Parenting Your Grandchildren
The number of children in the United States being raised by their grandparents is astounding. The number has reached over 5 million or 7.7 percent of all children in the United States. It has been stated that the more children you have the greater your chances will be that you will be taking care of your grandchild at some time or another. The top reasons for this current dilemma :
- Parental illness (mental and physical).
- Abandonment by the parent.
- Teenage pregnancy.
- Substance abuse.
- Unemployment.
- Homelessness.
- Incarceration.
- Death of a parent.
- Divorce. Family violence.
- Child abuse and neglect.
- Poverty.
Because of the efforts of dedicated, caring advocates, today there is a great deal of help available for grandparents from social agencies. Help can be obtained from The AARP Grandparent Information Center, Generations United, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, GAP (Grandparents As Parents), and ROCKing (Raising Our Children's Kids). If you know of grandparents in your community or church who need assistance, please refer them to one of these groups.
