Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Here We Go Again: The Financial Difficulties Faced by Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: 

Here We Go Again: The Financial Difficulties Faced by Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Elizabeth Anderson LAW 664

RETIREMENT!!!: 

RETIREMENT!!!

You’re a parent again!: 

You’re a parent again!

Kinship Care: 

Kinship Care Definition “any form of residential caregiving provided to children by kin, whether full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent, and whether initiated by private family agreement or under the custodial supervision of a state child welfare agency” Background Biblical examples Slavery Rapid Increase

Shirlee Garrett: 

Shirlee Garrett Shirlee Garrett: Grandparent Caregiver

Our States: 

Our States

Grandparent Caregivers: 

Grandparent Caregivers “Categories” of grandparents Custodial grandparents “Living with” grandparents “Day care” grandparents Legal options Adoption Guardianship Power of Attorney Become a licensed foster parent

Adoption: 

Adoption Pros Ability to make legal decisions Permanent Cons Termination of parental rights Expensive Lack of knowledge about this option

Guardianship: 

Guardianship Pros Does not sever all of biological parent’s parental rights Grandparents can receive child support Does not require constant oversight by the state Cons States do not have to provide financial incentives (unless subsidized guardianship) Biological parents can petition to have dissolved

Power of Attorney: 

Power of Attorney Can make legal decisions, but not a formal custody agreement

Licensed Foster Parent: 

Licensed Foster Parent Pros Additional financial assistance Assistance of social services Cons Can be an expensive process Lack of knowledge about this option Heavily regulated

What’s the point?: 

What’s the point? Elderly caregivers are particularly susceptible to financial difficulties since many live on a fixed income. Licensed foster parents are eligible for other types of state funding than non-licensed caretakers. Does this dis -incentivize kinship care? Retirees do not typically plan their savings around becoming parents again.

So why don’t they all become foster parents?: 

So why don’t they all become foster parents? Training Safety Requirements Lack of knowledge Desire to maintain a good relationship with the biological parent Many grandparents believe the living situation is temporary.

Examples of State Services: 

Examples of State Services New Jersey and Ohio Provide information and referral services on financial assistance, support groups, Medicaid, child support, housing, and legal services. Washington “After using the service, caregivers had a better understanding of services, over 690 children were diverted from foster care, and 98% of the caregivers using the services reported that they were very satisfied with the program.” Carole B. Cox, Policy and Custodial Grandparents , 11 Marg. Elder’s Advisor 281 , 301 (2010). New York Interactive website supervised by an attorney who specializes in kinship care

North Carolina: 

North Carolina 232,968 children (10.2% of children in the state) under the age of 18 live in a home where the head of household is a grandparent or other relative. ( U.S. 2010 Census ) 89,622 grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren 52% White and 40% Black No separate licensing program for kinship foster parents. No state-wide subsidized guardianship program at this time.

The Church’s Role: 

The Church’s Role Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27 Offer computer assistance to elderly since many programs are now online. Food and clothing closets Any additional suggestions?

Proposal: 

Proposal Rather than pushing for more government money to be used in aiding kinship caregivers, focus on helping caregivers access the resources already available. Possibly encourage subsidized guardianship (if available).