Purdue News

October 1, 1999 Conference on grandparents raising grandchildren Source: Dena Targ, (765) 494-2937, targd@cfs.purdue.edu WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Information on new legislation, support groups and services for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren will be presented Oct. 7 during a conference at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Four sessions on "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" will be presented as part of the three-day Indiana Governor's Conference on Aging and In-Home Services. The Oct. 7 workshops for grandparents are a coordinated effort of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Bureau of Aging and In-Home Services. The sessions will focus on legal and financial questions, dealing with stress, and the importance of support groups. "These workshops are going to provide a lot of information that will be helpful to a lot of people," said Dena Targ, Cooperative Extension family life specialist at Purdue and member of the advisory committee for the 1999 Governor's Conference. "Professionals will have the opportunity to learn new information that will help them serve their clients better. Grandparents and other relatives will also be exposed to a broader scope and depth of information than is usually offered." The sessions are open to professionals, grandparents and others interested in this topic. The on-site registration cost is $50 for the day. For additional information about the full three-day conference on aging, contact Janice Miller at (317) 232-7120 or (800) 545-7763, or visit the conference Web site. The number of children living in homes maintained by a grandparent has increased from 2.3 million in 1980 to 3.9 million in 1997, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Targ said there are several reasons for this nationwide increase. "Widespread problems associated with the parents of the grandchildren is one of the main reasons we have seen such a large increase," Targ said. "These problems include substance abuse, child abuse, neglect and abandonment, incarceration, divorce, teen-age parenthood, HIV/AIDS, unemployment, and psychological problems. Also, many grandparents assume care of their grandchildren due to the death of the parent or parents." In an effort to provide support and services for the challenges these grandparents face, several efforts are under way across the state. Among them: In Perry County, a duplex housing complex is being constructed with a $160,000 Housing and Urban Development grant. This special housing addition is designed specifically for grandparents who are raising grandchildren. The Indiana Family and Social Service Administration, in conjunction with Purdue's Extension Service, has received a $10,000 grant for the development of several new support groups for relative caregivers statewide. Organization of these groups is expected within the next two years. As a result of the large number of children living with relatives other than their parents, specifically grandparents, the Indiana legislature has passed a new custody law. It states that if a person has been the primary caregiver for a child, or has de facto custody, that person will be allowed to participate in child custody hearings. Also, if it is in the best interest of the child, then custody of that child will be awarded to the de facto caregiver. "In the past, relatives wanting custody of a child had to prove that the parent was unfit," Targ said. "This was a traumatic experience for everyone involved – the parent, child and relative. This new law allows the de facto caregiver, whether it is a grandparent or other relative, to become a part of the process." Writer: Samantha Cain, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page