Kincare Grandparents

Unfortunately, despite the growing number of “grandfamilies” in the United States (more than 2.5 million grandparents are primarily responsible for a child), few people outside of those directly affected are educated about the challenges these families face. To combat this lack of awareness, some states have enacted kinship navigator programs to offer assistance and support to kinship caregivers. Currently, there are programs of some sort in New Jersey, Ohio, Washington, Connecticut, and New York. Other states don’t have statute-established programs, but still offer programs with similar functions.The purpose of a kinship navigator program is to educate grandparents on the benefits and services that are available, with follow-ups to ensure that the families receive as much continual support as possible. As many kinship caregivers have discovered, there are many legal issues involved with caring for a grandchild. These programs “navigate” the murky legal waters of the issue and help families access the health insurance and grants that they desperately need. (Read the article)

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The phrase “If I could do it all again” is a common one among parents of grown children. Some wouldn’t change a thing, while others feel that their new experiences since then have given them a new perspective on parenting that would lead to new decisions. When a grandparent becomes responsible for raising their grandchild, differences occur regardless of intent, however.For one thing, grandparents must contend with their own aging while raising grandchildren. Many people age differently, and some will have the same energy they did 20 years ago, while others will face more difficulties. Either way, bringing a young child into the house can be exhausting for the best of grandparents. (Read the article)

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It can be difficult to grab time for reading when you’re a grandparent caring for a young child. However, we recommend making time while your grandchild is at school or childcare to check out these resources. All are written within the last 20 yearsthe research and support on kincare grandparents is a relatively new field.The Essential Grandparent: A Guide to Making a Difference by Dr. Lillian Carson (Health Communications, Inc., 1997) is a valuable resource for any grandparent that has or desires a close relationship with their grandchildren. However, it’s especially useful for grandparents caring for their grandchildren while trying to navigate their relationship with their adult child. If the parent is not able to care for the child himself or herself, it can create strains in the familial dynamic.Relatives Raising Children: An Overview of Kinship Care edited by Joseph Crumbley and Robert L. Little (Child Welfare League of America, 1997) is geared toward child welfare professionals, but its discussion of legal and clinical topics of interest to kinship caregivers (like legal rights and both sides’ feelings of anger or anxiety) makes it an important book for grandparents as well. (Read the article)

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1. Legal – Grandparents may need legally recognized status as primary caregiver for school enrollment and/or medical consent.2. Financial -

• Kincare Grandparents often have trouble with day-to-day living expense.
• Many don’t know how to access benefits.
• Middle income grandparents slip through the cracks

3. Health/medical

• Many kincare children do not have health insurance (Read the article)

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