Use of Community and School Mental Health Services by Custodial Grandchildren

Abstract

We examined patterns and predictors of the perceived need, use, and unmet need for mental health services by custodial grandchildren within both the school-based and community-based delivery sectors. Data were self-reported by a national sample of 610 custodial grandmothers providing full-time care to grandchildren ages 6 to 17 in the absence of biological parents. Although overlapping use of services across both sectors was common, the overall use of school-based services (51%) was higher than that of community-based services (37%). Using theAndersen Social and Behavioral Model (1995) the following shared predictors of mental health service use across both sectors by custodial grand-families emerged: grandchildren’s externalizing symptoms, having other grandchildren in the household with medical or psychiatric diagnoses and corresponding use of services in the other sector. Predictors were largely the same regardless of whether analyses were conducted with families recruited by probability or convenience based sampling methods. Findings suggest the necessity to coordinate and integrate the availability and implementation of mental health services for custodial grandchildren across different delivery sectors.

Effects of Social Support and Volunteering on Depression Among Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

“…However, few studies have examined the stress-buffering effect of volunteering on psychological distress among grandparent caregivers. It is critically important to understand whether and how volunteer engagement helps mitigate psychological distress, because grandparent caregivers’ increased psychological distress is associated with poor parenting and family functioning, negative parent–child interaction, and grandchildren’s academic underachievement and behavioral problems (Kelley et al., 2000; Montoro-Rodríguez, Smith, & Palmieri, 2012). Furthermore, increased psychological distress of grandparent caregivers may reduce their physical and cognitive function and exacerbate health problems (Fuller-Thomson & Minkler, 2000; Waldrop & Weber, 2001).…”

Mental/behavioural health and educational outcomes of grandchildren raised by custodial grandparents: A mixed methods systematic review

“…computer support, legal support, support groups, financial assistance services, mental health services) for their grandchildren in their care (Fernandes et al, 2021 ; Letiecq et al, 2008 ; Montoro‐Rodríguez et al, 2012 ; Yancura, 2013 ), impacting the well‐being of grandchildren. For example, studies have indicated that grandparents' legal rights challenges, fear of the child welfare system and unawareness of relevant policies and resources significantly limited their access to financial assistance, mental health services, parenting services, afterschool programmes and other services for grandchildren in care (Fernandes et al, 2021 ; Letiecq et al, 2008 ; Montoro‐Rodríguez et al, 2012 ; Van Etten & Gautam, 2012 ). Lack of access to these services may reduce custodial grandchildren's quality of life, creating the potential for a greater risk of poor outcomes in the future.…”

Patterns of Enrollment and Engagement of Custodial Grandmothers in a Randomized Clinical Trial of Psychoeducational Interventions

“…Variations of this model have informed numerous health service utilization studies since the 1960s, including several on custodial grandfamilies per se (Montoro-Rodriguez, Smith, & Palmieri, 2012; G. C. Smith, Montoro-Rodriguez, & Palmieri, 2010; Yancura, 2013). According to Andersen, service use is affected by three broad characteristics: (a) predisposing factors that directly influence use (e.g., as age and gender), (b) enabling resources that assist or impede use (e.g., income and social support), (c) and need variables (e.g., clinical symptoms).…”

“…These questions are considered from the perspective of Andersen's (2008) behavioral model of health services use. Variations of this model have informed numerous health service utilization studies since the 1960s, including several on custodial grandfamilies per se (Montoro-Rodriguez, Smith, & Palmieri, 2012;G. C. Smith, Montoro-Rodriguez, & Palmieri, 2010;Yancura, 2013).…”