Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network

Author and Contributors: Ehrle, Jennifer (1 more by this author); Rob Geen; Cynthia Andrews Scarcella
Review Level: Informal review
Primary Content Area: Parent/Family
Content Type: General Information
Audience: Professionals, Educators & Program Staff; General Public & Consumers
Resource Type: Not an extension nor a land-grant developed resource
Keywords: care, elder, grandparent, children, grandchildren, child care
Description: Data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families indicates that 58 percent of children in relative care live with a grandparent. These children tend to be younger and live with older caregivers who have less formal education than children in the care of other relatives. Children in grandparent care are more likely to live in poverty and with a caregiver in poor health, but both groups experience similarly high levels of housing problems, food insecurity, and poor caregiver mental health. Grandparents are as likely as other relatives to care for children with health, behavioral or emotional, or school problems. While all are eligible, only 29 percent of children living with grandparents receive foster care or child-only TANF payments.
Media Type: HTML
Resource Listed: January 9, 2004
Resource Last Updated: January 2, 2013
Language: EN

Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Children in Grandparent Care