Download or read book Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: The Parent Perspective written by Leah Anne Pigatti and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The phenomenon of grandparents raising grandchildren has dramatically increased during the past 30 years (DeToledo & Brown, 1995; Fields, 2003; Fuller-Thompson & Minkler, 2000; Hayslip & Kaminiski, 2005; Rinaldo, 2003). In an effort to address the challenges experienced by this new family system, government and community organizations have started to offer resources and support services to grandparent caregivers (DeToledo & Brown; Brintall-Peterson & Targ, 2005). Absent from research on the grand-family system has been the parent perspective. The current study explored the parental perspective using a basic interpretive qualitative inquiry. Sixteen non-custodial parents who had relinquished parenting responsibilities to grandparents were interviewed to describe their reasons for relinquishing custody as well as their relationships with grandparents, children, and other family members. Six themes were identified regarding non-custodial parent relationships with grandparents, children, and family members. Those themes were (a) personal problems precipitated losing custody of their children centered around drugs and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, or teen and single parenting challenges; (b) participants felt they had been forgotten in the grand-family system; (c) non-custodial parents were resolved to the grandparent caregiving situation as in the best interest of the child; (d) non-custodial parents experienced positive relationships with their children; (e) non-custodial parents experienced emotional ambivalence toward grandparent caregivers; and (f) relationships with siblings and other family members had not been negatively affected. A qualitative inquiry was also conducted to assess non-custodial parent experiences finding support systems from family, friends, and social services organizations. Four themes were identified in relating to this research. Those themes were (a) non-custodial parents felt forgotten in the grand-family system; (b) social service organizations were not seen as being helpful to non-custodial parents; (c) non-custodial parents were able to find support systems that were primarily informal and stemmed from their relationships with grandparents, other family members, and friends; and (d) non-custodial parents were able to identify resources and support services that they believe will benefit them in meeting future goals.