Sociology 412 Martin Lecture 14: April 14, 2009.

1. Sociology 412 (Martin)Lecture 14: April 14, 2009. Grandparents raising grandchildren demographic patterns possible explanations possible effects Relevant Readings: Casper and Bianchi Chapter 6.

2. Grandparents raising grandchildren What would life be like as a grandchild raised by grandparents? positive aspects negative aspects What would life be like as a grandparent raising grandchildren? positive aspects negative aspects

3. One negative side of grandparent-grandchild coresidence: necessity “Who is there to care when the parents won’t or can’t ? Grandparents!” As traditional families become more unstable… there are more grandparent-grandchild families grandparent-grandchild families become poorer

4. Challenges faced by Grandparent-headed households: Economic strains Health and mental health concerns for grandparents and grandchildren School enrollment difficulties for children Isolation from peers for grandparents Growing state reliance on grandparent-headed households.

5. More children are living with grandparents Percent of grandchildren living in grandparents’ home: year percent(total) percent(no parents) 1970 3.2 % 1.4 % 1980 3.6 1.6 1992 4.9 1.3 1997 5.5 1.8 Source: US Census Bureau

6. Race differences in living with grandparents Percent of grandchildren living in grandparents’ home (1997): race/ethnicity percent(total) nh white 4.1 % nh black 13.5 hispanic 6.5 Source: Lugaila 1998, Minkler 1999.

7. Distribution of families with coresident grandparents and grandchildren Type Number (1997) parent-maintained families 1,540,000 both grandparents 16 % grandmother only, both parents 41 % grandmother only, one parent 26 % grandfather only 17 % grandparent-maintained families 3,890,000 both grandparents, some parents 32 % both grandparents, no parent 15 % grandmother only, some parents 29 % grandmother only, no parent 17 % grandfather only 6 %

8. More on grandparent-maintained families (1997) Total number 3,890,000 Number of earners in household 0 14 % 1 27 % 2 28 % 3+ 30 % Indicators of poverty (general population) no health insurance 33 % 15 % family income below poverty 27 % 21 % receiving public assistance 56 % 36 %

9. Variation in grandparent-maintained families Grandparent-maintained families with both grandparents and some parents tend to do fairly well. low poverty rates high proportions with three earners (59 %) still, above average proportions with public assistance and no health care. Families with grandmother and no parent have the most difficulties 63 % in poverty 84 % on public assistance

10. Possible explanations for increases in grandparent-grandchild coresidence 1.) Societal changes Declining mortality (in the long term) High divorce rates and rates of nonmarital childbearing. Persistent teen fertility rates drug abuse: incapacitation, incarceration, HIV/AIDS. (When mothers are incarcerated, 51% of children live with grandparents)

11. Possible explanations for increases in grandparent-grandchild coresidence 2.) Changes in child welfare policy. More placement of foster children with relatives More reimbursement of foster care payments to relatives (Miller vs Youakim, 1979) More changes as a result of 1996 welfare reform: the federal government no longer guarantees support to low income children and their caretakers, but does require mothers to work. (This is a complicated issue, and researchers are studying how TANF affects living arrangements)

12. Possible questions for final exam 1.) Identify three challenges faced by grandparent-headed households. 2.) Describe racial and ethnic differences in percentages of children living with grandparents, and in the types of grandparent-maintained families. 3.) Describe variation in the economic well-being of grandparent-maintained families. 4.) Why are more grandchildren living with grandparents?