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Grandparents

In: People

Submitted By reineani12
Words 265
Pages 2
Many grandparents in the United States (US) are finding grandparenthood different from what they expected. Instead of the occasional visits from their grandchildren, they have taken on the role of primary parents to their grandchildren. According to 2000 US Census data, six million (8.4 percent) of all children under the age of 18 are living in grandparent or other relative-maintained households across the nation. The Census further found that nearly 5.8 million grandparents are living in households with one or more of their own grandchildren under the age of 18. More than 2.4 million of these grandparents are primarily responsible for meeting the basic needs of these children. In Alabama, more than 113,000 (10.1 percent) children are now living in these conditions.
Although the percentage of children in Alabama living in grandparent or relative-maintained households is somewhat higher than the national percentage, a closer look at Alabama counties reveals other astounding percentages. For example, in Madison County 7.2 percent of children are living with grandparents or relatives. While this percentage is lower than the national average, two counties in West Alabama, Lowndes (19 percent) and Wilcox (17.3), both have higher national percentages. And Huntsville located in Northern Alabama, reported that as many as 1524 grandparents are the primary caregivers of grandchildren, and at least 2922 grandparents now live in the household with one or more grandchildren under the age 18.
Certainly, grandparents and relatives serving as the primary parent is not a new phenomenon; however, it is a rapidly growing trend that transcends all...

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