Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 64(4), 2021, pp.425-429.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Black or White is a modern-day film that presents an unconventional family dynamic between a biracial elementary-aged girl and her Black and White grandparents. The film portrays social and relational issues such as racial inequality, discrimination, and disparities while introducing interracial grandparenting roles and their associated challenges. This film review serves to first summarize major
(Edited publisher abstract)
Black or White is a modern-day film that presents an unconventional family dynamic between a biracial elementary-aged girl and her Black and White grandparents. The film portrays social and relational issues such as racial inequality, discrimination, and disparities while introducing interracial grandparenting roles and their associated challenges. This film review serves to first summarize major highlights of the film’s plot, followed by exploring the film’s cinematographic quality, its relevance to Social Work and social welfare, and ways in which the film can be used as a teaching tool for Social Work students. This review also includes discussion of Black or White’s strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to considerations instructors should have before utilizing the film in a college classroom setting.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Child and Family Social Work, 25(3), 2020, pp.526-535.
Publisher:
Wiley
... experiences. This paper reports a small qualitative research study where 10 sets of grandparents were interviewed to explore their journey to becoming GSGs and to theorize their subsequent experiences. Two themes emerge. First, experiences of the assessment process are elaborated, decisions often being made at a time of family crisis, impacting on GSGs: financial, employment, and relational. Second, GSGs'
(Publisher abstract)
Growing numbers of grandparent special guardians (GSGs) are assuming responsibility for increasing numbers of children in the care system in England. Special guardianship arrangements are increasingly used as a permanency option as they allow children to remain in their kinship networks rather than in local authority care or be adopted; yet there is a scarcity of research on GSG carers' experiences. This paper reports a small qualitative research study where 10 sets of grandparents were interviewed to explore their journey to becoming GSGs and to theorize their subsequent experiences. Two themes emerge. First, experiences of the assessment process are elaborated, decisions often being made at a time of family crisis, impacting on GSGs: financial, employment, and relational. Second, GSGs' experiences of managing often challenging relationships and contact arrangements between the grandchildren and the parents reveal three main relationship management approaches emerging: containing‐flexible, containing‐controlled, and uncontained/defeated approaches. Anthropological concepts of affinity help theorize the GSGs' ambivalent responses to becoming carers in later life, enabling reconfigured kinship relationships in new family forms. Family policy and social work practice is critiqued as GSGs appear often left alone to “roll back the years,” to heal previous harms done to the grandchildren who end up in their care.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
grandparents, special guardianship, social work, childrens social care, user views;
British Journal of Social Work, 52(3), 2022, pp.1231-1248.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
... avoiding the language of coercion and improving its response to grandparents' own articulated support needs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Child and adolescent violence towards grandparent kinship carers is a significant and yet under-researched phenomenon. This study draws on data from thirty-six in-depth interviews which include grandparent carers who are experiencing such violence, and professionals from a range of backgrounds whose work intersects with this problem. The study highlights how the kinship care context shapes the violence, its impacts and, in turn, carers' help-seeking practices. The findings highlight that social workers must better understand the barriers that prevent grandparent kinship carers from asking for help, and improve their responses to such requests. Recommendations for social work practice include asking the right questions, engaging in effective risk assessment, taking a trauma-informed approach, avoiding the language of coercion and improving its response to grandparents' own articulated support needs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
child-to-parent abuse, kinship care, violence, domestic violence, social work, grandparents, adolescence;
Summary: In this study, we examined older people’s views and experiences of family relations in Iceland. The goal was to explore the frequency and kinds of contact, and the support older people received from their adult biological children and stepchildren. We performed cluster sampling covering community centers in municipalities nationwide in Iceland. The questionnaire was answered by 273 older people, including 193 women (75%) and 64 men (25%). The average age was 79 years. About 200 (74%) lived in the capital area of Reykjavik, while 70 (26%) lived in the countryside. Findings: Older people received more support from biological children than stepchildren. Specifically, differences were found in both frequency and quality of contact. The results revealed gender differences; daughters offering more help and support than sons. Older women have more frequent contact and closer relationships with their biological children than with other children. Relationships with stepchildren were weaker in all respects. These results are discussed in connection to structural and cultural factors, with a focus on the implications of changes in family structure, new communication styles, and effects of media. Applications: Although the increased frequencies of divorce and stepparenting can affect connections within families, communities commonly disregard the different needs of stepfamilies, sometimes called “stepblindness”. Policy makers and professionals such as social workers need to concede different needs of older people in stepfamilies. Conclusions are drawn from the perspective of welfare policy issues, such as the need of more precise law provisions and implementations on social services for families.