This article by David Pitcher describes research undertaken to understand the needs of grandparents who take on the care of their grandchildren following abuse or neglect. Thirty-three families were interviewed between February and April 1999. Most of them had substantial involvement with social services in placement, assessment and support. The study concluded that many grandparent carers experience a sense of isolation from their families and friends, and feel that social services have left them to get on without clear channels for help. It also revealed the real delight many carers have in their grandchildren, and suggested that this is a special quality of these placements. The article ends by describing local developments that have resulted from the study.
DubowitzH, ‘A profile of kinship care’, Child Welfare72:2, pp 153–69, 1993.
8.
GarberB, ‘Parenting responses in the divorce and bereavement of a spouse’, in CohenCohlerWeissman (eds), Parenthood: A Psychodynamic perspective, New York: Guilford Press, 1984.
9.
HayslipBShoreJHendersonC ELambertP L, ‘Custodial grandparenting and the impact of grandchildren with problems on role satisfaction and role meaning’, Journey of Gerontology: Social Sciences53B: 3, pp 51–510, 1998.
10.
HegarR L, ‘The cultural roots of kinship care’, in HegarR LScannapiecoM (eds), Kinship Foster Care: Policy practice and research, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
11.
InceL, ‘Kinship care and black family preservation’, Address given at Kinship Care: A national conference, 10 December 2001.
12.
KennedyJKeeneyV, ‘Group psychotherapy with grandparents rearing their emotionally disturbed grandchildren’, Group11:1, pp 15–25, 1987.
Le ProhnN S, ‘The role of the kinship foster parent: a comparison of the role conceptions of relative and non-relative foster parents’, Children & Youth Services Review16:1–2, pp 65–84, 1994.
15.
LiddyL, ‘The self-image of the child placed with relatives’, Smith College Studies in Social Work40:2, pp 164–176, 1970.
16.
MinklerMRoeK, Grandmothers as Caregivers: Raising the children of the crack cocaine epidemic, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1993.
17.
PitcherD, ‘Assessing grandparent carers: a framework in kinship care’, in BroadB (ed), Kinship Care: Placement choice or social agenda?, Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing, 2001.
