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Related Items New Law Supports Grandparents Raising Grandchildren The GrandFamilies House: A Home for Parenting Grandparents and Their Grandchildren Visit the Web site of the National Adoption Information Center for a list of resources related to grandparents raising grandchildren Search the documents database on the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Web site for information related to kinship care.

Recently released U.S. Census 2000 figures show that 2.4 million grandparents are singlehandedly raising their grandchildren. Many grandparents rearing grandchildren face challenges related to poverty, custody, child care, access to services, medical care, and more.

These "second-time-around" parents have a new place to turn for support. By visiting the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) website, they can connect with others facing similar issues. A database recently posted online and maintained by the AARP's national Grandparent Information Center, lists over 800 support groups for kinship care. By entering a zip code in the online search form, a list of groups in the visitor's area will be generated. These groups provide tips, ideas, and support and include the following types of programs:

• Support groups for grandparents or other relatives raising grandchildren
• Support groups for children being raised by grandparents or other relatives
• Grandparents' rights groups
• Agencies serving grandparents

Each database entry contains a brief description about the group's services and activities, such as frequency of meetings, newsletter, conferences, education, advocacy, and referral. A database registration form is available for leaders of support groups to register with the national database.

Access the database online at: http://www.aarp.org/Articles/a2004-02-23-grandparents_support_group_ search_form.html

For a table of Census 2000 Supplementary Survey data on grandparents responsible for raising grandchildren, with calculations by the Children's Defense Fund, visit: http://www.childrensdefense.org/data/census00/grandparents.asp

Contact information:

Amy Goyer
Program Coordinator
AARP Grandparent Information Center
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
Phone: 202-434-6470
Fax: 202-434-2296
Email: gic@aarp.org
Website: http://www.aarp.org/grandparents

Related Items

See the following related articles in the March/April 2001 Children's Bureau Express (http://www.calib.com/cbexpress):

• New Law Supports Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• The GrandFamilies House: A Home for Parenting Grandparents and Their Grandchildren

Visit the website of the National Adoption Information Center for a list of resources related to grandparents raising grandchildren (http://www.calib.com/naic/pubs/r_grand.cfm).

Search the documents database on the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information website (http://www.calib.com/nccanch) for information related to kinship care.