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GRANDPARENTS & GRANDCHILD REARING.   Term Paper ID:28295 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Reasons, problems, suggested solutions. Research study of Hispanic grandparents, data analysis, 1 Table.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Reasons, problems, suggested solutions. Research study of Hispanic grandparents, data analysis, 1 Table. Paper Introduction: Statement of the Problem As America's population ages, any number of important issues are emerging that require the development of new insights, assistance strategies, and effective interventions. For example, Markides and Mindel (1987) have noted that older Americans, regardless of ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, encounter physical, emotional, social, financial, and familial problems that are often difficult to resolve or address. Angel and Angel (1997) also comment that one of the most difficult issues faced by older Americans is related to the question of who will provide them with care or support; simultaneously, many grandparents find themselves faced with the necessity of providing care or assuming custodial responsibility for grandchildren. Recently, a growing number of grandparents have assumed Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Roe and Minkler (2 ) have pointed out that thenumber of these "skipped generation" families are growing at a rapid rateand that more than one in ten grand parents (1 .9 percent) are at somepoint responsible for raising a grandchild for at least six months or more. Statement of the Problem As America's population ages, any number of important issues areemerging that require the development of new insights, assistancestrategies, and effective interventions. Solutions to these problems have been proposed by social workers andresearchers alike. Given these considerations, the research hypothesis to betested in this study is stated as follows: Hispanic grandparents caring for dependent grandchildren reporting substantial unmet service needs and exhibiting a lack of knowledge about service use will have significantly lower acculturation levels than Hispanic grandparents caring for dependent children with higher educational and income levels.Using a purposive sample of 37 middle-aged and older Latinos, data werecollected from among a population of 5 year-old or older Latinos (malesand females) served by community social work agencies who identifiedthemselves at intake as caring for dependent grandchildren or great-grandchildren. However, when educational attainmentand language competency as a measure of acculturation were subjected toPearson's correlation analysis, a high level of correlation was determined. Basic statistical analysis (including frequency distributions andpercentages) was performed on the data. Ten subjects of 27. (1995). Independent variablesincluded: economic status, health status of caretaker, life stressors,informal supports, and language acculturation. In addition toproviding prevention assistance, such programs should also include avariety of support and assistance initiatives to ease financial, medical,and other difficulties experienced by grandparents. When the patterns of barriers to service use were analyzed, severalinteresting data emerged. Burnette (1999) states that the service needs ofgrandparent caretakers often overlap with those of foster care providers.These needs include financial support, parent skills training, preventiveand restorative health and mental health services for children, trainingfor care of children with special needs, and child care and respite forgrandparents who work. Landry-Meyer(1999) believes that the problem will continue to grow because of increasesin single-parent homes, drug abuse, and other social ills. years. Generations,22(4), 25-33. The hypothesis was accepted, indicating that such sociodemographicvariables as educational and income levels and language competency do exertsignificant influence upon the capacity of Hispanic grandparents to obtainneeded services for themselves and their dependent grandchildren. Research into action: Recommendedintervention strategies for grandparent caregivers" Family Relations,48(4), 381-39 . Therapy that includes family and individualcounseling should be considered, particularly when the family is in crisisor when special needs children are present in the home. M. Whenincome level was correlated with acculturation, an r coefficient of .51 (p<. These efforts may ameliorate but will most probably noteliminate the problem, which is said by Burnette (1999) to be of specialsignificance in already stressed poor or less affluent ethnic families andcommunities.Research Hypothesis Burnette (1999), in a similar study, hypothesized that acculturationlevel, measured as self-assessed ability to speak, read and write Englishand Spanish, would have a direct bearing on Latino grandparents' abilityand willingness to obtain support and assistance from social work orservice agencies and others providing for grandparents and their dependentgrandchildren. Burnette, D. Angeland Angel (1997) also comment that one of the most difficult issues facedby older Americans is related to the question of who will provide them withcare or support; simultaneously, many grandparents find themselves facedwith the necessity of providing care or assuming custodial responsibilityfor grandchildren. 