Convenient Yet Neglected: The Role of Grandparent Kinship Carers

Abstract

Grandparents are increasingly involved in the care and protection of grandchildren. The qualitative Australian study reported here explored how contact between grandparents and their grandchildren could be optimised after child safety concerns. Interviews and focus groups with 77 participants were undertaken in 2016. In total, 51 grandparents and aunties in grand parenting roles, 12 parents, 6 foster carers and 8 child protection workers participated in this study. Of the 51 participants in grandparent roles, 20 were kinship carers. This article specifically reports on emerging findings regarding grandparents as kinship carers.Key findings reveal that many grandparents were willing to step into the carer role and many wanted to stay connected to grandchildren, however overall, they received little support.Findings identified the stresses and the fragility of the care arrangements and that at times providing kinship care could endanger carers. Overall, findings point to a perceived notion of kinship care implemented as a cost-effective alternative to foster care that leaves grandparents without the required support and resources. It is recommended here that grandparents receive greater recognition as kinship carers, and that child protection systems increase familyinclusive practices that provide better support and resources to kinship carers. Implication statement• Social work practitioners need to work holistically with the extended families to achieve better outcomes for children in child protection• Grandparents as kinship carers need to be supported and resourced to undertake this complex task• When grandparents are not able to be kinship carers their involvement in decision making can benefit children in care KeywordsChild protection; grandparents; grandparents as carers; kinship care Emerging literature suggests that kinship care increasingly is sought as a care option for children, often in light of insufficient foster care and residential placements and to maintain family and cultural connections (Fernandez, 2014). While data is not available for all Australian States, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] reports that 48% of kinship carers in 2015-16 were grandparents, while 22% were uncles/ aunts (AIHW, 2017). However, the situation is complex. Earlier research reported that, after some grandparents had contacted child protection services to help safeguard grandchildren, one outcome was reduced or lost contact or denied access to their grandchildren (Gair, 2017;Rigby, et al., 2015). Other grandparents experienced a cyclic pattern of maintained contact with grandchildren, followed by limited or lost contact with their grandchildren that, on occasions, was resumed (Gair, 2017).Many grandparents are motivated to take on kinship care of their grandchildren when there are child protection concerns to protect and provide for their family, and for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers this role is a part of cultural responsibilities (Milosevic, et al., 2009). This article re...

Regulating the traditional kinship care practice in Ghana: Reflections from young people with kinship care experience

“…The lack of financial resources makes kinship caregiver's responsibilities difficult because most of them are grandparents with no sources of regular income. Evidence from Australia and Ireland suggest that grandparents are mostly excluded from State welfare support and child protection decisions (O'Leary & Butler, 2015; Zuchowski, Gair, Henderson, & Thorpe, 2019). In addition to their financial challenges, caregivers face additional constraints of having to provide care for their biological children as well as those in their care, which compound their situation (Farmer, 2010; Malinga‐Musamba, 2015).…”

Socioeconomic deprivation and social capital in kinship carers using a helpline service

“…Kinship carers by contrast are more likely to become carers because of the immediate needs of a family member, and despite government legislation (e.g. Scottish Government, 2007), generally receive little if any professional or financial support (Zuchowski, Gair, Henderson, & Thorpe, 2019). It is estimated that in Scotland specifically, 76% of kinship care arrangements are informal, with no oversight or support by statutory services (Kidner, 2016).…”

Stepping Up and Stepping In: Exploring the Role of Nurses in Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

“…Grand-families are established for many reasons including parental mental illness, substance use disorders, incarceration, long-distance employment separation, young maternal age, physical disability, and death ( Avery & Novoa, 2022 ; Choi et al, 2016 ; Lefebvre & Rasner, 2017 ; Martin et al., 2021 ; Murray et al., 2022 ; Van Etten & Gautam, 2012 ). Grand-families are associated with positive outcomes for the grandchild; however, studies have shown an increased risk of negative psychological and physical outcomes for the grandparents ( Chan et al, 2019 ; Hadfield, 2014 ; Zuchowski et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Many grand-families do not have formal legal guardianship agreement. The reasons for this include grandparent fears about being assessed by a social worker and being viewed as an unfit guardian and as such, having their grandchild being lost to the foster system; high legal costs related to applying for formal guardianship; and estrangement from their adult children ( Avery & Novoa, 2022 ; Choi et al, 2016 ; Hadfield, 2014 ; Lewis & Seponski, 2012 ; Lewis et al., 2018 ; Zuchowski et al., 2019 ). The lack of a formal guardianship agreement for a grandchild is problematic because the legal authority for decision-making remains with the parent who is no longer participating/acting in the role of primary caregiver to their child.…”

“…The lack of a formal guardianship agreement for a grandchild is problematic because the legal authority for decision-making remains with the parent who is no longer participating/acting in the role of primary caregiver to their child. This leads to challenges for grandparents as they may be the full-time caretaker to their grandchildren yet do not have the legal right to consent to care decisions that may be required for the child such as in the delivery of health care services ( Avery & Novoa, 2022 ; Choi et al, 2016 ; Hadfield, 2014 ; Lewis & Seponski, 2012 ; Lewis et al, 2018 ; Zuchowski et al, 2019 ).…”