You assumed that your days of raising children were over, but a surprise of great consequence awaited with little or no advance notice; having to raise your grandchildren, with one experiencing a severe mental disorder. When parents are rendered unable to care for their children because of incarceration, poverty, substance abuse, or some serious health condition, grand families become primary caregivers; a role in which many, though supportive, are highly unprepared.

Census data indicate about 6 million children in the United States are living in households headed by a grandparent or other relative. An analysis of this emerging trend, especially of those grandparents caring for children with mental health issues, reveals both a crisis of support and an opportunity to serve the unmet needs of these aging caregivers.

From a positive perspective, nurturing grandparents allow children to flourish:

• Grand families tend to enable siblings to stay together.
• Children stay in contact with family members.
• A reduction in additional traumatic transitions.
• A reduction in out of home placements.
• Stability of care
• Children tend to thrive when raised by relatives due to knowledge of the environment.

So, how do we help these heroes of hope?. Grand families need time out from the physical, mental and emotional demands of daily care giving. Respite care provides temporary relief for caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual, children in this case, with special needs. It is important to note that respite care is not child care. Respite care is an opportunity to re-energize and refuel to meet the unrelenting challenges. With quality respite care, the grandparent has time to participate in support groups, obtain services so the family can function effectively, or secure health services that protect their ability to raise special needs children.

In December 2006, Congress passed and the President signed the Lifespan Respite Care Act. It will be up to Congress to provide funding. We simply must engage the participation of grand families in the design and implementation of respite care programs on the state level. Not only should grand families become a targeted group for respite care, but they should also be intricately involved in the development and implementation of this new program. To help strengthen this family unit, we must identify and make readily available a pathway to community support systems for grand families and other caregivers.

Carmen Diaz
President

Gwen Slattery
Immediate Past President

John Hatakeyama
Treasurer

Leona Jull
Secretary

Mark Edelstein
Director

Earl Kelly
Director

Adonai Mack
Director

Becky Manzanares
Director

Tina Mata
Director

Sai-Ling Chan-Sew
Director

Fran Goldfarb
Director

Kimberly Laskowki
Director

David Ballard
Director