12.2 Could not affordGrandchild counseling 52.7 8.1 Language barrierLegal assistance 4 .5 25.7 Did know about serviceGrandparent health 85.1 14.9 Language barrierGrandparent counseling 45.9 12.2 Language barrierMarital/family counseling 9.5 13.5 Language barrierGrandparent support 41.9 39.2 Did not know group about service Language barrierParent skills training 1 .1 32.4 Did not know about service/ Language barrierPublic assistance 71.6 1 .8 Did know about serviceFoster care 3.5 8.9 Did not know about service/ Language barrierNutrition assistance 82.4 13.5 Did not know about service/ Not eligibleCrisis intervention 17.5 34.9 Did not know about service These data indicate that when asked to identify the reasons for nothaving their service needs met, both a lack of knowledge and perceivedlanguage or cultural barriers were most frequently reported as impedimentsto service use. Included were age of the subjects, years in theUnited States, gender, national origin, marital status, level of education,and annual household income. Twelve subjects or32.5 percent reported annual income between $7,5 and $1 ,499, with 8subjects (21.6 percent) indicating family income of $1 ,5 to $13,499. Analysis of the data revealed that the average age of the subjectswas 63.1 years with a standard deviation of 7. For example, Markides and Mindel(1987) have noted that older Americans, regardless of ethnicity, gender,socioeconomic status, encounter physical, emotional, social, financial, andfamilial problems that are often difficult to resolve or address. (1999). References Angel, R.J., and Angel, J.L. As of 1997, inthe United States, 5.5 percent of all children under the age of 18, or atotal of 3.9 million children lived in a household maintained by theirgrandparents (Futurist, 1999). This researcherrecommends new emphasis on parenting skills programs and earlyinterventions for young parents and other parents assessed as being at-riskfor losing or giving up custody of their children by social work agencies.For grandparents, the needs listed above provide the direction forintervention services. and Mui, A.C. A rating of one indicated goodcompetency, while a rating of two suggested fair competency and a rating ofthree indicated poor competency. On average, thesubjects had been in the United States for 35.1 years with a standarddeviation of 13.6 years. Data were then subjected tocorrelation analysis using Pearson's r correlation coefficient and acorrelational matrix of independent variables. In essence, these data permit acceptance of the research hypothesis.Those Hispanic grandparents who reported a substantial number of unmetservice needs also tended to exhibit a lack of knowledge about serviceavailability. Of the 37 subjects, 31 or 83.8 percent werefemale, while 6 or 16.2 percent were male. Harrison, Richman, and Vittimberga (2 ) also believe that inindividual counseling for grandparents is essential. Household income data were also revealing. (1997). Recently, a growing number of grandparents have assumed parentalroles when their own children are deemed an unfit parent or when otherfamily circumstances require the transfer ofchild care from a parent to a grandparent (Landry-Meyer, p. The second part of the interview consisted ofpresenting subjects with a listing of services which have been identifiedin the literature (Burnette, 1999; Burnette & Mui, 1995; and Wallace,Campbell, & Lew-Ting, 1994). Journalof Gerontology, 49, S253-S263.----------------------- 14 381). Wallace, S.P., Campbell, K., and Lew-Ting, C.Y. This correlation wasbetween self-reporting of unmet service needs and, simultaneously, betweenself-reported lack of knowledge about service use and acculturation. 1) was also revealed. The study was based uponwork completed by Burnette (1999) of a similar nature.Description of Interviews The interviews began with questions focused on a number ofsociodemographic items. Harrison, Richman, andVittimberga (2 ) note that grandparents often face financial, social,legal, educational, and physical challenges in caring for theirgrandchildren. Table I Patterns and Barriers to Service Use (In percent)Service Used Services Unmet Need Main ReasonChild special health 32.4% 4.1% Did not know about serviceSpecial Ed/tutoring 27. Aging and Ethnicity.Newbury Park: SAGE. Social Work, 44(1),22-35. Atotal of 6 subjects or 16.2 percent reported income between $13,5 and$16,499, while 7 subjects (18.9 percent) claimed incomes of $16,5 ormore. This also supports the assertion that there is acorrelation between income level and acculturation expressed as linguisticcompetence in English. Roe and Minklerbelieve that although the duration of intergenerational residents varies byrace, class, region, and other factors, almost three-quarters of childrenwho come into the care of a grandparent do so when they are infants orpreschoolers. The study also asked the subjects to assess their ownability to