Grandparents raising grandchildren have received considerable attention in recent years.
Many observers perceive grandparent care to be a growing phenomenon.
In fact, however, the proportion of children living with grandparents has remained relatively stable. While these percentages are low and steady, in the context of a growing youth population they represent growing total numbers. Nearly four million children, and 1.5 million grandparents, live in grandparent-grandchild households. Anne Pebley of RAND is leading a major study based on national data of this phenomenon and its implications. Her work with Laura Rudkin of the University of Texas examines estimates of the frequency of grandparent-grandchild households.