Kinship care: an emerging issue

The issue of kinship care is explored through an interview with a clinical social worker who runs a support group for grandparents caring for their grandchildren. Starting in the 1980s, the kinship care phenomena spread across economic and racial lines. Nationwide, an estimated 3.2 million children live in grandparent-headed households. issues faced by grandparents in this role include: the emotional impact of raising children, when past that typical stage of life; how to deal with the feelings of anger and resentment toward their own children; how to say no and be comfortable with it; how to reclaim parts of their own lives; taking care of themselves; special childraising challenges, including HIV, abuse, and neglect; and financial concerns. A kinship care support group is described, and lists of resources are provided.
Section Editor's Note: For the past 7 years, Brenda Shephard-Vernon has run a support group for grandparents raising their grandchildren. I met with her to learn about this project and [...]