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Summary: In this study, we examined older people’s views and experiences of family relations in Iceland. The goal was to explore the frequency and kinds of contact, and the support older people received from their adult biological children and stepchildren. We performed cluster sampling covering community centers in municipalities nationwide in Iceland. The questionnaire was answered by 273 older people, including 193 women (75%) and 64 men (25%). The average age was 79 years. About 200 (74%) lived in the capital area of Reykjavik, while 70 (26%) lived in the countryside. Findings: Older people received more support from biological children than stepchildren. Specifically, differences were found in both frequency and quality of contact. The results revealed gender differences; daughters offering more help and support than sons. Older women have more frequent contact and closer relationships with their biological children than with other children. Relationships with stepchildren were weaker in all respects. These results are discussed in connection to structural and cultural factors, with a focus on the implications of changes in family structure, new communication styles, and effects of media. Applications: Although the increased frequencies of divorce and stepparenting can affect connections within families, communities commonly disregard the different needs of stepfamilies, sometimes called “stepblindness”. Policy makers and professionals such as social workers need to concede different needs of older people in stepfamilies. Conclusions are drawn from the perspective of welfare policy issues, such as the need of more precise law provisions and implementations on social services for families.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, family relations, social work, gender, grandparents, family support;
... and grandparents about their experiences with child protection services in Victoria, Australia. The features examined are differentiated between the visible and familiar and the invisible, often emergent, aspects of social work research. The article critically examines the ways in which the visible and invisible features as situated dimensions of social work research may shape how and whether the ideals
(Edited publisher abstract)
Consumer participation in decision making and evaluation of services has been a significant theme in social work and other caring professions for over 20 years. This article reflects on a qualitative research study that was conceptualised within participatory principles. It critically examines key features that emerged as challenges to the ideals of participatory research with parents and grandparents about their experiences with child protection services in Victoria, Australia. The features examined are differentiated between the visible and familiar and the invisible, often emergent, aspects of social work research. The article critically examines the ways in which the visible and invisible features as situated dimensions of social work research may shape how and whether the ideals of participatory research can be achieved. It also discusses tensions in the process that have no clear ‘solutions’. The authors also identify the importance of mindfulness and reflexive practice by researchers to find their way through these potential ethical and legal minefields. The article concludes that while social workers must continue to strive for participation by a range of service users in knowledge generation, they must also critically examine and theorise the meaning of participatory research and the idealised images of consumers and service users to improve such practice. An awareness of situated ethics as a location of the self in interaction with others is essential to promote ongoing reflexive practice throughout all stages of research.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
participatory research, parents, grandparents, child protection, user participation, research methods, social work;
Child and Family Social Work, 21(2), 2016, pp.136-145.
Publisher:
Wiley
Grandparents whose grandchildren are exposed to domestic violence are faced with some unique challenges in their grandparenting, which have thus far been little discussed in research. This paper discusses the narratives of 10 Swedish grandparents whose grandchildren have been exposed to violence towards their mother. The aim was to explore grandparents' narrations of their responses in the face of violence, and their understanding of the role they play in their grandchildren's social networks. Two significant responses are discussed: ‘being there’ and ‘acknowledging the independence and self-determination of the adult children’. Grandparents experienced these responses as contradictory and felt powerless when it came to their possibilities to protect their grandchildren. The paper suggests that grandparents could be a resource for domestic violence services, and social work practice needs to assess the roles of grandparents of children exposed to domestic violence. Social workers should consider the challenges these grandparents are facing and what support they may need in order to support their grandchildren
(Publisher abstract)
Grandparents whose grandchildren are exposed to domestic violence are faced with some unique challenges in their grandparenting, which have thus far been little discussed in research. This paper discusses the narratives of 10 Swedish grandparents whose grandchildren have been exposed to violence towards their mother. The aim was to explore grandparents' narrations of their responses in the face of violence, and their understanding of the role they play in their grandchildren's social networks. Two significant responses are discussed: ‘being there’ and ‘acknowledging the independence and self-determination of the adult children’. Grandparents experienced these responses as contradictory and felt powerless when it came to their possibilities to protect their grandchildren. The paper suggests that grandparents could be a resource for domestic violence services, and social work practice needs to assess the roles of grandparents of children exposed to domestic violence. Social workers should consider the challenges these grandparents are facing and what support they may need in order to support their grandchildren
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
violence, domestic violence, grandparents, family relations, social work, children, parent-child relations;
Journal of Family Social Work, 8(1), 2004, pp.27-45.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
With the prevalence of kinship care increasing, it is critical to understand the role of caregiver strain among this population. This study focused on the strain experienced by relative caregivers as compared to parents who were caring for children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Descriptive and multiple regression analyses demonstrated that both caregiver groups reported similar amounts of elevated strain, with the exception that parent caregivers of children with SED reported more subjective internalized strain than did other relative caregivers. The child welfare system, providers of behavioral health services, and policy-makers need to pay closer attention to this special population of caregivers and the children in their care. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
