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Grandparents as Caregivers—among the neediest of families
According to a New York Times article by Kari Haskell, 300,000
children live in grandparent-headed households in New York State as
reported in the 2000 census. Nationally, 4.5 million live with their
grandparents, a 30 percent increase from 1990. In New York State 143,014
grandparents serve as primary caregivers for children under 18 and 2.4
million nationally. The numbers are growing.
 They
are filling a childcare gap because the children’s own parents have died
or deal with problems of substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration,
poverty, domestic violence, or divorce. Nineteen percent of grandparent
caregivers live in poverty. Many have health and financial problems of
their own. Immigrant grandparents are even more isolated and needy.
Legislation is needed to help these struggling groups. Unless
grandparents are designated primary caregivers by the states they live
in, they cannot register children for school or get medical care and
government assistance. In October 2003, 850,000 supporters rallied in
Washington, D.C. to promote legislation to support kinship-care bills to
provide assistance subsidies, housing, and respite-care programs.
To help, religious and nonprofit community groups are providing
support groups and other services. AARP has a grandparent information
center. (LINK) Locally Child Care Council of Nassau County has
co-sponsored a new initiative with the Jericho/Syosset/Woodbury
Partnership. The Manhasset/Great Neck Community Service Center, through
its Family Support Program, has a grandparents’ support group. We are
well aware of this growing family dynamic.
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