foster care system. Caregivers receive information on related topics and have access to an array of community resources. Child care is available during support group meetings. Contact: Dan Powers, Clinical Director, at 972-633-6600 or [e-mail].
Research on kinship foster care: Under a grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the DePelchin Children’s Center in Houston has established the Kin Can Program. The program seeks to identify relatives of children in foster care in order to find safe and permanent placements with the kin or to foster long-term relationships. The Center also offers parenting training and support open to kinship care families. Contact: Susan Mapp, Research Assistant II, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Case management, training, and support in San Antonio: The Comprehensive Relative Enhancement and Support Training Program (CREST) is a collaborative program between Casey Family Programs and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services , which was started through a three-year federal Adoption Opportunity Grant. CREST provides kinship caregivers with training, caseworker support, information and referrals, support groups, counseling, and goods. This program serves caregivers in the San Antonio area. Contact: Norton Teutsch, Program Specialist V, Texas DPRS, at [phone] or [e-mail] or Don Arispe, Social Worker, Casey Family Programs, at [phone] or [e-mail].
Research by Casey Family Programs (Southern Regional Office) on kinship care in Texas: Casey Family Programs is conducting research in Texas communities to learn more about the needs of kinship caregivers and the systems designed to support them in the Valley Region and San Antonio. Contact: Pamela Gionfriddo, Research Analyst, Casey Family Programs, at [phone] est. 238 or [e-mail]
Other Supports for Texas Kinship Care Families
Children raised by kinship caregivers are often eligible for a range of state and federal programs. In most cases, kinship caregivers may apply for these programs on a child’s behalf even though they are not the child’s parents or legal guardians. Some examples of these programs include:
Cash assistance: Cash assistance may be available to children and their grandparents and other relative caregivers through the Texas Works program. In addition to monthly child-only payments for eligible children, Texas Works offers a one-time supplemental payment of $1,000 to grandparents who are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren. To be eligible, grandparents must be 45 years of age or older and have a family income that is at or below 200% of the poverty level. Kinship care families may also be eligible for food stamps to help meet their children’s food and nutrition needs. For more information about these programs, call 1-800-448-3927 or log on to http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/programs/TexasWorks/index.html.
Health insurance: Grandparents and other relative caregivers may apply for free or low-cost health insurance on behalf of the children they are raising through the TexCare Partnership, which includes Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In some cases, caregivers may also be eligible for free coverage under Medicaid. For more information about how to apply for Medicaid, call 1-800-647-6558 or log on to http://www.texcarepartnership.com.
State Laws and Policies
Sometimes kinship caregivers find it difficult to obtain services their children need, such as medical care or education. In addition to the state’s child guardianship and custody laws, the following law may be helpful to kinship caregivers1:
Medical Consent (Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 32.001 et seq.): This law allows a child’s grandparent, adult sibling, aunt or uncle and designated others to consent to medical, dental, psychological, and surgical treatment for a child when the child’s parent or guardian cannot be contacted and has not given notice that he or she opposes the treatment.

Texas Dept of Family and Protective Services, Adoption Options. (2010, April). Retrieved April 7, 2010 from: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Other_Child_Care_Information/adoption.asp

Adoption Options
Introduction | Licensed Adoption Agencies | What to Expect | Financing | International | Resources/Links | IntroductionThere are essentially three categories of adoptions: private adoption, international adoption, and adoption of a child through Child Protective Services. Private adoptions typically are limited to the adoption of newborns.International adoption agencies work with children of all ages, although many of these children are infants and toddlers. Child Protective Services works with children of all ages, and all of these children have been removed from their homes due to high-risk situations such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment. |

| Licensed Adoption AgenciesAny agency that conducts home studies on families living in Texas must be licensed as a “child-placing agency” by the Residential Child Care Licensing (RCCL) division of the Department of Family and Protective Services, regardless of the type(s) of adoption they perform. Licensed adoption agencies must meet and comply with the state’s minimum requirements. These are found in: * Chapter 42 of the Texas Human Resources Code; * Title 40, Chapter 745 of the Texas Administrative Code; and * Title 40, Chapter 749, Texas Administrative Code, more commonly known as the "Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies" How RCCL Regulates Licensed Adoption AgenciesRCCL inspects licensed agencies regularly to ensure that they are meeting minimum standards for approving adoptive families, placing children, and supporting families between adoptive placement and finalization. RCCL also investigates reports of minimum standards violations or abuse/neglect. The court system, not RCCL, is responsible for overseeing the legal process of adopting a child. Please be aware that although RCCL can cite a licensed adoption agency as being in violation of minimum standards and other rules related to the license, RCCL has very limited authority over the financial contract between a licensed adoption agency and adoptive parents.Viewing Agency Compliance History: You can also research the compliance record of a licensed adoption agency at www.txchildcaresearch.org. (Click on "Search for Child Placing Agencies for Adoption").Reporting Concerns: You can report a concern about a licensed adoption agency via our toll-free hotline [phone]) or our website at https://www.txabusehotline.org.Choosing an Adoption AgencyHere are some suggestions for what to do before choosing a licensed adoption agency: 1. Use Texas Child Care Search to search for agencies and view their compliance records. To search, go to www.txchildcaresearch.org and click on “Search for Child Placing Agencies for Adoption”. 2. Contact the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report on the agencies. 3. Ask each adoption agency for its detailed list of minimum qualifications for adoptive parents. For example, some have specific requirements regarding age or religion. Others may require adoptive parents to be infertile. Ensure that you meet the agency’s minimum qualifications. 4. Ask each adoption agency for written information about its adoption program. Minimum Standard 749.3601 requires each licensed adoption agency to provide written information to all prospective adoptive parents regarding: services provided by the agency, financial policies and procedures, agency requirements, legal requirements for adoption, and adoption registries. 5. Review all adoption agency financial policies very carefully. Adoption fees can vary significantly from one agency to another. Adoption agency policies also vary regarding refunds. Financial disputes with adoption agencies are the most common complaints received from adoptive parents, and RCCL has very limited authority over financial contracts between adoptive parents and the agency. Therefore, knowing the agency’s policies and the minimum standards regarding adoption fees can help to prevent a problem of this nature. 6. Ask questions about the agency’s services, policies, compliance record, etc. Make a list of questions to ask each adoption agency prior to making your choice. 7. Ask for copies of any contracts that you may have to sign. Adoption agencies often require that adoptive parents sign a written contract with the agency. Review such documents very carefully. As with any contract, you may consult with an attorney before you sign it. 8. If you are considering international adoption, ask if someone from the adoption agency’s office has visited the orphanages where the children reside. Also ask what federal and international laws may apply to adopting children internationally. |