With the prevalence of kinship care increasing, it is critical to understand the role of caregiver strain among this population. This study focused on the strain experienced by relative caregivers as compared to parents who were caring for children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Descriptive and multiple regression analyses demonstrated that both caregiver groups reported similar amounts of elevated strain, with the exception that parent caregivers of children with SED reported more subjective internalized strain than did other relative caregivers. The child welfare system, providers of behavioral health services, and policy-makers need to pay closer attention to this special population of caregivers and the children in their care. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Subject terms:
informal care, outcomes, social work, emotionally disturbed children, families, family relations, grandparents;
DUNKLE Ruth E., INGERSOLL-DAYTON Berit, CHADIHA Letha A.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 58(6), 2015, pp.90-612.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
This article discusses, from the grandmother’s perspective, the ways in which support is exchanged in families coping with serious mental illness. A strengths perspective was utilised to identify ways in which family members help each other. Employing a qualitative approach, this study focuses on interviews obtained from a sample of 22 ageing mothers, aged 52–90, who are in contact with their daughters who have a mental illness. Grandmothers provided several kinds of support to their mentally ill adult daughters and to their grandchildren, who also supported the ageing mother in numerous ways. As social workers seek to assist individuals with mental illness, it is important to assess the existing strengths of their intergenerational family context.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article discusses, from the grandmother’s perspective, the ways in which support is exchanged in families coping with serious mental illness. A strengths perspective was utilised to identify ways in which family members help each other. Employing a qualitative approach, this study focuses on interviews obtained from a sample of 22 ageing mothers, aged 52–90, who are in contact with their daughters who have a mental illness. Grandmothers provided several kinds of support to their mentally ill adult daughters and to their grandchildren, who also supported the ageing mother in numerous ways. As social workers seek to assist individuals with mental illness, it is important to assess the existing strengths of their intergenerational family context.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, mothers, parent-child relations, mental health problems, family relations, grandparents, social work, service provision, intergenerational relationships;
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 4(3), 2006, pp.73-86.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia
... isolated; expanded services to grandparents who care for their grandchildren. It is concluded that intergenerational experiential opportunities are necessary to overcome stereotypes that students have of the elderly, as part of the infusion of curricula. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
The current assumption that sufficient manpower can be generated to provide services to the elderly by strengthening gerontological curricula fails to give adequate attention to intergenerational approaches. Through a Roundtable at a national conference in the United States, the authors interviewed practitioners involved in providing intergenerational services and confirmed their value in meeting unmet needs, especially when family is unavailable. Participants suggested four major areas where services that incorporate an intergenerational approach are needed: community/family support utilising youth or adult volunteers to provide services to the aged, disabled and persons with AIDS; youth "moving up" programs where elders can share career options and advice; services to elders who are socially isolated; expanded services to grandparents who care for their grandchildren. It is concluded that intergenerational experiential opportunities are necessary to overcome stereotypes that students have of the elderly, as part of the infusion of curricula. (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, mentoring, older people, social work, social care provision, young people, curriculum development, family support, grandparents;
Journal of Interprofessional Care, 31(4), 2017, pp.550-552.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Interprofessional education (IPE) is now widely considered an essential part of preparing professionals to work more effectively with marginalised families, such as grandparent-headed families. This study aims to explore the potential for IPE through a family-centred programme for grandparent-headed families during professional preparation for education, social work, and nursing students to foster collaboration. Using mixed methods with concurrent data collection and analyses, this study suggests that participation in IPE can positively impact perceptions of interprofessional collaboration to better meet the multifaceted needs of grandparent-headed families by increasing awareness and self-efficacy for interprofessional collaboration in schools and deepening understandings of non-traditional families. Implications highlight possibilities for more flexible and integrated professional identities in working with children and their families as well as the potential for future school professionals to embrace more comprehensive services in schools.
(Publisher abstract)
Interprofessional education (IPE) is now widely considered an essential part of preparing professionals to work more effectively with marginalised families, such as grandparent-headed families. This study aims to explore the potential for IPE through a family-centred programme for grandparent-headed families during professional preparation for education, social work, and nursing students to foster collaboration. Using mixed methods with concurrent data collection and analyses, this study suggests that participation in IPE can positively impact perceptions of interprofessional collaboration to better meet the multifaceted needs of grandparent-headed families by increasing awareness and self-efficacy for interprofessional collaboration in schools and deepening understandings of non-traditional families. Implications highlight possibilities for more flexible and integrated professional identities in working with children and their families as well as the potential for future school professionals to embrace more comprehensive services in schools.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
education, training, multidisciplinary training, family support, grandparents, families, social work, nursing, collaboration, schools, interprofessional relations, service provision;