Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Help for all relative caregivers of children
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                                                  In Delaware
  • Number of grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 years in households……................................. 18,645  +/-2,411
  • This number represents  7% of the state’s children under the age of 18.
  • The number children living in grandparent-headed households increased by 31% between 1990 and 2000.
  • Responsible for grandchildren ……..  7,241 +/-1,388
    Years responsible for grandchildren;
    Less than 1 year……............................... 1,345 +/-5641
    2 years…….................................................1,788     +/-67734
    4 years……...............................................  1,097    +/-5875
    more years …........................................… 3,011  +/-939
  • 40% of these grandparents are African American
  • 6% are Hispanic/Latino
  • 52% are White
  • 38% of these grandparents live in households without the children’s parents present
  • 73% are under the age of 60
  • 13.8% live in poverty
  • Characteristics of grandparents responsible for own grandchildren under 18 years;
  • Who are female …..................................…60.6%   +/-6.3
  • Who are married …....................................70.8%  +/-9.3
  • Sussex County

    GRANDPARENTS

    Number of grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 years in households

    2,427

    +/-829

    Responsible for grandchildren

    1,517

    +/-669

    Years responsible for grandchildren

    Less than 1 year

    243

    +/-196

    1 or 2 years

    278

    +/-223

    3 or 4 years

    353

    +/-342

    5 or more years

    643

    +/-409

     

    Characteristics of grandparents responsible for own grandchildren under 18 years

    Who are female

    72.1%

    +/-12.3

    Who are married

    61.7%

    +/-21.7

    •  Kent County

    GRANDPARENTS

    Number of grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 years in households

    4,353

    +/-1,119

    Responsible for grandchildren

    1,767

    +/-708

    Years responsible for grandchildren

    Less than 1 year

    404

    +/-300

    1 or 2 years

    711

    +/-505

    3 or 4 years

    348

    +/-350

    5 or more years

    304

    +/-244

     

    Characteristics of grandparents responsible for own grandchildren under 18 years

    Who are female

    60.8%

    +/-14.1

    Who are married

    73.6%

    +/-18.9

    New Castle County

    GRANDPARENTS

    Number of grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 years in households

    11,865

    +/-2,039

    Responsible for grandchildren

    3,957

    +/-975

    Years responsible for grandchildren

    Less than 1 year

    698

    +/-525

    1 or 2 years

    799

    +/-443

    3 or 4 years

    396

    +/-300

    5 or more years

    2,064

    +/-818

     

    Characteristics of grandparents responsible for own grandchildren under 18 years

    Who are female

    56.2%

    +/-7.0

    Who are married

    73.0%

    +/-11.5

     

Percent of Grandparents Responsible for their Grandchildren

Geography:  

Sussex County, Delaware

Estimate:  

62.5 Percent

Margin of Error:  

+/-14.2 Percent

 

(universe = 2,427 grandparents)


(Delaware: Estimate: 38.8 Percent ,
Margin of Error: +/-5.8 Percent)

 

Percent of Grandparents Responsible for their Grandchildren

Geography:  

Kent County, Delaware

Estimate:  

40.6 Percent

Margin of Error:  

+/-13.5 Percent

 

(universe = 4,353 grandparents)


(Delaware: Estimate: 38.8 Percent ,
Margin of Error: +/-5.8 Percent)

 

Percent of Grandparents Responsible for their Grandchildren

Geography:  

New Castle County, Delaware

Estimate:  

33.4 Percent

Margin of Error:  

+/-6.7 Percent

 

(universe = 11,865 grandparents)


(Delaware: Estimate: 38.8 Percent ,
Margin of Error: +/-5.8 Percent) *1  

  • According to the latest census figures,  6.7 million children in the United States are being raised by grandparents and other relatives. That's roughly one in 12 children, about 10 times the number of children in the U.S. foster care system. Despite these numbers, it's largely an epidemic hiding in plain sight. *1   
  •  Delaware does not currently have a subsidized guardianship program but continues to support families who participated in the federally-funded subsidized guardianship demonstration project." This was found on update fact sheets GIC. "The programs in Delaware and Maryland, formerly funded through Title IV-E waivers, have ended so no new children are being added to the programs, and state dollars are being used to fund the children already getting subsidized guardianship payments." This can be found on CDF 2004 report*2

     

Facts about Child Abuse

  • Child abuse cost taxpayers 96 billion per year 

  • Child abuse is reported every 10 seconds 

  • Children who are abused or neglected are 25 times more likely to repeat a grade in school   

  • 59% of children who are abused or neglected will enter the juvenile justice system

  • 30% will become violent offender as adults

  • 45% of abused children will become alcoholics

  • 85% of long term prisoners were abuse

  • 75% of high school dropout has a history of abuse in their family

  • 94% of sexual abuse goes unreported*3

Nationwide  More than 500,000 children are waiting for safe, permanent families. *4

Key facts Delaware Foster Care Only 97 (13%) left foster care to live with relatives or via guardianships.*5

