Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Strategies For Effective Service Delivery

Megan L. Dolbin-MacNab, Ph.D., LMFT Department of Human Development

Virginia Tech

Virginia Governor’s Conference on Aging May 2, 2016

Grandparent Involvement in Families

Companionate

Caregiving

Co-Resident

Custodial

Defining Custodial Grandparents• Grandparents who are primarily responsible for all aspects

of the care of a grandchild (or grandchildren). • Can be formal or informal (majority) caregiving. • Parents are often absent (skipped generation households). • WHY?

• Reasons (and experiences) are diverse. • Usually multiple factors are at work. • Reasons often reflect societal patterns of marginalization.

Custodial Grandfamily Statistics• 2.6 million grandparents are raising their grandchildren

• 30% increase in the last 30 years • 1 in 10 (7.8 million) grandchildren co-reside with their

grandparents • 2.5 million (or 3% of all US children) are being raised by

grandparents • Grandparents and other relatives save taxpayers about $4

billion/year in foster care costs (Generations United, 2014)

A Demographic Profile

21% live below the poverty line

58% are working

42% provided care for 5+ years

62% are grandmothers

66% are married

39% are over the age of 60

53% are White**

(Generations United, 2014; Pew Research Center, 2013)

Issues for Service Delivery• Legal • Financial • Physical (Medical) • Psychological (Mental Health) • Social Support • Parenting/Child Development • Education • Housing • Extended Family Relationships

Strategies For Effective Service Delivery

Program Structure

Program Staff

Program Accessibility

GP Beliefs

(Dolbin-MacNab, Roberto & Finney, 2013)

Awareness, Attitudes, Trust

Personal/Structural Barriers

Education, Bias, Rapport

Services, Policies, Coordination, Advocacy

Grandparent Beliefs• Develop Service Awareness:

• Advertise, using multiple formats – go to the GPs and GC • Word-of-Mouth (Professionals, GPs)

• Address Help-Seeking Attitudes: • Talk about and normalize feelings of stigma

• Build Trust in Services: • Build in transparency – policies, processes • Offer choices and autonomy whenever possible • Give examples of results – how will this help?

Program Accessibility• Remove Barriers:

• Provide transportation, childcare, meals • Offer flexible hours of service – evenings and weekends • Choose a convenient location – near public transportation, other

services

• Offer Alternative Forms of Service: • Telephone • Internet • Home-Based • Mobile • Combined Services

Program Staff• Become Educated:

• Reasons for Caregiving, Needs/Challenges, Strengths/Resources

• Examine Bias and Negative Stereotypes: • Consider: Who is at “fault?” “Who is responsible?” • Engage in critical self-reflection (Dolbin-MacNab, 2015)

• Deliver Excellent Customer Service: • See “Build Trust in Services” • Build rapport and be respectful – warmth, personal connection • Focus on successes, strengths, and resources (vs. deficits) • Offer additional assistance and guidance • Connect with other available services

Program Structure• Population-Specific Services:

• Address multiple needs of GPs and GC • Opportunities for recreation and socialization • GPs are not the same as other parents

• Develop Sensitive Policies and Procedures: • Flexible custody and documentation requirements • Avoid restrictive participation/attendance requirements

• Engage in Advocacy: • Use power and connections to help advocate for GPs and GC

• Implement Supportive Policies…

Supportive Policies – Virginia ScorecardSUPPORTIVE POLICIES VIRGINIA?

Relative Foster Care (%) 6% (Tied for 2nd Lowest)

Education Consent ✔

Health Care Consent ✔

De Facto Custody

TANF Exceptions/Limits (e.g., Time, Work, Assets) ✔ (No Family-Like)

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Guardianship Assistance Program

Lifespan Respite Care ✔

THANK YOU!Questions?

Dr. Megan L. Dolbin-MacNab Department of Human Development

Virginia Tech

(540) 231-6807 mdolbinm@vt.edu

References• Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2015). Critical self-reflection questions for

professionals who work with grandfamilies. Grandfamilies, 1(2), 139-159. • Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Roberto, K. A., & Finney, J. W. (2013). Formal social

support: Promoting resilience in grandparents parenting grandchildren. In B. Hayslip Jr. & G. C. Smith (Eds.), Resilient grandparent caregivers: A strengths-based perspective (pp. 134-151). New York: Routledge.

• Generations United: • The State of Grandfamilies in America: 2014. Available at:

http://www.gu.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yfGpYQNMuxk%3d&tabid=157&mid=606

• The State of Grandfamilies in America: 2015. Available at: http://www.gu.org/RESOURCES/Publications/TheStateofGrandfamiliesinAmerica2015.aspx • Note: This document contains a list of excellent resources on grandfamilies.