Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren: Tensions, Service Needs and Involvement with Child Welfare Agencies

Abstract

This qualitative study focuses on 22 grandparents who were raising their grandchildren and involved with child welfare agencies. We explored the tensions experienced by these grandparents, ways that child welfare agencies alleviate these tensions, and factors preventing grandparents from utilizing services. Tensions were grouped into 4 categories: feeling responsible for grandchildren; having limited financial resources; feelings toward the middle generation; and relationship with the child welfare agency. Grandparents received various types of support from child welfare agencies including help with child management, financial assistance, and emotional support. Factors discouraging utilization of services included the social worker's age, lack of trust, and agency policy. Our findings suggest that child welfare agencies need to examine their use of power and look at grandparents more as “consumers” than “clients,” in order to fully engage them in the helping process.