Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

In Ohio and throughout our nation, grandparents are increasingly being called upon to serve as primary caregivers to their grandchildren. In 10 percent of Ohio households with children, grandparents are filling are the primary parents. While grandparents express some concern about their own health and finances, the overwhelming majority are far more concerned with the health and overall well-being of their grandchildren.

The reasons most often cited for these unique family arrangements are usually related to the biological parents' inability or unwillingness to do so. Factors such as substance abuse, divorce, separation, employment, abandonment, teenage pregnancy, pursuit of education, finances, death, physical or mental illness, homelessness, child abuse or neglect and incarceration can all prevent the biological parent from providing primary care.

The average age of a grandparent raising a grandchild is 55, though nearly one in six is 65 or older. More than half of the children cared for by grandparents are 6 or younger. Half of these grandparents provide care for more than one grandchild.

As primary caregivers, grandparents often face formidable challenges. More than half have annual household incomes below $30,000; 25 percent have annual household incomes of less than $15,000. Only 11 percent are legal guardians for the children; just 9 percent have formal temporary custody. Nine percent receive child support, 14 percent receive financial support from public assistance and 8 percent receive social security for the child.

Area Agencies on Aging help residents identify "kinship care" services designed to support these families. Support includes legal and financial advice, support groups, trainings and more.