Increasingly, grandparents are involved in the care of grandchildren, particularly after child safety concerns. Some grandparents, because of changed circumstances, relationships, or decisions made, can experience reduced or lost contact with grandchildren. A recent qualitative, collaborative study explored how relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren could be optimised after child safety concerns. Many grandparents in that study spoke of the frustration of being overlooked in decision-making about their grandchildren, even when they had been providing primary care for the grandchildren. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief background study context, before presenting a case study of one family's ongoing struggles to maintain the children in the grandparents’
(Publisher abstract)
Increasingly, grandparents are involved in the care of grandchildren, particularly after child safety concerns. Some grandparents, because of changed circumstances, relationships, or decisions made, can experience reduced or lost contact with grandchildren. A recent qualitative, collaborative study explored how relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren could be optimised after child safety concerns. Many grandparents in that study spoke of the frustration of being overlooked in decision-making about their grandchildren, even when they had been providing primary care for the grandchildren. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief background study context, before presenting a case study of one family's ongoing struggles to maintain the children in the grandparents’ care. The presented case study has relevance for social work education and training and more widely, for all students and practitioners in the child protection field.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
child protection, grandparents, case studies, kinship care, carers;
Grandparents who had briefly cared for their grandson, but had then decided foster care would have asked to be reconsidered as kinship carers. A practitioner discusses her dilemmas in carrying out a kinship care assessment. The social worker needs to assess the risk of the grandparents changing their mind again, together with the outcomes for the child.
Grandparents who had briefly cared for their grandson, but had then decided foster care would have asked to be reconsidered as kinship carers. A practitioner discusses her dilemmas in carrying out a kinship care assessment. The social worker needs to assess the risk of the grandparents changing their mind again, together with the outcomes for the child.
Subject terms:
kinship care, risk assessment, case studies, foster care, grandparents;
Families in Society, 90(2), April 2009, pp.196-204.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
Numbering more than 2.4 million, custodial grandparents in the United States are 60% more likely to be poor than are noncustodial grandparents. Social inequities that accompany marginal income compound child-rearing challenges faced by kinship families. Empowerment is proposed as a framework to inform research, program development, and advocacy on behalf of custodial grandparents to promote collective and self-efficacy in problem solving, mediate negative health effects of stress, and participate in collective action and advocacy. Empowerment components at the individual, organizational, and community levels are outlined. Four empowerment practice models with custodial grandparents are reviewed, including a case study. Implications for professionals in human services are discussed.
Numbering more than 2.4 million, custodial grandparents in the United States are 60% more likely to be poor than are noncustodial grandparents. Social inequities that accompany marginal income compound child-rearing challenges faced by kinship families. Empowerment is proposed as a framework to inform research, program development, and advocacy on behalf of custodial grandparents to promote collective and self-efficacy in problem solving, mediate negative health effects of stress, and participate in collective action and advocacy. Empowerment components at the individual, organizational, and community levels are outlined. Four empowerment practice models with custodial grandparents are reviewed, including a case study. Implications for professionals in human services are discussed.
Subject terms:
kinship care, intervention, models, user views, case studies, empowerment, grandparents;
Journal of Family Social Work, 9(3), 2005, pp.1-18.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The purpose of this qualitative single case study is to explore one grandmother's experience with voluntary kinship care and child welfare services. Voluntary kinship care is pursued as a viable option when out-of-home placement is imminent. Research indicates that voluntary kinship care, as an alternative living arrangement, helps to maintain familial and community attachments as well as to minimize trauma and upheaval in a child's life. This case study identifies four major themes relating to the participant's experiences: life altering events, gaining control, daily challenges, and looking to the future. Implications for public and child welfare practice are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
The purpose of this qualitative single case study is to explore one grandmother's experience with voluntary kinship care and child welfare services. Voluntary kinship care is pursued as a viable option when out-of-home placement is imminent. Research indicates that voluntary kinship care, as an alternative living arrangement, helps to maintain familial and community attachments as well as to minimize trauma and upheaval in a child's life. This case study identifies four major themes relating to the participant's experiences: life altering events, gaining control, daily challenges, and looking to the future. Implications for public and child welfare practice are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Subject terms:
kinship care, user views, case studies, child care, child protection, grandparents;
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 18(1), February 2001, pp.21-35.
Publisher:
Springer
Increasing numbers of children are being raised by their grandparents because their own parents are unable or unwilling to care for them. A case is presented illustrating how an Eriksonian life-cycle perspective clarifies the developmental demands on adolescents in these situations and provides a theoretical framework for organising therapeutic work with them.
Increasing numbers of children are being raised by their grandparents because their own parents are unable or unwilling to care for them. A case is presented illustrating how an Eriksonian life-cycle perspective clarifies the developmental demands on adolescents in these situations and provides a theoretical framework for organising therapeutic work with them.
