Problems that are breaking families apart are leaving
children at risk, neglected, and uncared for, and their
grandparents are stepping in to care for the children. Grandparents
across the country, regardless of income, background, or
race, are assuming this responsibility. They did not expect
to be parents again.
If you are a grandparent raising grandchildren, you are
not alone:
- There are approximately 4.5 million children under
18 growing up in grandparent-headed households - a number
that has increased 30% since 1990.
- Approximately one-third of these households have no
parent present in the home.
- The majority of grandparents raising grandchildren
range in age from 55 - 64 years old and 25% are over
the age of 65.
- There are eight times more children in grandparent-headed
households than in the foster care system.
- While grandparent-headed families cross all socio-economic
levels, these grandparents are more likely to live in
poverty than other grandparents.
Grandparents who take on this job often need help in meeting
the needs of their grandchildren and with the legal, financial,
medical, educational, and emotional issues that come with
this new role. If you are a grandparent who has become
the primary caregiver for your grandchildren, you may join monthly support group meetings held at the Omni Family Resource Center. The meetings will be held from 10am-12pm on February 19, March 19, April 16, and May 21, 2007.
Helpful Sites:
Grandparents
Magazine - resource for grandparents and parents
with coloring pages, craft ideas, articles, and more.
Grandloving -
features activities and timely advice for and from grandparents.
Mid Carolina Area Agency on Aging -
The Mid-Carolina Council of Governments (MCCOG) is the state-designated lead regional organization for Cumberland, Harnett, and Sampson Counties. Mid-Carolina is one of the seventeen North Carolina Cogs formed to provide a wide variety of programs and services to their local governments and citizens.
AARP of North Carolina
For more information please contact
Heidi Choice
Resource Library Coordinator
(910) 860-2277 ext 502
hchoice@ccpfc.org
