Bridging The Gap: Critical Resources for Grandparent Caregivers And their Grandchildren

US population estimates indicate that approximately 2.5 million children live apart from both parents. Family relatives, often called kinship caregivers, care for 70% to 90% of these children, with grandparents making up the largest category (Radel et al., 2016). This study aimed to identify the most helpful resources and sources for grandparent caregivers to support the overall well-being of their families. Phone or Zoom interviews were conducted among a purposive sample of 24 grandparent caregivers from February to March 2022 to examine their initial experiences as caregivers, the current support services and resources they received, and other resources and services that would be helpful to them. Three themes resulted from analysis of the qualitative data: 1) Grandparent caregiver awareness of services, 2) Government - funded support, and 3) Community support. The findings indicated that most participants acknowledged not knowing any resources at the onset of their caregiving and were initially intimidated to ask for assistance. Over time, some received support from government-funded programs. However, many individuals did not qualify for government-funded programs and relied on community support, assistance from family members and friends, support groups, and faith-based communities. Primary helpful resources included Medicaid, respite care, educational assistance, and therapy for grandchildren, as well as financial and legal assistance to navigate the court system. As most grandparents had fixed incomes, caring for their grandchildren was an additional financial burden. Many members of their family required support for their well-being, including access to legal, economic, community, and emotional support programs. The study findings suggest the establishment of policies to support grandparent caregivers at the onset of their caregiving role, providing them with information and referrals to resources thataddress the needs of their entire families.