Resources available for grandparents raising their grandchildren

Mayo Free Press

September 7, 2006

Ira Mikell, Free Press Reporter

If you are currently facing one or more adversities as you are raising your grandchildren, you are not alone. "Grandparents raising grandchildren is a phenomena that affects families of all ethnic, financial, and educational backgrounds," the National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren said.

According to the results from the 2005 United States census, there are 2.4 million grandparents nationwide who reported they had full responsibility of raising their grandchildren. In Florida, the same census revealed there are 147,893 grandparents raising their grandchildren in their own home.

There are various reasons grandparents have become parents again, according to Michelle Stevenson, who is a Ph.D Assistant Professor and Extension Gerontology Specialist at Virginia Tech's Department of Human Development. Examples include providing a stable home, preventing the children from being placed in a foster home, and taking responsibility for the care of the children when the parents are incarcerated.

Stevenson also stated that the most common challenges grandparents are facing today are health issues, social isolation, and finances. Other challenges include legal problems, health insurance, saving for college education, and everyday living expenses.

There are many resources out there who are lending a hand to help people just like you. To name a few: The Florida Kinship Center (800) 640-6444; Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group (305) 576-3084; and, Florida Legal Services, Inc. (850) 385-7900.

Look for local story on this topic of interest in upcoming issue.