Journal of Social Work Practice, 35(3), 2021, pp.273-286.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... findings from a national and international perspective in that these grandparents will need additional assistance in this caregiving role. However, a major finding in this study was that the grandmother’s health did not negatively impact their ability to care for their grandchildren.
(Edited publisher abstract)
The research explored the experiences of African American grandmothers residing in rural communities caring for their grandchildren, while suffering from chronic health issues. The research examined their health, physical functioning, wellbeing, social support, and resources of these grandmothers from a Family Development lens. Given the trends of providing care for a grandchild, it is widely recognised that caregivers may experience stress, burden, and the disruption of their well-being and social activities as well as the pressure associated with caregiving roles. The grandmothers reported challenges which included stressors such as health issues, financial difficulties, limited support, transportation difficulties, and disruption in social activities. This supports the body of scholarly findings from a national and international perspective in that these grandparents will need additional assistance in this caregiving role. However, a major finding in this study was that the grandmother’s health did not negatively impact their ability to care for their grandchildren.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
black and minority ethnic people, grandparents, kinship care, rural areas;
Children and Youth Services Review, 35(12), 2013, p.2072–2079.
Publisher:
Elsevier
A considerable number of women find themselves serving as surrogate parents for their grandchildren. This issue is particularly salient for African-American women. This article highlights the experiences of African-American grandmothers who are rearing their grandchildren in a rural southern community. Data collection included in-depth interviewing, observation, and document review. Findings from the study underscore the need for policy makers and practitioners to understand the structural and cultural context in which grandparent caregiving occurs. Grandmothers serving as surrogate parents should have access to a comprehensive array of services some of which include financial, psychological, medical, and legal services. In addition to these services grandparent caregivers should be empowered to engage in activities which encourage support and self-care. Study findings generate ideas that will be of interest to those responsible for practice and policy decisions.
(Publisher abstract)
A considerable number of women find themselves serving as surrogate parents for their grandchildren. This issue is particularly salient for African-American women. This article highlights the experiences of African-American grandmothers who are rearing their grandchildren in a rural southern community. Data collection included in-depth interviewing, observation, and document review. Findings from the study underscore the need for policy makers and practitioners to understand the structural and cultural context in which grandparent caregiving occurs. Grandmothers serving as surrogate parents should have access to a comprehensive array of services some of which include financial, psychological, medical, and legal services. In addition to these services grandparent caregivers should be empowered to engage in activities which encourage support and self-care. Study findings generate ideas that will be of interest to those responsible for practice and policy decisions.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
grandparents, child care, black and minority ethnic people, rural areas, kinship care;
Journal of Children and Poverty, 12(2), September 2006, pp.159-174.
Publisher:
Routledge, part of the Taylor and Francis Group
This qualitative study investigated the experiences of forty-two rural, low-income mothers who utilized their own mothers for routine child care. A life course perspective was used to explore mothers’ perceptions of their child care arrangement and the influence of the adult daughter–older mother relational context. Results focus on the benefits and weaknesses of child care provided by grandmothers and the influence of the relationship between participants and their mothers on this care arrangement. The analysis has implications for research, support programming, and public policy.
This qualitative study investigated the experiences of forty-two rural, low-income mothers who utilized their own mothers for routine child care. A life course perspective was used to explore mothers’ perceptions of their child care arrangement and the influence of the adult daughter–older mother relational context. Results focus on the benefits and weaknesses of child care provided by grandmothers and the influence of the relationship between participants and their mothers on this care arrangement. The analysis has implications for research, support programming, and public policy.
