Show #395 Airing Sunday, 7/22/07
Some say the best part about having grandchildren is you get to spoil them, and then send them home. But more and more grandparents don't get that luxury. They actually have the hard task of raising grandchildren 24/7. Here to raise our awareness about grandchild raising resources is Bernardine Brooks, Deputy Director of Community Programs for the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services.
Question: How common is it for grandparents or other non-parental relatives to care for children?
Answer: Reasons children may be placed with grandparents or kin include abuse, neglect, a parent with substance abuse, or a parent in incarceration. We are also seeing the children of soldiers killed in Iraq being placed in the grandparents' custody as well.
Question: What special challenges do grandparents and other kinship guardians face?
Answer: Perhaps the biggest challenge facing grandparents and other relatives are financial issues. Many are living in poverty, and can't afford basics like shoes and clothes, let alone other opportunities for children like attending summer camp.
An interesting fact-if a child is placed in foster care, the foster parent receives $611 per child, plus medical insurance for them, supportive services, and case management. However, a grandparent receives a payment called OWF—$245/child, and for two children only $336. They also receive medical care, but not supportive services, case management or, say, money for school supplies, uniforms, etc.
We know that there is not enough money for equal funding for foster and grandparent caregivers; however, we hope to work for an increase of $300/child for grandparents. Thus far, we have been unsuccessful.
Question: Is there more money for unrelated foster parents than relatives because unrelated caregivers are better for kids?
Answer: No. Being placed with relatives gives the children the most stability, and the children in these situations do better overall. You really can't compare it.
Question: What's the grandparent/kinship care program?
Answer: We have navigators, who are social workers whose job is to identify kinship caretakers in the community and hook them up to benefits (many do not know they can receive OWF or medical benefits).
We offer supportive services. We offer legal workshops and consultations for caregivers.
Respite services can be used if the adult caregivers need a break, need to go to the store by themselves, etc.
We hold resource fairs for caregivers (next is Sept. 26th at the Myers Club).
And depending on the funding we have, we try to hold luncheons each month where attendees both receive a meal and education on topics important for kinship caregivers. We try to throw a holiday party in December. Last year we were able to have a back-to-school party.
If you are raising your grandchildren, you deserve to be congratulated. But more than that, you deserve support. So give the Grandparents/Kinship Care Program a call to learn more about their services. My thanks to Bernie Brooks.