Delaware's Current Foster Care Statistics 

    • Over 900 children in foster care
    • New  Castle County;  422
    • Kent County;  225
    • Sussex County;  155
    • There are only 280 Foster care Homes
    • New Castle County;  164
    • Kent  County ; 42 
    • Sussex County;  73  *6

  • Children in kinship care report more positive perceptions of their placements and have fewer behavioral problems.  Compared to children in non-relative foster care and those in group care, children in kinship care are: 
  •  More likely to report liking those with whom they live
    (93 percent vs. 79 percent [non-relative foster care] and 51 percent [group care]
  •  More likely to report wanting their current placement to be their permanent home (61 percent vs. 27 percent and 2 percent) 
  •  Less likely to report having tried to leave or run away
    (6 percent vs. 16 percent and 35 percent) 
  •  More likely to report that they “always felt loved”
     (94 percent vs. 82 percent [non-relative foster care]

                "In spite of the numerous benefits associated with kinship care, myths remain." 

            Myth: “The apple doesn't  fall far from the tree.”

"In fact, research shows that children living with relatives are no more likely—and are perhaps less likely—than children living with non-kin foster parents to experience abuse or neglect after being removed from their homes. A 1997 study found that non-kin foster parents were twice as likely as licensed kinship foster parents to have a confirmed report of maltreatment. Furthermore, Illinois found that children in kinship foster care are at lower risk for maltreatment than are children in either specialized or non-relative foster care."*7 


         Myth: “It’s your moral responsibility.” 

"Clearly, kinship caregivers agree. They take the responsibility of raising their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews when the children’s parents, for a variety of reasons, cannot. These caregivers lack neither morals nor a sense of responsibility; they do, however, lack resources. They may be living on a fixed income or be retired; whatever the reason, it is highly unlikely that they planned financially for raising a relative’s child. "*7

“Research debunks these old fears about the risk of placing children with kin.  In fact it tells us that many children benefit from living in relative care. Supporting kinship caregivers in their efforts to address thee needs of these children thus provides and opportunity to improve the lives of many children who have already experienced trauma."*7
 
"The United States Dept. of Agriculture est. that is cost at least $7,000 per year to raise a child. The vast majority of children living with relative caregivers are eligible for the TANF child only grant. However 70% of caregivers do not access TANF or any other public financial assistance. Even when they do access TANF, this assistance amounts to, on average, just over $4,000 per year that's just 57 % of the predicted amount to raise a child. *7 
 
CWLA,  Joining Forces for  Delaware's children 2006 " 59% of children whom have been abused will spend time involved with the juvenile justice system and 30% will become violent offenders. Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Blatz has said that 95% of our prison population had some form of contact with the formal foster care system.

"There is thereby a tremendous loss to society of potential productive workers and citizens. “Children age out of foster care – Children do not age out of family”*8

"We can do better for the children who live in Delaware" GrandParents United DE, Inc. will be posting a policy statement on our legislative page and a upcoming legislative bill regarding "Mandatory Notification"

 

 

SEE OUR NEW POLICY STATEMENT ON OUR LEGISLATAIVE PAGE


NEW 
03/18/08


GPU has signed on to the CWLA Campaign for a White House Conference on Children and Youth to take place in 2010. "This White House Conference on Children and Youth would be the first since 1970. Three decades have passed without the White House bringing the focus of the nation to examine the state of our children. CWLA is calling on Congress to authorize this conference so that the next President will convene a conference in 2010. We must once again use the power of the White House to organize a national conference on the welfare of our children to establish national goals for improvement in the subsequent ten years. "

"The fundamental purpose of the 2010 White House Conference on Children and Youth is to fulfill the nation's need for an overall vision in child welfare and to refocus an inspired understanding of the many facts we have at our disposal to put them into practice at this critical juncture. There has never before been the summation of knowledge and experience as what now lies before the 2010 conference. Now is the time to bring together the years of research and expertise that will make a difference in the lives of children if focused upon nationally. "

"A White House conference on Children and Youth is needed to focus the attention of the nation on the children who, after all, are our responsibility. The conference will examine the greatest needs and set the country on a path to reform. The commitment of the President and the power of the White House is needed to once again make vulnerable children a national priority and point the way to significant reform and improvements. "*9


References;
*1 U.S. Census  2000 & U..S. Census Bureau; Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2005 
*2 GIC & CDF 2004 REPORT
*3 Prevent Child Abuse, CWLA
*4 Kids Count
*5  data from AFCARS (2004), ASPE Claims Reports (2005), and ACF Budget Reports (2005). 
*6 Foster care presentation Delaware. gov
*7 Center for Law and Social Policy
*8 GrandFamilies of America 
*9 CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA










 

 

  

 

DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is provided by GrandParents United DE, Inc. for informational purposes only and is intended to be used as a guide You must consult with an attorney familiar with your specific legal situation. GrandParents United DE, Inc. is not engaged in rendering legal or nor do we intend this to be legal advice, and this form is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. If you require legal advice, you should seek the services of an attorney.

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