Subject terms:
parents, young people, case studies, child development, drug misuse, grandparents;
Journal of Family Social Work, 21(4-5), 2018, pp.381-398.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Research on the perspectives of older African American stepgrandparents raising adolescent grandchildren is underdeveloped. This case study research uses a culturally sensitive conceptual framework to explore the experiences of one African American stepgrandmother raising adopted grandchildren. The participant was identified in a larger study of older grandparents raising adolescent
(Publisher abstract)
Research on the perspectives of older African American stepgrandparents raising adolescent grandchildren is underdeveloped. This case study research uses a culturally sensitive conceptual framework to explore the experiences of one African American stepgrandmother raising adopted grandchildren. The participant was identified in a larger study of older grandparents raising adolescent grandchildren. An in-depth, face-to-face interview was conducted in a public place. The themes described by this older African stepgrandmother included (1) strong family ties overlaid with family conflict and emotional difficulties, (2) traditional philosophies of parenting and childrearing that conflicted with her spouse, (3) reliance on a constellation of support including her religious community, and (4) recommendations for improving resource development. The findings of this case study identify critical issues for this older African American stepgrandmother. Although the findings are not meant to generalize, social workers and other helping professionals can benefit from the increased knowledge gained from this stepgrandmother’s experiences that can inform issues for exploration with similar caregivers.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
case studies, African people, relatives, grandparents, adopted children, parenting, young people, family relations, child care;
The article considers what is involved in answering the question from a letter of instruction, using Luke (aged four) and his family as a case study. The request is for a special guardianship assessment of the grandparents and the question is whether the grandparents are able to protect their grandson and prioritise his needs over those of their daughter.
It begins by examining the research base in the relation to kinship care, before moving on to consider what we mean by the taken-for-granted concept of capacity to protect and what approaches might be helpful in assessing this issue. The article concludes by identifying some key issues for assessment of capacity to protect and applying these to Luke and his grandparents. Finally, the author discusses the relevance of these factors
(Edited publisher abstract)
The article considers what is involved in answering the question from a letter of instruction, using Luke (aged four) and his family as a case study. The request is for a special guardianship assessment of the grandparents and the question is whether the grandparents are able to protect their grandson and prioritise his needs over those of their daughter.
It begins by examining the research base in the relation to kinship care, before moving on to consider what we mean by the taken-for-granted concept of capacity to protect and what approaches might be helpful in assessing this issue. The article concludes by identifying some key issues for assessment of capacity to protect and applying these to Luke and his grandparents. Finally, the author discusses the relevance of these factors for the creation of a child protection system that has the 'capacity tot protect' children more generally.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
kinship care, guardianship, grandparents, child protection, case studies, needs, assessment, placement, risk;
LITTLEWOOD Kerry A., STROZIER Anne L., WHITTINGTON Danielle
Journal article citation:
Children and Youth Services Review, 38, 2014, pp.1-9.
Publisher:
Elsevier
... living with a grandparent or other relative. KAT addresses the areas of parent knowledge and parenting practices, detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and promotion of school readiness and success. Current issues facing kinship families with young children are highlighted using quantitative data and case studies based on 83 grandparents and other
(Edited publisher abstract)
Whereas child welfare has championed efforts in kinship care practice, policy, and research, there is a growing need for other systems of care, specifically early childhood education, to improve the ways in which kinship care families are supported. This study highlights outcomes from the Kin As Teachers (KAT) Program, an early childhood education programme specifically designed for children living with a grandparent or other relative. KAT addresses the areas of parent knowledge and parenting practices, detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and promotion of school readiness and success. Current issues facing kinship families with young children are highlighted using quantitative data and case studies based on 83 grandparents and other relatives providing care for 185 children. Pre and post tests show results on age appropriate family environment and the caregivers' knowledge of child development. Two case studies describing the familial experience in KAT detail the process evaluation related to this intervention. Results indicate improved age appropriate family environment and an increase in caregivers' knowledge of child development for families participating in KAT. Implications for social work practice include suggestions for ways social workers and early childhood educators can better support kinship caregiving families.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
children, kinship care, grandparents, needs, case studies, child development, social work methods, early years education, families;
Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 18(1), 2006, pp.41-63.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... from changes in the welfare reform legislation that had the effect of undermining both immigrants' eligibility for and claiming of public assistance benefits. Indirect effects on older persons include increased child-care demands upon grandparents. The case study data bear on a significant policy change within the broader trend of devolution at a historical point when anti-immigrant sentiment
This American case study incorporates interviews with service providers for the aging, members of advocacy organizations, and two focus groups of older consumers conducted in the multi-ethnic urban community of San Francisco. Study findings suggest that welfare reform has had both direct and indirect effects on the elderly and their services in the study community. Direct effects derive primarily from changes in the welfare reform legislation that had the effect of undermining both immigrants' eligibility for and claiming of public assistance benefits. Indirect effects on older persons include increased child-care demands upon grandparents. The case study data bear on a significant policy change within the broader trend of devolution at a historical point when anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States was running high.
Subject terms:
immigrants, older people, policy formulation, social welfare, user views, ageing, case studies, child care, grandparents;
Practice: Social Work in Action, 16(1), March 2004, pp.43-54.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Presents the initial findings of a research project seeking to understand bereavement experiences of people such as parents, grandparents and siblings who are close to those who die through illicit drug use. Argues that such deaths are qualitatively different from those related to other substances such as alcohol or nicotine. Reasons include their often unexpected nature and the young age
Presents the initial findings of a research project seeking to understand bereavement experiences of people such as parents, grandparents and siblings who are close to those who die through illicit drug use. Argues that such deaths are qualitatively different from those related to other substances such as alcohol or nicotine. Reasons include their often unexpected nature and the young age at which they tend to occur. They result from activity which is illegal, regarded as deviant and carrying social censure. They occur in a context that might be poorly understood by those close to the user. The death might reveal a relative or friend as a drug user for the first time. Drug users also have a 'spoiled identity' that can attach to the bereaved. There are, moreover, few guides to the practitioner to the difficulties the bereaved may experience.
Subject terms:
parents, relatives, siblings, bereavement, case studies, death, drug misuse, families, friendship, grandparents;