Subject terms:
mothers, poverty, rural areas, child care, grandparents;
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 2(1), 2004, pp.63-77.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia
Although one-quarter (25%) of custodial grandparents in the USA live in rural areas, less is known about these families than their urban counterparts. This qualitative study was conducted to determine pathways into care with rural families; that is, the reasons and process into custodial grandparenting roles. Based upon interviews with fourteen grandparents, three major pathways were identified. The most common was co-residential where the parent generation exited a multi-generational household. In the incremental pathway, grandparents had attempted multiple strategies with the culmination of taking physical custody of the grandchildren. A final pathway, immediate care, was typically the result of a family crisis situation. Needs and challenges for custodial grandparents differ depending upon
Although one-quarter (25%) of custodial grandparents in the USA live in rural areas, less is known about these families than their urban counterparts. This qualitative study was conducted to determine pathways into care with rural families; that is, the reasons and process into custodial grandparenting roles. Based upon interviews with fourteen grandparents, three major pathways were identified. The most common was co-residential where the parent generation exited a multi-generational household. In the incremental pathway, grandparents had attempted multiple strategies with the culmination of taking physical custody of the grandchildren. A final pathway, immediate care, was typically the result of a family crisis situation. Needs and challenges for custodial grandparents differ depending upon their unique pathway into this caregiving role. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Subject terms:
intergenerational relationships, rural areas, child care, families, grandparents;
Families in Society, 85(1), January 2004, pp.45-54.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
This American article explores the changing role of grandparents and provides a basis for assessment and intervention in rural communities. Grandmothers who were primary caregivers for at least 1 grandchild in southeastern North Carolina completed qualitative interviews regarding their experiences in transitioning from the role of grandparent to parent. Results suggest that raising grandchildren may cause financial stress, cramped living quarters, role restriction, and social isolation in this population. However, advantages to this role for grandparents can include greater life satisfaction and a positive influence on future generations within the family. Several key assumptions to guide practitioners in both assessing rural families and planning intervention are emphasized.
This American article explores the changing role of grandparents and provides a basis for assessment and intervention in rural communities. Grandmothers who were primary caregivers for at least 1 grandchild in southeastern North Carolina completed qualitative interviews regarding their experiences in transitioning from the role of grandparent to parent. Results suggest that raising grandchildren may cause financial stress, cramped living quarters, role restriction, and social isolation in this population. However, advantages to this role for grandparents can include greater life satisfaction and a positive influence on future generations within the family. Several key assumptions to guide practitioners in both assessing rural families and planning intervention are emphasized.
Subject terms:
parental role, rural areas, child care, families, grandparents;
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 7(2-3), 2009, pp.291-305.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia
This paper highlights the experiences of grandparents and other relatives living in rural Maine raising children affected by substance abuse. Data are presented in the context of programme evaluation findings from a three-year effort consisting of surveys administered to caregivers and professionals. Findings indicated that caregivers were satisfied with the services they receive when they were
This paper highlights the experiences of grandparents and other relatives living in rural Maine raising children affected by substance abuse. Data are presented in the context of programme evaluation findings from a three-year effort consisting of surveys administered to caregivers and professionals. Findings indicated that caregivers were satisfied with the services they receive when they were delivered in a manner that is respectful of their individual needs and rural traditions and when services extend beyond information and referral. Results of the evaluation contribute to the tenets of the promising practice of low-barrier service provision and the positive effect that support had on the well-being of rural kinship families. Innovative technologies and approaches in service provision not only increased awareness of resources among caregivers and professionals, but also led to the application of such knowledge to both more effective access to services and minimisation of service barriers for rural families. Results also underscored that research, when configured in a way that is flexible and meaningful, creates a valuable opportunity to gain insight from a traditionally difficult to reach population.
Subject terms:
kinship care, risk, rural areas, substance misuse, young people, access to services, grandparents;
Journal of Family Social Work, 17(2), 2014, pp.175-188.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Rural custodial grandparents have been understudied. As the grandparent caregiving population increases, more attention is needed to understand custodial grandparents in rural settings. This article explores the state of knowledge of the experiences of rural grandparents. A systematic review of the caregiving literature is conducted to understand the issues affecting this caregiving population. The results suggest that rural grandparents often are minority grandmothers with limited resources who provide care to older grandchildren in isolated environments. Attention is given to the social ecological framework as one model that can help to inform how social workers intervene with this population. Recommendations are offered for social work research, practice, and policy.
