Deborah M. Whitley, Ph.D., MPH National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Georgia State University Leslie Sessley, MSW Division of Aging Services Georgia Department of Human Services Atlanta, GA
Grandparent Characteristics Grandchildren Characteristics 2.6 million GP primary caregivers for GC 33% are 60 years or over 35.8% are racial minorities 25% have a disability 18.8% live below poverty level 61.1% are in labor force Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau 2.7 million GC under primary care of grandparent 35.2% no parents present 44.7% are racial minorities 45.4% are < 6 years of age 42.8% live in HH receiving public assistance 6.3% have a disability (GC ages 5-17)
Parental Mental Illness Drug or alcohol addiction Incarceration Teen-age pregnancies Neglect and Abuse Physical illness (cancer, HIV-AIDS) Military Deployment Death
Limited support network Social Isolation Inadequate financial resources Limited access to health care for themselves and their grandchildren Stress related to grandchild behavior
Feelings of abandonment Parental confusion Social isolation Academic problems Problem behaviors
Background 1995 Project Healthy Grandparents (PHG) 1998 PHG Replication University of Georgia, Athens, GA Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD Winston-Salem State University, Winston- Salem, NC 2000 Early Intervention Support Service 2001 National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Program Goal To enhance the physical and emotional well-being of intergenerational families through interdisciplinary services Case management services are provided for one year at no cost to families; other services are ongoing.
PROJECT HEALTHY GRANDPARENTS Empowerment the process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individuals, families and communities can take action to improve their situation. (L. Gutierrez, 1994, pg. 202)
Total Participants Grandparents served: 703 Grandchildren served: 1,583 Race: African American (99%) Average age of grandparents: 54 years; (Range: 33-77 years) Average number of grandchildren per family: 2.5; (Range 1-8)
Types of legal relationship with grandchildren (Intake) Custody 68% Guardianship 24% Adoption 8% Primary reasons for raising grandchildren: Abandonment/neglect Child abuse Parental incarceration Mental health problems Substance abuse Parental death
Social Work & Nursing Case Management Individualized support Acknowledge personal strengths Home-based option Support Group Meetings Emphasize problem solving skills Mutual aid and self-help Provides setting for practicing new behaviors
Parenting classes Learn new parenting skills Introduce new community resources Emphasize positive functioning within family systems Legal Referrals Facilitate development of legal relationships with grandchildren Establish permanency planning
Other Services/Activities Transportation Material Aid Clothing School Supplies Furniture Toys Home-based Nutrition & Physical Activity Intervention (Pilot) Early Intervention Services
Reduction in psychological distress symptoms Improved perception of social support Improved perception of family/community resources Improved sense of empowerment
HRA Pre-intervention Post-intervention BMI (Overweight/Obese) 554 (87.5%) 460 (72.7%) Mammogram (2+ years) 219 (34.6%) 162 (25.6%) Blood Pressure (High) 255 (40.3%) 215 (34.0%) HBP Prescriptions 353 (55.8%) 331 (52.3%) Pap Smear Test (2+ years) 209 (33.0%) 161 (25.4%) Breast Self-exam (Rarely/Never) 139 (21.9%) 69 (10.9%)
Health Care Systems Child Welfare School Systems Child Care Centers Libraries Religious Institutions Cultural Groups Universities Foundations United Way
VARIABLE VALUE VARIABLE VALUE Age 50-84 years M = 67 Income $<15 K= 61% Gender 97% Female Health Same or better = 87% Race 73% Af Am 27% W /Oth # Grandkids 1 = 42% 2+ = 58% Marital Status 36% Married Grdkids Age M= 11 years 45% Widowed 19% Single/Div. Education < HS 32% HS 36% > HS 32% Spec Ed? Yes = 16%
Statewide Funding: Division of Aging Services requested funding through Governor Perdue, National Governor's Association, to establish statewide kinship program Funding was allocated to Area Agencies on Aging effective July 1,2005 Brookdale Foundation provided monetary support
Kinship Care Services provided in all 12 AAA regions: Information & Assistance Support groups Community/public education Collaboration with other organizations Summer Camp Program (respite care) Tutoring Training Material Aid
AAA Kinship Care Specialists : Coordinates core services in the region Facilitates support groups, community public education sessions and other optional services
Special Projects: Georgia Legal Services Program Atlanta Legal Aide Society Grandparent Navigator
Kinship Care: Georgia s Statewide Initiative Kinship Care Legal Services Division of Aging Services contracted with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society & Georgia Legal Services Program Provided legal advice and representation regarding: adoption custody guardianship housing & public benefits special education needs of children
Division allocated state funds to develop a collaborative project with the Department of Family and Children s Services (DFCS), Office of Child Support & Public Health. Project hires older persons (preferably grandparents) to serve as mentors to other grandparents who visit DFCS, OCSS & PH offices. These older persons are navigators they help others navigate the system.
Kinship Care Georgia s Statewide Initiative Kinship Legal Services Outcomes Since 2006: Screened Kinship Care Hotline Calls~ 2,673 Custody of grandchildren~ 435 Guardianship of grandchildren- 593 Adopted grandchildren~188 Pro-bono cases- 361
Georgia Kinship Care Collaborative Initiative Navigator Program Outcomes Since 2006: Total Navigators Trained -30 Total Navigators Hired in State Offices - 9 Family & Children Services - 6 Public Health - 1 Child Support - 2
A membership of professionals and lay persons who collaborate to: Foster the positive image of kinship caregivers Promote awareness of issues and programs Develop and increase access to resources Identify areas of advocacy on behalf of kinship caregivers in Georgia
July 2006: DHS Commissioner requested DHR to develop a GRG work team comprised of staff from Aging Services DFCS, MHDDAD, Public Health and Child Support Services. The objective is for the work team to explore opportunities and resources to assist grandparents with strengthening families and developing a One System of Care.
MULTIPLE POINTS OF ENTRY INTO ONE SYSTEM OF CARE Point Of Entry Identification of Needs Referral Agencies Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) OCSS Child Support Medical Support GRANDPARENT Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) DFCS TANF Food Stamps Child Care Energy Assistance and more GRANDPARENT Division of Aging Services (DAS) DAS Kinship Care Support Groups Legal Advice and more GRANDPARENT Division of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Mental Health (DMHDDAD) GRANDPARENT Division of Public Health (DPH) Division of Public Health (DPH) GRANDPARENT
Physical, emotional and social conditions of grandparent caregivers are amenable to homebased, multi-disciplinary intervention. Increasing racial/cultural diversity in communities will challenge service delivery systems to provide accessible, culturallysensitive, quality care.
Community-based resources are needed to provide assistive support, legal aid, respite care, and other services to caregivers. State-wide initiatives are vital to delivering accessible, quality services to grandparent caregivers in varied communities. Georgia s One system of care is a service model that may be replicated in other states for positive benefit to grandparents.
AARP Generations United American Bar Association: Center on Children and the Law Center on Law and Social Policy Brookdale Foundation Grandfamilies of America Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Child Welfare League of America National Committee of Grandparents for Children s Rights