speak, read, write, and understand English. Interventions at the community and societal level have beenidentified by Roe and Minkler (1998/1999). Grandparents raisinggrandchildren: Challenges and responses. These issues included child special healthneeds, children's educational and tutoring needs, counseling, legalassistance, health services and counseling for grandparents, marital andfamily counseling, grandparental support groups, respite care services,parental skills training, public assistance and nutrition financing, fostercare and homemaker services, and special crisis intervention servicesincluding drug abuse and AIDS education. Grandparents facepersonal issues related to health and aging which are made more difficultwhen new family responsibilities are acquired. Any number of problems have been identified that impact upongrandparents and the children they care for. Who Will Care for Us?New York: New York University Press. Additionally, crisis intervention services, legalassistance, permanency planning, and skills to manage new familyrelationships and roles are identified by Burnette (1999) as among theneeds of grandparents facing the care of dependent young children. These researchers contend thatschool-centered and community social work agency support systems must becreated that simultaneously address the needs of at-risk parents andgrandparents who assume child care responsibilities. Further, Burnette (1999) has argued (basedon empirical evidence generated by a series of studies) that grandparentswho are members of ethnic or racial minority groups (e.g., Hispanics andAfrican-Americans) may be more likely than whites to face caring forgrandchildren for prolonged periods of time and to encounter numeroussupport or assistance needs as well as barriers to obtaining suchassistance. Harrison, K.A., Richman, G.S., and Vittimberga, G.L. A second correlation analysis was performed. Anonymous. Of the sample, 16or 43.2 percent indicated that they were currently married while 21 or 56.8percent stated they were either widowed, divorced, or separated. These same respondents also exhibited significantlyacculturation levels than Hispanic grandparents with higher educational andincome levels. The problems associated with this trend areof some significance. (1999). Based on these responses,data could be analyzed by identifying unmet service needs, used services,and reasons for the unmet needs.Data Analysis The study hypothesized that level of acculturation would besignificantly related to self-reporting of substantial unmet service needsand a lack of knowledge about service availability among Hispanicgrandparents caring for dependent children with respect to such keyindicators as education and income levels. Burnette (1999) has noted that 1 percent of all custodialgrandparents in the United States are Hispanic and that many of thesegrandparents regularly experience significant difficulties in achieving thekinds of assistance needed to help in caring for young children. Custodial grandparents in Latino families:Patterns of service use and predictors of unmet needs. The elderly As Caregivers. This is particularly troublesome when the elderlyfind themselves confronted with assuming responsibilities for the care ofgrandchildren and even great-grandchildren. What is newis the rapid growth of this phenomenon, with a close to 44 percent increasein the number of children living with grandparents and other relativesbetween 198 and 199 . (2 ). The involvement of thejudicial system and law enforcement agencies is also important. Eliminating the problem is difficult, given its causes. The following table presents a summary of thesedata. Most subjects (32, or 86.5percent) stated that their country of origin was Mexico. However, African-American children arefour to five times more likely than non-Hispanic white children to beliving in kinship care households. 1. Because of their importanceas caretakers, grandparents should be the focus of structured interventionefforts. This inturn suggests that members of the helping professions need to conduct morecomprehensive outreach programs to identify at-risk clients and to developmore effective and accessible service support systems. (1998/1999). Respondents were asked to use one of the aforementioned statements toidentify their attitudes toward, knowledge of, or perceived barriers toobtaining each of the services listed above. percent identified themselves as high schoolgraduates while 8 subjects or 21.6 percent indicated having attendedcollege, graduated from a two-year or four-year program, or participated insome form of post-secondary education or training. Since many children who arelegally remanded to the custody of grandparents or informally left in thecare of grandparents exhibit educational, developmental, and socialdisorders, the tasks of grandparents can be quite complex (Harrison,Richman, & Vittimberga (2 ). A simple three-point Likert-type scale was used to identify self-perceptions of competencyon these three language functions. The Pearson's r value was .43, with a p value of <. Landry-Meyer, L. Individual andfamily counseling involving grandparents, their grandchildren, and