Families in Society, 87(4), October 2006, pp.546-554.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
The phenomenon of grandparents assuming responsibility for raising their grandchildren is growing internationally. The New Zealand Children Young Persons and Their Families Act (1989) led international child welfare legislation in mandating extended family placement for children needing care. The Act responded to Maori concerns that Maori children were being disproportionately placed with European caregivers. Maori children are still overrepresented in state care statistics; however, they are almost twice as likely to be placed with grandparents or other extended family than are European children. Psychological, cultural, legal, and socioeconomic factors impact on how kinship care is experienced. The emphasis of this research was qualitative, with a primary view of accessibility
The phenomenon of grandparents assuming responsibility for raising their grandchildren is growing internationally. The New Zealand Children Young Persons and Their Families Act (1989) led international child welfare legislation in mandating extended family placement for children needing care. The Act responded to Maori concerns that Maori children were being disproportionately placed with European caregivers. Maori children are still overrepresented in state care statistics; however, they are almost twice as likely to be placed with grandparents or other extended family than are European children. Psychological, cultural, legal, and socioeconomic factors impact on how kinship care is experienced. The emphasis of this research was qualitative, with a primary view of accessibility for the participant group and shaping social work policy and practice with these families.
Subject terms:
indigenous people, kinship care, placement, vulnerable children, grandparents;
Kinship care is increasingly a first option for children in need of protection across all international child welfare jurisdictions, and predominantly grandparents assume this responsibility (Winokur, Holtan, & Valentine, 2009). A New Zealand study of grandparent caregivers found that a number of their marital relationships were disrupted following grandchild placement (Worrall, 2009). Relational
(Publisher abstract)
Kinship care is increasingly a first option for children in need of protection across all international child welfare jurisdictions, and predominantly grandparents assume this responsibility (Winokur, Holtan, & Valentine, 2009). A New Zealand study of grandparent caregivers found that a number of their marital relationships were disrupted following grandchild placement (Worrall, 2009). Relational crises of this nature have been previously little discussed in kinship literature. The emotional quality of couple connections affects care provision. Drawing on attachment theory, this article argues that the grandparent couple's relationship must be a key focus of practitioners' preplacement assessments and highlights five domains of relational functioning and four reliable measures for assessing these qualities.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
kinship care, partners, grandparents, attachment theory, placement, assessment, interpersonal relationships;