New Zealand's Maori population has much poorer health than non-Maoris. Reports on how a programme involving local grandmothers in health promotion has made great strides.
New Zealand's Maori population has much poorer health than non-Maoris. Reports on how a programme involving local grandmothers in health promotion has made great strides.
Subject terms:
indigenous people, socioeconomic groups, health, health education, grandparents;
This report notes that there is an incomplete picture of family life in Britain. The scale of the contribution that the UK's 14 million grandparents are making is not fully known. This interim report uses new British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey data to begin to build a more comprehensive picture of Britain's grandparent population; looking at how it has changed over the last decade, and what financial implications becoming a grandparent might involve. The findings show that there are broadly two very different experiences of grandparenting in Britain and this is determined by socio-economic and income status. They suggest that grandparents, particularly working age grandmothers on low incomes are under pressure to combine work and childcare. The results are discussed in some detail
This report notes that there is an incomplete picture of family life in Britain. The scale of the contribution that the UK's 14 million grandparents are making is not fully known. This interim report uses new British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey data to begin to build a more comprehensive picture of Britain's grandparent population; looking at how it has changed over the last decade, and what financial implications becoming a grandparent might involve. The findings show that there are broadly two very different experiences of grandparenting in Britain and this is determined by socio-economic and income status. They suggest that grandparents, particularly working age grandmothers on low incomes are under pressure to combine work and childcare. The results are discussed in some detail and the report concludes with implications for the next stage of the project.
Community Work and Family, 6(1), April 2003, pp.63-76.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Despite the prevalence in the literature on matrifocality and mother centredness in Caribbean families, there is very little focus on the role of grandmothers (and grandfathers), except in their role as surrogate parents, and as a characteristic of lower-class families. This article argues that the importance of grandparents (and grandmothers in particular) and of elderly aunts (often childless)
Despite the prevalence in the literature on matrifocality and mother centredness in Caribbean families, there is very little focus on the role of grandmothers (and grandfathers), except in their role as surrogate parents, and as a characteristic of lower-class families. This article argues that the importance of grandparents (and grandmothers in particular) and of elderly aunts (often childless) in family life crosses class and geographic boundaries and suggests that their continuing importance is not merely a response to economic circumstance but a reflection of cultural beliefs in the centrality of family, and cultural practices in sharing responsibility for childrearing.
Subject terms:
socioeconomic groups, African Caribbean people, black and minority ethnic people, child care, communities, community development, cultural identity, families, family relations, grandparents;
... involvement with their grandchildren, not all felt happy with the idea of grandparents providing childcare. Among those who were willing and able to do so, there was generally a feeling that the level of childcare they provided needed to be balanced against other interests and priorities they had as well as the needs of the parents. In policy terms, the study suggests that the emphasis on work-life balance needs to be extended to explicitly include all those who play a role in providing childcare within families, including grandparents. This means that employers should also enable working grandmothers to work flexibly or on a part-time basis to accommodate their family responsibilities.
The research looked at the role of grandmothers in childcare and found that many families, especially those on low incomes or with lone parents, rely on them, particularly before and after school, and during school holidays. However, many grandmothers now combine helping with the grandchildren with their own paid work. Although the grandmothers in this study generally welcomed and enjoyed involvement with their grandchildren, not all felt happy with the idea of grandparents providing childcare. Among those who were willing and able to do so, there was generally a feeling that the level of childcare they provided needed to be balanced against other interests and priorities they had as well as the needs of the parents. In policy terms, the study suggests that the emphasis on work-life balance needs to be extended to explicitly include all those who play a role in providing childcare within families, including grandparents. This means that employers should also enable working grandmothers to work flexibly or on a part-time basis to accommodate their family responsibilities.
Subject terms:
parent-child relations, parents, social policy, socioeconomic groups, child care, child minding, flexible working, grandparents;
This report provides a broad overview of the current state of three-generational family life in Britain. It reports on the first British national survey of grandparenting. Nine in ten grandparents regard their grandchildren as an important and rewarding part of their lives, and nearly three quarters of all grandparents are in touch with their grandchildren at least once a month.
This report provides a broad overview of the current state of three-generational family life in Britain. It reports on the first British national survey of grandparenting. Nine in ten grandparents regard their grandchildren as an important and rewarding part of their lives, and nearly three quarters of all grandparents are in touch with their grandchildren at least once a month.
This study determined the prevalence of grandparents raising grandchildren who are living in rental housing and explored the sociodemographic characteristics and challenges faced by such renters. Grandparent caregivers who are renters represent a particularly vulnerable population.
This study determined the prevalence of grandparents raising grandchildren who are living in rental housing and explored the sociodemographic characteristics and challenges faced by such renters. Grandparent caregivers who are renters represent a particularly vulnerable population.
Children and Youth Services Review, 31(7), July 2009, pp.784-796.
Publisher:
Elsevier
More than 2.4 million grandparents in the United States provide primary care for more than 4.5 million grandchildren, but little is known about how grandparents in the child welfare system (CWS) parent their grandchildren. Using a nationally representative sample of children reported for maltreatment to the CWS, the authors compared the parenting and home environments provided by grandmothers
More than 2.4 million grandparents in the United States provide primary care for more than 4.5 million grandchildren, but little is known about how grandparents in the child welfare system (CWS) parent their grandchildren. Using a nationally representative sample of children reported for maltreatment to the CWS, the authors compared the parenting and home environments provided by grandmothers with those provided by nonkin foster caregivers. Grandmothers were older, less educated, less likely to be married, and more likely to be subsisting beneath the federal poverty level than foster caregivers. Grandmothers had significantly better parenting scores than foster caregivers, even when the child's age and the caregiver's race/ethnicity, education, and poverty level were taken into account. The home environment provided by grandmothers in the CWS was generally as good as the one provided by foster caregivers. These findings suggest that grandmothers are striving to give affection, be responsive, and - within their economic means - provide learning opportunities for the child. Findings also yield a profile of grandmothers' social and economic disadvantages, suggesting the need for increased support for grandmothers caring for children in the CWS.
Subject terms:
kinship care, low income, outcomes, parenting, poverty, socioeconomic groups, women, child protection, environment, foster care, foster carers, grandparents;