(Publisher abstract)
Rural custodial grandparents have been understudied. As the grandparent caregiving population increases, more attention is needed to understand custodial grandparents in rural settings. This article explores the state of knowledge of the experiences of rural grandparents. A systematic review of the caregiving literature is conducted to understand the issues affecting this caregiving population. The results suggest that rural grandparents often are minority grandmothers with limited resources who provide care to older grandchildren in isolated environments. Attention is given to the social ecological framework as one model that can help to inform how social workers intervene with this population. Recommendations are offered for social work research, practice, and policy.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
rural areas, grandparents, carers, kinship care, black and minority ethnic people, child care, looked after children, informal care;
Social Policy and Society, 10(1), January 2011, pp.103-116.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
... active in future child care. They also saw that some mothers are forced by socioeconomic reasons to leave the paternal extended family, and the remaining orphans become dependent on grandparents, with girls and disabled children seen to be most at risk of. for example, loss of kinship carers, or poverty and stress within the household. The sustainability of such informal caring within extended family
Looking at kinship care of orphans in 2008 within 56 villages in 19 counties as well as cities in 13 province of China, these researchers from Australia and USA looked at the causes of orphans’ parents deaths or absence as well as finding that, particularly in rural areas, some children are treated as orphans if only their father dies. Both widowed mothers and traditional kinship care then become active in future child care. They also saw that some mothers are forced by socioeconomic reasons to leave the paternal extended family, and the remaining orphans become dependent on grandparents, with girls and disabled children seen to be most at risk of. for example, loss of kinship carers, or poverty and stress within the household. The sustainability of such informal caring within extended family relationships could be improved by implementing financial and other family or community support to orphans, widowed mothers and kinship carers. Currently, the welfare provision to rural, Chinese orphans is described as mixed by these authors. They also found evidence of unequal access to kinship care, dependent on a number of factors including the orphans’ relationships with kinship carers. The text concludes with the authors stating orphans’ rights under kinship care.
Subject terms:
informal care, kinship care, mothers, rural areas, single parent families, children, Chinese people, disabilities, girls, grandparents;
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 7(2-3), 2009, pp.225-242.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia
The Georgia Division of Aging Services initiated the Kinship Care Program to provide services to grandparents raising grandchildren throughout Georgia's 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Many of the grandparents who receive Division of Aging Services reside in rural communities. The study, conducted with 30 grandparents in four rural Kinship Care Program sites, assessed the impact of the programme among rural grandparents. Findings indicated that grandparents had concerns about their own health and the health of their grandchildren and faced many challenges related to child rearing. Challenges included limited services for children with disabilities, lack of assistance with permanency planning and other legal issues related to adoption, and insensitive service providers. The results showed that grandparents felt isolated and marginalised within the community. Many grandparents reported that the most beneficial service they received from the Kinship Care programme was the psychological support and information exchange provided by support groups. Barriers to support group participation, such as lack of transportation and child care services and lack of options for intergenerational
The Georgia Division of Aging Services initiated the Kinship Care Program to provide services to grandparents raising grandchildren throughout Georgia's 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Many of the grandparents who receive Division of Aging Services reside in rural communities. The study, conducted with 30 grandparents in four rural Kinship Care Program sites, assessed the impact of the programme among rural grandparents. Findings indicated that grandparents had concerns about their own health and the health of their grandchildren and faced many challenges related to child rearing. Challenges included limited services for children with disabilities, lack of assistance with permanency planning and other legal issues related to adoption, and insensitive service providers. The results showed that grandparents felt isolated and marginalised within the community. Many grandparents reported that the most beneficial service they received from the Kinship Care programme was the psychological support and information exchange provided by support groups. Barriers to support group participation, such as lack of transportation and child care services and lack of options for intergenerational activities were identified as service gaps.
Subject terms:
kinship care, needs, parenting, rural areas, social care provision, access to services, children, grandparents;
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 5(1), 2002, pp.53-71.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Research in the area of grandparents raising grandchildren in homes where the parents are absent is still sparse, but researches in the USA are beginning to see the importance of understanding these family forms, reasons for increasing numbers, and problems that are experienced by both the grandparents and grandchildren. In this article, the current literature on the issues surrounding this population is presented and the gaps in the literature are discussed. An outline for a case management for grandparents raising grandchildren in a rural setting is then presented. These guidelines are organised into 10 areas of need that emerged during the intervention period, and include questions to cover during the assessment process, example interventions, and case vignettes.
Research in the area of grandparents raising grandchildren in homes where the parents are absent is still sparse, but researches in the USA are beginning to see the importance of understanding these family forms, reasons for increasing numbers, and problems that are experienced by both the grandparents and grandchildren. In this article, the current literature on the issues surrounding this population is presented and the gaps in the literature are discussed. An outline for a case management for grandparents raising grandchildren in a rural setting is then presented. These guidelines are organised into 10 areas of need that emerged during the intervention period, and include questions to cover during the assessment process, example interventions, and case vignettes.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, offenders, parents, rural areas, adoption, case management, children, drug misuse, grandparents;