By Stepehn Smoot
Over half of the grandparents in West Virginia are either playing large roles, or doing the entire job of raising their grandchildren. Though the number has dropped slightly in the past five years, from 54.4 percent to approximately 52 percent, the numbers still represent a crisis in both child and elder care.
Tammy Romano, a social worker and case manager with Healthy Grandfamilies of Harrison County, explained the importance of support for grandparents who must accept the role of primary caregivers to children. She said that with crucial and helpful support, “they don’t feel alone. They know there’s help.”
Many may assume that grandparents come equipped to such a role because they already raised children. Certainly that experience comes in handy and some skills learned as parents do translate. Many grandparents, however, find that accepting this responsibility creates a different and often more difficult dynamic than when they raised their own.
For some grandparents, the logistics of, as Romano puts it, “navigating” issues such as the school system, child health care, applying for welfare benefits, modern technology, and other problems prove daunting. The world requires more of those participating in programs than even just a generation ago.
Compounding the problems faced by grandparents in dealing with everyday issues comes the necessity for many in confronting challenges faced in raising children who have grown up in neglect, abuse, or other traumas. Many of these stem from one major source, Romano says, sharing that. “the opioid problem we have in this county alone” has created large groups of children who did not experience a firm footing with their biological parents or parent.
She went on to say that approximately 80 percent of children raised by grandparents have biological parents in addiction, incarceration, or similar problems that prevent them from providing a safe and secure home.
West Virginia often sets the pace in the nation on tackling drug addiction crisis related issues head on and this is no different. The Healthy Grandfamilies program started seven years ago in response to rising numbers of grandparents raising their grandchildren. West Virginia State University Department of Social Work and WVSU Extension Service combined forces to establish and operate the program that serves Harrison and most other counties across the state.
In Harrison County, the organization also partners with the school system, Family Services of Harrison County, and others. The United Way also sponsors the program.
Romano described the program in Harrison, saying “we have two sessions, one in fall and one in spring.” Each session includes eight to 10 weekly classes that provide multiple benefits. Primarily, the sessions center around a presentation by an expert in a field helpful to grandfamilies. Some classes focus on legal and government related issues, such as working with the courts or the school system. Dr, Kevin Johnson, a child mental health expert, will come to share vital information on child trauma. Other professionals may focus on communication and building family relationships.
Each session also includes presentations that focus on informing grandparents on how to maintain their own mental and physical health through topics such as stress management and nutrition.
Of course, the slate of programming changes from session to session, but all sessions bring important focus on the most challenging issues.
Participants get more than just the presentations, however. Families in these types of situations often find themselves increasingly closed off. Some believe that asking for help runs against their ideals of family self-reliance. Others fear that if social welfare organizations are aware of their struggles, that Child Protective Services will come and take their children away. Romano shared that trust “is one of our biggest obstacles.”
“We get out into communities,” Romano said, “to let people see who we are and what we do.” They also provide fliers and other information to and through the school system.
Bringing the grandfamilies together reminds each participant that his or her family is not alone. On the nights scheduled for presentations and other social events, such as picnics, Healthy Grandfamilies encourage participants to share stories and to get to know each other. This expands their support networks, even if that support is just a friend with whom to vent.
Another mission of Healthy Grandfamilies lies in connecting participants with resources. Romano described how a state law geared toward helping the homeless allows for extra assistance for children who are also in the school system. Help with rent or car repairs can be made available. Also “if they need transportation, Community Action has transportation.”
Healthy Grandfamilies works with grandfamilies and these community service groups to get the families the help they need to continue. Their mission lies in both supporting the raising of the grandchild, but also the health and well-being of the grandparents as well.