A Practitioner's Perspective on the Educational Implications of African American Children Raised in Grandparent-Headed Households

• In Event: 69.044 - Research and Scholarship From Within the Trenches

Abstract

There is nothing unusual about grandparents called upon to assist during a family crisis or time of trouble. What is new is the growing number of grandparents who are unexpectedly called on to take over as primary caregivers for their minor grandchildren. Hardy (2005) noted a 30% increase in the number of grandparents providing primary care for their grandchildren. This purpose of this study is to examine and interpret the educational implications of grand parenting practices of successful African American grandmothers in Urban communities. This practitioner perspective study examines a narrowly defined group of four non¬traditional families, i.e. grandmothers raising grandchildren who have completed high school and/or college. The grandmothers in this study were older than 45 years of age. These grandmothers are also responsible for making all decisions pertaining to the well being of grandchild (ren).

Author

• Andrea D. Cain, Texas A&M University - College Station