TRC_Final

Bronzeville Grandfamilies’ Housing: A Needs Assessment Project : 

Bronzeville Grandfamilies’ Housing: A Needs Assessment Project University of Illinois at Chicago Huan Chang, Pankaja Desai, Andrea Gossett, Jacqueline Hoskins-Wroten, Talar Markossian, Mansha Mirza, Julie Nelson, Kavitha Padmanabhan, Thomas Riess Marcia Finlayson, PhD

Introduction : 

Introduction Needs assessment team Graduate students + advisor From University of Illinois at Chicago Worked on the project from 8/2005-12/2005 How we got involved Pat Abrams partnered with needs assessment team to obtain information for TRC’s proposed grandfamily housing project

Goals of this Presentation : 

Goals of this Presentation Define “need” and needs assessment Discuss data collection methods Discuss results Provide recommendations for TRC Question and answer period

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren : 

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 6 million children raised in American households headed by grandparents and other relatives (Generations United, 2005) 213,465 (6.6%) children in Illinois in grandparent headed households (Generations United, 2005) 1,300 grandfamilies in the community of Bronzeville (Oh, 2005)

What is a Needs Assessment : 

What is a Needs Assessment Need Gap between what is and what should be (Witkin & Altschuld, 1995) Needs assessment defined Systematic set-up of procedures undertaken for the purpose of setting priorities and making decisions about program and organizational improvement and allocation of resources (Witkin & Altschuld, 1995)

Project Goal : 

Project Goal To increase the ability of TRC to serve the grandfamilies in Bronzeville through the auspices of a housing unit.

Objectives : 

Objectives 1. To identify and describe what grandfamilies consider a stable family unit and to document needed supports and services 2. To gather information on resources and services 3. To describe potential community collaborators 4. To identify and describe models of grandfamily housing 5. To outline key policies that may influence the needs of grandfamilies who may use grandfamily housing

Methods : 

Methods

Methods : 

Methods Foundation The purpose of these methods were to gather background information about grandparents raising grandchildren in general, and the community of Bronzeville Qualitative data collection The purpose of these methods was to gather information from grandparents in Bronzeville Survey data The survey data were collected in order to identify Lessons learned from other grandfamily housing developers Potential collaborators.

Slide 10: 

Qualitative data collection Foundation Methods Recommendations Survey data

Methods : 

Methods Foundation Pre-needs assessment (Oh, 2005) Critical reviews of research (9) Key informant interview (1) Expert presentations (4) Bronzeville website review (6) Guided tour (1) Windshield and walking tours (16)

Methods : 

Methods Qualitative Data Collection Focus groups (2) Children’s play groups (2) One-to-one interviews (7)

Methods : 

Methods Survey Data Bronzeville collaborator survey (6) Grandfamily housing survey (4)

Focus Group and Individual Interviews : 

Focus Group and Individual Interviews Focus Group Grandparents raising grandchildren at Quinn Chapel and St. Elizabeth Churches Recruited by pastors and designees One-to-One Interviews Individuals recruited from focus group participants Conducted face to face and via telephone

Surveys : 

Surveys Grandfamily Housing Surveys Functional or in development Identified through housing critical review Conducted via telephone/email/fax Collaborators Providers servicing Bronzeville Identified through internet/phonebook Conducted via telephone/email/fax

Results : 

Results

Key Findings from Foundation Methods : 

Key Findings from Foundation Methods Lack of affordable housing is a problem for grandparents raising grandchildren; Grandfamilies often live under precarious economic circumstances; Grandparents often experience high levels of stress, Grandparents face two major barriers: Knowledge about the financial and social benefits available, Understanding of the process for obtaining these benefits.

Focus Group Demographics : 

Focus Group Demographics N=16 Age range of grandparents: 37-78 Age range of grandchildren: 1-23 Average number of children per household: 2.3 Varying relationship to children No grandparent had legal custody of grandchildren

Needs Identified : 

Needs Identified Need for a comprehensive support network Need for financial security Need for control over the environment Need for stability and consistency Need for future/contingency planning

Need #1-Supportive Network : 

Need #1-Supportive Network Broad range of services and informal supports Respite Recreation Tutoring for children Childcare Support groups Includes access to information and resources

Need #1-Support Network : 

Need #1-Support Network “[Grandparents are] not equipped to raise kids today”. [I need support] “…when I don’t feel like being a grandparent.” “We are living in a system where its easier to adopt dogs and cats than it is to adopt your own grandchildren.” “[We need to ]have a program that will work with each individual” “These are supposed to be my glory days”

Need #2-Financial Security : 

Need #2-Financial Security Struggle to get by Over half of families reported low income: <$20,000 Inadequacy of funding from DCFS Working part time: increase in salary = decrease in government funding Grandparents need more education on budgeting

Need #2-Financial Security : 

Need #2-Financial Security “[I need money to]…help paying for groceries” “There is not enough money to feed the kids” [I would like] “affordable and convenient transportation”

Need #3-Control over Environment : 

Need #3-Control over Environment Grandchildren are influenced by outside sources—positive or negative Grandparents need to have control to encourage positive influences

Need #3-Control over Environment : 

Need #3-Control over Environment “[I don’t like the] friends they have, TV programs and...rap music.” “[There may be using] ...drugs...stealing...fighting.” “[We want a]...safe neighborhood

Need #4-Stability & Consistency : 

Need #4-Stability & Consistency Grandparents need stability and consistency in their lives Then, they can provide a secure and predictable home to grandchildren Many of the grandparents interviewed felt they did not have a stable home

Need #4-Stability & Consistency : 

Need #4-Stability & Consistency “I don’t have a stable family unit so I have no idea.” “...unstable families stay in trouble because of stealing, drugs (and) unnecessary fights....” “A stable family unit is a place where children are secure…. when they walk home, they know what to expect- there is heat, light and a TV” “[We need] a program that won’t start and [then] leave us.”

Need #5-Future/contingency Planning : 

Need #5-Future/contingency Planning Need came from question used in one-to-one interviews Grandparents shared what would happen to their grandchildren if they could no longer take care of them

Need #5-Future/contingency Planning : 

Need #5-Future/contingency Planning “He could end up homeless or in the system unless his mother would come to the realization to think of someone other than herself” Children may end up “in the system” Other relatives would have to step in Stability of children’s situation would deteriorate

Ideal Grandfamily Housing : 

Ideal Grandfamily Housing Services Included in Housing Resource Center Childcare Tenants’ association Screening process Security (secure building) Physical Amenities in Housing Washer/dryers convenient and accessible Recreation area (indoors and outdoors) Rooms with enough space to raise grandchildren Storage space

Lessons Learned : 

Lessons Learned Housing Survey Involve the grandparents/residents Have experience with the population Visit other developments Determine goals and services before building Understand housing issues as they relate to grandparents raising grandchildren Collaborator Survey Work with others in the community; there are organizations interested and willing

Recommendations : 

Recommendations

Support Network Recommendation #1 : 

Support Network Recommendation #1 Provide grandparents and grandchildren with access to needed supports, services, information and resources Build capacity for supportive services Develop a coalition Provide on-site services Facilitate transportation

Financial Security Recommendation #2 : 

Financial Security Recommendation #2 Provide grandparents with assistance in attaining some measure of financial stability and security in their lives. Provide access to financial assistance services Develop a creative rental assistance/payment program Facilitate access to funding resources Advocate for GRG support

Control Over EnvironmentRecommendation #3 : 

Control Over EnvironmentRecommendation #3 Assist grandparents in exercising some degree of control over maintaining the stability and security of their environment. Form an advisory board Develop a tenant council

Stability and Consistency Recommendation #4 : 

Stability and Consistency Recommendation #4 Assist grandparents in securing stability and consistency in their lives. Address Recommendations 1, 2 and 3 Support network Financial security Control over the environment

Future/Contingency PlanningRecommendation #5 : 

Future/Contingency PlanningRecommendation #5 Assist grandparents in future/contingency planning Provide GRG family case management Assure legal counseling

Recommendations #6 & 7:Suggested Next Steps : 

Recommendations #6 & 7:Suggested Next Steps Use Concerns Report Methods Develop and implement an evaluation plan

Limitations : 

Limitations Small sample size Participants primarily recruited through churches Third party recruited High refusals for one-to-one interviews Difficulty in recruiting participants for one planned focus group Limited time frame Limited resources “Hidden population”

Conclusion : 

Conclusion Overview of Grandfamily Housing needs assessment Rich data, consistent information Interest in grandfamilies housing Potential collaborators in Bronzeville Clear direction –lessons learned Passing the baton to TRC

Thank you! : 

Thank you! Do you have any questions?