What is known about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren?
There are many reasons why grandparents are called upon to care for their grandchildrenchildren being removed from the parents due to child abuse or neglect, parental chemical dependency issues, chronic illness, parental immaturity, teen pregnancy, abandonment, death of a parent, difficulties with finances, military deployment, divorce, unemployment, and incarceration of parents (Weber & Waldrop, 2000). Often it is a combination of factors that lead to children living with their grandparents. In almost all cases this family structure is created due to a crisis or loss. Grandparents are stepping in to provide care, however for most it comes with an emotional, psychological, and financial cost. Grandparents often experience physical and emotional health concerns, financial issues of raising another child, legal concerns, and strained family relations. Grandparents may have to navigate a variety of systems in order to enroll the child in day care or school, apply for medical insurance, ob
