Advisory Council to Support 

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Background and Briefing Materials

Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 28 – Thursday, August 29, 2019

Location: Holiday Inn Capitol 

550 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20024
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Table of Contents 

Select Reports............................................................................................................................................... 2 

 Raising the Children of the Opioid Epidemic: Solutions and Supports for Grandfamilies (2018 Update). 2 

 Love Without Borders: Grandfamilies and Immigration (2018 Update) .................................................... 2 

 In Loving Arms: The protective role of grandparents and other relatives in raising 

 children exposed to trauma (2017 Update) .......................................................................................................2 

 The state of grandfamilies in America: Annual Report (2015 Update) ..........................................................3 

 Grand successes: Stories of lives well-raised......................................................................................................3 

Select Fact Sheets......................................................................................................................................... 3 

 African-American Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and 

 Culture......................................................................................................................................................................3 

 American-Indian and Alaska Native Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to 

 Family and Cultural Identity..................................................................................................................................3 

 ARCH Respite Grandfamilies Report - 9 Steps to Respite Care for Grandfamilies........................................3 

 National Family Caregiver Support Program......................................................................................................3 

 National Family Caregiver Support Program - Summary & Analysis...............................................................3 

Other Publications........................................................................................................................................ 3 

 Challenges and Resilience in African American Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Review of the 

 Literature with Practice Implications.................................................................................................................3 

 Child Welfare Information Gateway - Kinship Care...........................................................................................3 

 Family First - HHS Guidance...................................................................................................................................3 

 Family First Prevention Services Act - Brief Summary Implications for Grandfamilies.................................3 

 Frequently Asked Questions - National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards...........................4

 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: What Have We Learned Over the Past Decade................................4 

 Grand Voices Racial Equity Initiative - Elevating and Strengthening African American and Native 

 American Grandfamilies.........................................................................................................................................4 

 Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act........................................................................................4 

 Title IV-E Gap Programs: A Work in Progress......................................................................................................4 
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Select Reports 

1. Report Title: Raising the Children of the Opioid Epidemic: Solutions and Supports for Grandfamilies 

(2018 Update) 

Author: Generations United 

Download full document here: https://www.gu.org/resources/the-state-of-grandfamilies-in-america-2016/

Overview 

In this 2018 report, Generations United provides the latest updates on the opioid epidemic and its 

impact on grandfamilies; new findings regarding placement of children whose parents abuse alcohol or 

drugs; and updates on policy recommendations relating to two recently passed pieces of legislation. 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

2. Report Title: Love Without Borders: Grandfamilies and Immigration (2018 Update)

Author: Generations United 

Download full document here: https://www.gu.org/resources/the-state-of-grandfamilies-in-america2016/ 

Overview 

In this 2018 report, Generations United provides latest updates on the increased immigration 

enforcement and children being separated from their parents at the U.S. southern border, and the 

grandparents and other relatives who are stepping up to raise them. It provides updates on key findings 

and recommendations. 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

3. Report Title: In Loving Arms: The protective role of grandparents and other relatives in raising children 

exposed to trauma (2017 Update) 

Author: Generations United 

Download full document here: https://www.gu.org/resources/the-state-of-grandfamilies-in-america2016/

Overview 

In this 2017 report, Generations United provides updates on the protective role of grandparents and 

other relatives in raising children who have had adverse childhood experience, and provides updates on 

key findings and policy recommendations. 

______________________________________________________________________________ 
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4. Report Title: The state of grandfamilies in America: Annual Report (2015 Update) 

Author: Generations United 

Download full document here: https://www.gu.org/explore-our-topics/grandfamilies/state-ofgrandfamilies-in-america-annual-reports/

Overview 

In this 2015 report, Generations United provides updates on the evaluation of all 50 states and the 

District of Columbia based on the availability of laws and policies designed to address barriers and 

support the diverse and unique population of grandparents and other relatives raising children. It also 

provides updates on key findings and policy recommendations. 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

5. Report Title: Grand successes: Stories of lives well-raised 

Author: Generations United 

Download full document here: www.gu.org/resources/grand-successes-stories-of-lives-well-lived/

Overview 

In this report, Generations United examines the nature of grandfamilies in the U.S., profiles the success 

stories of individuals who were raised in grandfamilies, and provides recommendations on how to 

support members of a grandfamily. 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Select Fact Sheets 

1. African-American Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and Culture: 

www.gu.org/app/uploads/2018/07/AA-Grandfamilies-Fact-Sheet.pdf. 

2. American-Indian and Alaska Native Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to 

Family and Cultural Identity: www.gu.org/app/uploads/2018/07/AI-AN-Grandfamilies-Fact-Sheet.pdf.

3. ARCH Respite Grandfamilies Report - 9 Steps to Respite Care for Grandfamilies: 

https://archrespite.org/images/Caregiver_Fact_Sheets/9-Steps_Grandfamilies_web.pdf. 

4. National Family Caregiver Support Program: https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/news%202017-

03/National_Family_Caregiver_Support_Program2014.pdf.

5. National Family Caregiver Support Program - Summary & Analysis: www.gu.org/resources/family-firstprevention-services-act/. 

Other Publications 

1. Challenges and Resilience in African American Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Review of the 

 Literature with Practice Implications: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/grandfamilies/vol2/iss2/2.

2. Child Welfare Information Gateway - Kinship Care: 

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/kinship/.

3. Family First - HHS Guidance: www.grandfamilies.org/Resources/Federal-Laws/Family-First.

4. Family First Prevention Services Act - Brief Summary Implications for Grandfamilies:

www.gu.org/resources/family-first-prevention-services-act/. 
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5. Frequently Asked Questions - National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards: 

www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/Documents/FFPSA/FAQ%20National%20Model%20Standards%20020

7.pdf. 

6. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: What Have We Learned Over the Past Decade: 

https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/59/3/e152/3897134.

7. Grand Voices Racial Equity Initiative - Elevating and Strengthening African American and Native 

American Grandfamilies: www.gu.org/projects/grand-voices/. 

8. Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115thcongress/senate-bill/1091/text. 

9. Title IV-E Gap Programs: A Work in Progress: www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/GuardianshipBrief.pdf.