Numbering more than 2.4 million, custodial grandparents in the United States are 60% more likely to be poor than are noncustodial grandparents. Social inequities that accompany marginal income compound child-rearing challenges faced by kinship families. Empowerment is proposed as a framework to inform research, program development, and advocacy on behalf of custodial grandparents to promote collective and self-efficacy in problem solving, mediate negative health effects of stress, and participate in collective action and advocacy. Empowerment components at the individual, organizational, and community levels are outlined. Four empowerment practice models with custodial grandparents are reviewed, including a case study. Implications for professionals in human services are discussed.
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