absentparents is also recommended by Landry-Meyer (1999) and Harrison, Richman,and Vittimberga (2 ). Nationally, more than half of grandparent caregivers are married (54percent) and 77 percent are women. Interviews gathered socioeconomic and other data, andpresented subjects with a listing of service needs and options to whichsubjects responded via a series of option statements (e.g., "did not knowof service," "could not afford service," "not eligible for service,""language/culture barrier to service." etc.). Markides, K.S., and Mindel, C.H. Structuralbarriers to the use of formal in-home services by elderly Latinos. (1999). (1994). About 6.5 percent of Hispanic children,4.1 percent of white children, and 13.5 percent of African-Americanchildren live with grandparents or other relatives. Of the sample, 4 subjectsof 1 . In other words, therelationship to be examined was between educational and income levels aspredictors of acculturation levels and knowledge about services and levelsof service use. Many grandparents lack the support resources needed tofacilitate helping with the increased stress of caring for youngerchildren, many of whom can be troubled, disturbed, requiring physical orpsychological or educational assistance. Parentalstress in grandparents versus parents raising children with behavioralproblems." Journal of Family Issues, 21(2), 262-271. With respect to education, 7 of the subjects or 18.9 percent reportedand education that terminated between the fourth and seventh grade. Referral systems and support networks should be created withintarget communities to provide such services and conduct outreach efforts toidentify potential service recipients, their needs, and related serviceinitiatives. (1987). Hispanic-Americans face special difficulties in obtaining access tonecessary support services and are a growing subpopulation within theUnited States. Wheneducation and income were considered as a single factor, correlationanalysis revealed an r coefficient of .47 (p < 1). Over 4 percent remain for a period of five or more years.Finally, Roe and Minkler (2 ) claim that older children and those livingin the South have a greater likelihood of living with grandparents. Roe, and K. Landry-Meyer (1999) maintains that increasing theavailability and accessibility of affordable child care including schoolage and respite care services is critically important. The study providesguidance on critical issues related to this important research question. In-home and community-basedservice use by three groups of elderly Hispanics: A national perspective.Social Work Research, 19, 197-2 6. Futurist,33(9), 13. This suggests astatistically significant relationship between educational attainment andacculturation and therefore supports one aspect of the hypothesis. Acculturation levels are therefore regarded as significantdeterminants of whether or not Hispanic grandparents caring for dependentgrandchildren will receive or even know about the various supportiveservices that can assist them in coping with a potentially difficultsituation.Summary and Conclusions Angel and Angel (1997) have commented that for members of ethnic andracial minority groups, the processes of aging and the various crises ofaging are a cause for concern to social workers. The present study has demonstrated that Hispanic grandparents caringfor dependent grandchildren who report substantial unmet service needs andexhibit a lack of knowledge about service availability appear to havesignificantly lower acculturation levels (with respect to languagecompetency) than Hispanic grandparents with higher educational and incomelevels. Burnette, D. Although media accounts have tended to focus on single, low-income,African-American women raising their grandchildren, Roe and Minkler (2 )contend that recent national studies suggest that the typical grandparentraising a grandchild is a white, married woman living above the povertyline. Twelvesubjects or 32.4 percent reported completing eighth grade and "some" highschool. This in turn suggeststhat as educational and income levels increase, acculturation levels alsoincrease, leading to a lower level of unmet service needs and a higherlevel of personal knowledge about service availability and use. Angel and Angel (1997)also have argued that among ethnic minorities, any number of special issuesrelated to socioeconomic status, acculturation, barriers to service, andlinguistic competency or acculturation can negatively impact upon thestatus of the elderly. percent claimed incomes under $7,5 per year. Thistrend has been associated with a number of conditions including nonmaritalchild bearing, increases in substance abuse, mental illness and socialproblems, incarceration, and divorce (Landry-Meyer, 1999). The response average was 2.1, suggestingthat most of the sample perceived themselves to speak, read, write, andunderstand English fairly or well. Roe and Minkler (1998/1999) have noted that grandparents raisinggrandchildren is not new and that grandparents have often been required tostep in and care for grandchildren in times of family crisis. and Minkler, M. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.