| The Adoption Process -- What to ExpectOrientationMost adoption agencies offer orientation meetings at which you can learn more about their specific program, services, and requirements. Home StudyAfter you submit an application, the agency will perform background checks and a home study, which must occur before you can be approved to adopt. The process of conducting a home study is the agency’s way of getting to know you and ensuring that your home is safe and appropriate for a child. MatchingIf your home study is approved, the agency may ask you to sign a contract and the agency will start looking to match you with a child. You could be matched for an "open" or "closed" adoption.In an “open” adoption, you will meet the birthparents and maintain contact with them based on mutually agreed upon guidelines. In a “closed” adoption, you will be given general information about the birth family, but you will not meet them or be given any identifying information about them. The agency should provide you with information about the child and his family background before you decide whether to accept that child for adoption. Support Before PlacementWhile waiting to be matched with a child, you can expect the agency to provide you with training and support.Placement and Post-Placement SupervisionDo not be rushed into a decision, and do not be afraid to voice concerns about the placement before or after it has occurred (but before the adoption is finalized). Before the adoption is finalized, the adoption agency is required to keep in contact with you for a period of time (usually six months) to ensure that the placement is successful. If you are adopting internationally, there may be exceptions to this requirement, if the adoption is finalized before you return to the United States. Ask the adoption agency about their plans for post-placement supervision and support.Adoption FinalizationThere are legal requirements for finalizing the adoption, including the termination of the birth parents’ rights. Most licensed adoption agencies have an attorney on staff, and you may hire your own attorney. Post-Adoption CounselingMinimum Standards 749.3461 and 749.3741 require adoption agencies to offer counseling services (directly or through referrals) to adoptive child and adoptive parents after the adoption is finalized. |

| Financing Adoption * The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of adoption financial assistance resources. * The federal government offers an adoption tax credit. Information on this can be found on the IRS web site. * Some employers also have adoption benefits. The military has adoption benefits available as well. * You may be eligible for adoption assistance when you adopt a child through Child Protective Services. |

| Resources/LinksChild Protective Services (CPS)
Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (www.adoptchildren.org)
This site provides pictures and short descriptions of children in Texas foster care awaiting adoption.AdoptUSKids www.adoptuskids.org This site provides pictures and short descriptions of children throughout the Unites States awaiting adoption.Child Welfare Information Gateway
This organization was established by Congress to provide the general public with easily accessible information on all aspects of adoption.Children 's Bureau/ACYF
1250 Maryland Avenue, SW
Eighth Floor
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: [phone] or 703-385-7565
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adoptive/North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106
St. Paul, MN 55114-1149
Phone: [phone] Or 1-800-470-6665 (adoption subsidy questions only)
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] www.nacac.orgNational Adoption Center - Adoption Benefits Coordinator
To request a list of employers that provide adoption benefits or to learn more about how to ask for this benefit at your workplace, contact:Adoption Benefits Coordinator
National Adoption Center
1500 Walnut Street, Suite 701
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 1-800-TO ADOPT or 215-735-9988
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] www.adopt.orgTexas Voluntary Adoption Registry
The adoption registry is a voluntary system that biological parents and adopted children can use to try to contact each other. To obtain information about the adoption registry in Texas, contact the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Additional information is available on the web site below.
Phone: [phone] ext. 7388
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web Site |

| International AdoptionHere are some additional resources related to international adoption:Intercountry adoption information from the U.S. Department of State 's Office of Children 's Issues:
Website: www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html
Contact: Office of Children’s Issues
SA-29
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520-2818
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]Factsheet - Intercountry Adoption: Where Do I Start?Report fraudulent, illegal, or unethical practices to:
Joint Council on International Children’s Services
1320 19th St., NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: [phone] www.jcics.org |

References: Dannison, L. and Dannison C. (1999), Grandparents raising grandchildren. Family Information Services Professional Resource Materials, Family Information Services: Minneapolis, MN. Kathey (2009). Grandsplace, Texas State Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 7, 2010 from http://www.grandsplace.org/gp8/tx.html Texas Dept of Family and Protective Services, Adoption Options. (2010, April). Retrieved April 7, 2010 from: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Other_Child_Care_Information/adoption.asp Adoption Options Phone: [phone] ext. 7388