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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Melanie Goodman and Satya P. Rao, PhD, CHES. Health Science, New Mexico State University, P. O. Box 30001, MSC 3HLS, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, 505-649-0104, phdsatya@aol.com

The issue of grandparents raising grandchildren is a growing social phenomenon. The U.S. Census Bureau (2003) indicates that in the year 2002, 4.5 million of the nation's children were living in grandparent-headed households and approximately 2.4 million individuals were raising their grandchildren. Outpacing the nation as a whole, the number of New Mexico's children living with their grandparents has increased by approximately 45% since 1990 (Voices for Children and Families, 2004). New Mexico now ranks 6th in the nation for the number of children living in grandparent-headed households (approximately 8.1% of all children); and slightly over half of these children are living there without either parent present (American Association of Retired Persons [AARP], 2005). The current exploratory research examined the circumstances in which grandparents in a U.S.-Mexico border community assumed custodial care of their grandchildren and the socio-cultural factors that contributed to and sustained their decision. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with grandparents and grandchildren, a data collection methodology considered appropriate for work with disempowered, marginalized, and isolated people and communities. An analysis of themes from the grandparents' interviews revealed cross-cultural differences in how grandparents perceived, understood, and found meaning in their new role as caregivers and how they coped with the transition to become full-time custodial caregivers. The study findings focus on the themes from grandparents' interviews along with specific references from interviews with the grandchildren.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the growing trend of grandparents raising grand children.
• Analyze the factors that contribute to the above mentioned trend.
• Discuss the cross-cultural differences in why and how grandparents raise their grandchildren.

Keywords: Children, Participatory Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation