Presentation Transcript

1. Deborah M. Whitley, Ph.D., MPH National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Together We Can Conference Lafayette, LA October 6, 2010

   Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Parenting a Second time around

2. National Characteristics of Custodial Grandparents and Grandchildren Grandparent Characteristics 2.6 million GP primary caregivers for GC 33% are 60 years or over 35.8% are racial minorities 25% have a disability 18.8% live below poverty level 61.1% are in labor force Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau Grandchildren Characteristics 2.7 million GC under primary care of grandparent 35.2% no parents present 44.7% are racial minorities 45.4% are < 6 years of age 42.8% live in HH receiving public assistance 6.3% have a disability (GC ages 5-17)
3. Primary Reasons Grandparents are Raising Grandchildren Parental Mental Illness Drug or alcohol addiction Incarceration Teen-age pregnancies Neglect and Abuse Physical illness (cancer, HIV-AIDS) Death
4. Problems: Grandparents Limited support networks Social Isolation Inadequate financial resources Lack of legal relationship w/ GC Limited access to health care for themselves and GC Stress related to grandchild behavior
5. Problems: Grandchildren Feelings of abandonment Parental role confusion Social isolation Academic problems Problem behaviors
6. Programmatic Response to Family Challenges
7. Project Healthy Grandparents Background 1995 Project Healthy Grandparents (PHG) 1998 PHG Replication University of Georgia, Athens, GA Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC 2000 Early Intervention Support Service 2001 National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
8. PROJECT HEALTHY GRANDPARENTS Empowerment “… the process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individuals, families and communities can take action to improve their situation.” (L. Gutierrez, 1994, pg. 202)
9. PROJECT HEALTHY GRANDPARENTS Program Goal “To enhance the physical and emotional well-being of intergenerational families through interdisciplinary services” Case management services are provided to families for one year at no cost; other services are ongoing.
10. PHG: Family Characteristics Total Participants: Grandparents served: 703 Grandchildren served: 1,583 Race: African American (99%) Average age of grandparents: 54 years; (Range: 33-77 years) Average number of grandchildren per family: 2.5; (Range 1- 8)
11. PHG: Family Characteristics Types of legal relationship with grandchildren (Intake) Custody 68% Guardianship 24% Adoption 8% Primary reasons for raising grandchildren: Abandonment/neglect Child abuse Parental incarceration Mental health problems Substance abuse Parental death
12. PHG: SERVICE STRUCTURE Social work & nursing case management Individualized support Acknowledge personal strengths Home-based option Support group meetings Emphasize problem solving skills Mutual aid and self-help Provides setting for practicing new behaviors
13. PHG: SERVICE STRUCTURE Parenting classes Learn new parenting skills Introduce new community resources Emphasize positive functioning within family systems Legal referrals Facilitate development of legal relationships with grandchildren Establish permanency planning
14. PHG: SERVICE STRUCTURE Other services/activities Early Intervention Services Transportation Material Aid Clothing School Supplies Furniture Toys
15. PHG: Grandparent Outcome Results Reduction in psychological distress symptoms Improved perception of social support Improved perception of family/community resources Improved sense of empowerment
16. Georgia’s Statewide Response to Grandparent Challenges
17. Georgia’s ‘No Wrong Door’ Approach In 2006, Georgia established a “One System of Care” for grandparent-headed families. Collaboration among multiple state units (aging, child welfare, mental health, public health and child support) to facilitate access to public services.
18. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Division of Aging Services Kinship Care Navigator Program Older persons (preferably grandparents) are trained and hired to serve as mentors to other grandparents who visit state child welfare and public welfare offices. These older persons are “navigators” to help grandparents navigate the public system.
19. GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT Point Of Entry DAS Kinship Care Support Groups Legal Advice and more MULTIPLE POINTS OF ENTRY INTO ONE SYSTEM OF CARE Referral Agencies Identification of Needs Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) OCSS Child Support Medical Support DFCS TANF Food Stamps Child Care Energy Assistance and more Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) Division of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Mental Health (DMHDDAD) Division of Public Health (DPH) Division of Public Health (DPH)
20. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Division of Family & Children Services Emergency/Crisis and Intervention – funds to cover utilities, moving expenses, furniture, etc. Monthly subsidy payments - $50/child/month serving 38,000 grandchildren Child care waivers – eliminates job training/work requirements for grandparents 60+ years for child care and after school benefits
21. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Office of Child Support Established process to re-direct child support payments to custodial grandparents $95,000 of child support payments were redirected to 5,900 custodial grandparents between 2006-2009
22. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Division of Aging Services Kinship Care Services provided in all 12 AAA regions in Georgia: Information & Assistance Support groups Community/public education Collaboration with other organizations Summer camp program (respite care) Tutoring Training Material Aid
23. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Kinship Care Legal Services Division of Aging Services contracted with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society & Georgia Legal Services Program Provided legal advice and representation regarding: adoption custody guardianship housing & public benefits special education needs of children
24. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Kinship Legal Service Outcomes since 2006: Screened Kinship Care Hotline Calls~ 2,673 Custody of grandchildren~ 435 Guardianship of grandchildren- 593 Adopted grandchildren~188 Pro-bono cases- 361
25. Georgia’s Kinship Care Initiatives Kinship Care Work Team Comprised of interested parties from public and private sectors to: Foster a positive image of kinship caregivers Promote awareness of kinship issues and programs to public welfare staff Identify barriers to public resources, and potential resolutions
26. Federal Initiatives Supporting Grandparent Caregivers Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 Designed to promote safety, permanency, and well-being among foster children, for example: Subsidized guardianship Kinship navigator programs Relative notification Adoptions Incentives Program
27. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Health care reform provisions to benefit “Grandfamilies”: Prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions in insurance plans for all children (2010) Expands Medicaid to 133% of FPL (2014) Extends funding for CHIPS to 2015 Establishes Medicaid coverage for foster children under age 26 years (2014) Source: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Focus on Health Reform: Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Provisions in the New Health Care Reform Law
28. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Reduction in amount Medicare, Part D (“donut hole”) enrollees are required to pay for prescriptions when they reach coverage gap. (Begins 2010) State option to establish Community First Choice for community-based Medicaid services for disabled (2011) Enhance health prevention services for Medicare recipients (2011) Source: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Focus on Health Reform: Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Provisions in the New Health Care Reform Law
29. Summary Points Community-based resources are needed to provide assistive support, legal aid, respite care, and other services to caregivers. State-wide initiatives are vital to delivering accessible, quality services to relative caregivers in varied communities. Georgia’s “One system of care” is a programmatic model that may be replicated in other states for positive benefit to relative caregivers. Federal policies play an integral role in supporting relative caregivers.
30. National Resources on Grandparent Caregivers AARP American Bar Association: Center on Children and the Law Center on Law and Social Policy Brookdale Foundation Child Welfare League of America Generations United Grandfamilies of America Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights
31. National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildrenhttp://chhs.gsu.edu/nationalcenter/