Grandparents As Parents: A Workshop Model

Introduction | Teaching Points 1–3 | Teaching Points 4–6 | Teaching Points 7–9

Goal:

Custodial Grandparents will increase knowledge and skills regarding their role as “parents.” 

Objectives:

Participants will

1. Gain knowledge about the multiple issues involved in grandparents assuming a parent role.
   • Structures:
     • types of grandparent structures
     • grandparent/mother/child
     • shuttle child (child moved back and forth from parent to grandparent)
   • Understand circumstances that lead to the grandparenting again situation (economics, substance abuse, divorce, teen parents, incarceration, death)
   • Statistics – discuss overall numbers (figures are low) – many not being reported
2. Identify the critical parenting issues.
   • caring for yourself
   • adult child relationships
   • effective parenting practices
   • support for school, etc. 
3. Identify legal rights and responsibilities.
4. Identify effective community responses that support grandparents parenting again.
   • conducting a survey
   • doing community programming on this
   • setting up support groups
   • making resources available

Target Audience:

Family and Community Educators

Roll Call:

If something happened to your adult children tomorrow, and you were suddenly thrust into parenting again, what would your biggest concern be? Discuss various answers.

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Introduction | Teaching Points 1–3 | Teaching Points 4–6 | Teaching Points 7–9