Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Massachusetts
This discussion focuses on the challenges, needs, and ways to assist grandparents raising grandchildren in Massachusetts. It highlights the profile of these caregivers, the issues they face, and offers solutions to engage and support them effectively. The content also includes a video on grandfamilies during the pandemic and statistics on the increasing number of grandparents over 60 raising grandchildren.
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Presentation Transcript
Working With and Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren April 28, 2021
Agenda for Our Discussion O Profile of a Grandparent Raising a Grandchildren: Who are the grandparents raising grandchildren in Massachusetts? O Issues and Concerns: What are the issues and concerns and needs of grandparents raising grandchildren? O How You Can Help: What are ways you/your agency can engage and support grandparents raising grandchildren?
Questions to Consider What are you/your agencies doing to work with and engage grandparents raising grandchildren? What barriers have you/your agency experienced? How can the Commission help you/your agencies?
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts Aunt/Uncle Aunt/Uncle Grandmother Grandmother Relative Caregiver Relative Caregiver Guardian Guardian Grandfather Grandfather Kinship Caregiver Kinship Caregiver
Video https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/raising-children-for-a-second- time-grandfamilies-struggle-during-the-pandemic
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, there are over 33,000 grandparents raising grandchildren with or without the biological parents present. Nearly 1/3 1/3 of these grandparents Are raising grandchildren without the biological Parents present. *That s over nearly 11,000 caregivers!
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren over the age of 60+ has been on the rise since 2010= 2010= 11,000 2013=13,500 2017= 14,500 In 2019 UMass Medical School Conducted a study on the impact of opioids on grandparents raising grandchildren. Part of the study included a survey in which 415 grandparents raising Grandchildren participated. 75% of survey participants were 75% of survey participants were over 55 years old over 55 years old * American Community Survey 2010-2017
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts Middlesex County: 5,198 Middlesex County: 5,198 49.5 % 60+ years old Worcester County: 4,374 Worcester County: 4,374 45% Essex County: 4,177 60+ years old 41 % 60+ years old Suffolk County: 3,797 41% 60+ years old * American Community Survey 2017
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts
Profile of a grandparent raising a grandchild in Massachusetts Other Significant Data: Other Significant Data: 66% are grandmothers 72 % are white; 13% are Black; 5% are Asian; 10% Other 49% of grandparents raising grandchildren age 60+ years old are doing have been doing so for 5 or more years
Lets Discuss Any surprises in the profile? Any other data that can you provide? Any other data you would be interested in?
Presenting Issues/Concerns 1. Financial Concerns 2. Legal Questions and Concerns 3. Respite 4. Support/Support Groups
Presenting Issues/Concerns 1. Financial Concerns/Services TAFDC child-only grants via DTA Child Care via DTA or DCF Foster Care Stipends via DCF Other: WIC, Child Support, SSI/SSDI
Presenting Issues/Concerns 1. Financial Concerns/Services TAFDC child-only grants via DTA The grandparent s income is NOT factored in to determine eligibility, only the child s income. In order to be eligible, the grandparent has to sign a consent for DOR to seek child support from the biological parent. If the grandparent is working and receiving this grant, the child is eligible for a child care voucher. DTA will help the grandparent apply for Masshealth for the child as well as SNAP. Card to Culture program applies to this grant.
Presenting Issues/Concerns 2. Legal Questions and Concerns Juvenile Court: DCF Probate and Family Court Finding a Lawyer Visitation Court Service Center H.4924 Right to Counsel
Presenting Issues/Concerns 3. Respite Self-Care for the Caregiver Child Care Camps/Classes/etc.
Presenting Issues/Concerns 4. Support/Support Groups There are over 50 GRG support groups in Ma. The Commission has a virtual GRG support group. Family Resource Centers ASAPs Learn to Cope, SADOD
Where are the Massachusetts support groups?
Where are the support groups? O Acton O Amherst O Arlington O Ashburnham O Athol O Attleboro O Billerica O Boston (6 groups!) O Bourne O Brockton O Brookfield O Charlton Martha s Vineyard Melrose New Bedford O Newton O North Adams O Northampton O Pittsfield O Plymouth O Quincy O Reading O Salem O Sandwich O Southbridge Chicopee O Springfield (2 groups) O Taunton O Turners Falls O Wakefield O Wareham O Webster O Westfield O Weymouth O Whitensvill e O Winchendo n O Worcester O O Falmouth O Fall River O Framingham (2 groups) O Franklin O Greenfield O Holyoke O Hyannis O Lawrence O Lowell O Lynn O Mansfield
Kinship Navigator www.mass.gov/kinship navigator
KINSHIP NAVIGATOR Kinship Navigator is a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that assists all kinship caregivers (grandparents and other relatives) with accessing services for themselves and the children they are raising
MISSION To assure all kinship caregivers in Massachusetts can easily find supportive services online and with the assistance from Kinship Navigator staff to help cultivate strong, stable and successful families
KINSHIP NAVIGATOR Kinship Navigator staff act as a point of contact for kinship caregivers statewide Kinship Navigator staff act as a point of contact for kinship caregivers statewide and their families. We assist with navigating services such as: and their families. We assist with navigating services such as: DTA TAFDC Child Only Grant DTA TAFDC Child Only Grant Department of Children and Families Department of Children and Families Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Kinship Navigator connects Kinship Navigator connects kinship caregivers to community resources caregivers to community resources including: including: kinship Family Resource Centers Family Resource Centers Massachusetts Grandparents Massachusetts Grandparents Commission Workshops Commission Workshops Support Groups Support Groups Food and Nutrition Assistance Food and Nutrition Assistance Childcare Childcare Legal Services Legal Services Mental Health and Counseling Mental Health and Counseling Support for kinship caregivers who Support for kinship caregivers who have a family members struggling have a family members struggling with substance misuse with substance misuse
Presenting Issues/Concerns What other issues/concerns are you hearing from grandparents raising grandchildren in your community?
How You Can Help Become familiar with GRG support Become familiar with GRG support groups in your community. groups in your community. O There are over 55 support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren throughout the state. O For a listing of all GRG support groups and contact information, visit www.massgrg.com O Connect grandparents to a support group.
How You Can Help Consider collaborating with a community partner to create Consider collaborating with a community partner to create and/or fund a GRG support group if one is not in your and/or fund a GRG support group if one is not in your community. community. O The Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren offers numerous trainings throughout the year for anyone interested in starting a GRG support group. O Partner with a community provider if unable to create one yourself. Question: How many of you are currently facilitating/collaborating/involved with a GRG support group?
How You Can Help Consider providing Consider providing scholarships/camperships/respite for scholarships/camperships/respite for caregivers caregivers O Grandparents raising grandchildren are in desperate need of respite opportunities. O Assisting a grand-family with a campership, funding for an art class or sports activity, or other activity for the grandchild provides a respite opportunity for the grandparent.
How You Can Help Network with GRG support group and Network with GRG support group and other community partners other community partners O Grandparents raising grandchildren are connected to various agencies that may not be familiar with your agencies (DCF, Family Resource Centers, etc.) O Reach out and connect with the support group and/or other agencies in your community for information sharing. O Offer to be a guest speaker at a GRG support group meeting to discuss the Family Caregiver Support Program.
What are you/your agencies doing to engage grandparents raising grandchildren? What barriers have you experienced? How can the Commission help?
The Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Contact Information: Colleen Pritoni, Director 600 Washington Street 6th Floor Boston, Ma. 02111 (617) 748-2454 www.massgrg.com Find us on Facebook at Find us on Twitter at @massachusettsgrg
