The Samuel Sadin Institute on Law of the Brookdale Center
On Aging of Hunter College received a grant from the Nathan Cummings
Foundation to establish a Grandparent Caregiver Law Center (the
"Center"). The Center was created to address the financial and legal
issues faced by grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their
grandchildren.
At a time when most grandparents have finished their child-rearing
responsibilities, some have become primary caregivers of their grandchildren.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 2.5 million families in the
United States consisted of grandparents caring for grandchildren in 1995;
out of that number, 911,000 were caring for grandchildren without the
parents in the home.
The number of grandparents caring for grandchildren continues to rise because of the absence of one or both of the parents due to AIDS, alcohol and substance abuse, incarceration, death, divorce, poverty and the increase in teen pregnancies. One of the major concerns of these
grandparents is the financial support of the grandchildren in their care. Some must return to the work place because of the added financial responsibilities of raising their grandchildren. Others are forced to leave their jobs because of lack of affordable child care. Still others spend their savings or suffer a reduction in their fixed incomes due to regulations which penalize them because they have assumed the care of their grandchildren.
Many legal barriers burden grandparents and other non-parents who are caring for children. This helpful chart outlines the elements that are needed to perform the task of child rearing and the various ways that laws and policies fail to assist informal caregivers, legal custodians, legal guardians, kinship foster parents, and adoptive parents.
In an attempt to address the legal and financial issues faced by
grandparents, the Center has produced the "HELP FOR GRANDPARENT CAREGIVERS" Guide, available now for free (click the link above for details). This helpful guide was published specifically for New York State grandparents and relative caregivers (aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc.) who are caring for their grandchildren. They address legal status issues, like guardianship, custody, health programs, Social Security, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about visitation, housing, education and medical consent.
Who Can Answer Questions?
Grandparent support groups can offer you information, support and a place to share your concerns with other grandparent caregivers. There are several grandparent support groups in New York State that provide support, information and company to grandparents careing for grandchildren. These support groups can be found by contacting school officials, health clinics, senior centers and other community social services agencies who work with the elderly, children and families.
To find out whether there is a grandparent support group near you, or to begin one, please contact:
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS (AARP)
Grandparent Information Center
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
TEL: (202) 434-2296
OR
THE GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
at the New York City Department for the Aging
2 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10013
TEL: (212) 442-1094
