"There are millions who, because of personality conflicts, custody issues, distance, or consequences of choices made long ago, have no way to pass values and memories to those who mean the most to them. Born of one woman's quest to become part of the lives of two grandchildren she has been kept from seeing, Invisible Grandparenting provides a blueprint for "virtual grandparenting." Using letter writing as a primary tool, it is a handbook for communicating tangible and intangible gifts to our young ones. Discover how to transcend invisibility, heal separation, and transform negative energy to forgiveness."--Page 4 of cover.

An understudied aspect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the creation of hundreds of thousands of grandparent-headed households that have become home to children bereft of one or both of their parents. Such "skip-generation parenting" presents a host of challenges to the families involved and the social programs designed to assist them. Despite this unprecedented caregiving responsibility, older surrogate parents remain relatively invisible, hidden in the shadows of HIV care and the demands of raising a child. The primary goal of Invisible Caregivers is to generate, support, and guide program and policy initiatives designed to meet the needs of elder surrogates and their families. Most social service programs are not able to identify the needs of older surrogates, often because these surrogate parents in HIV-infected families are reluctant to make their needs known for fear of social stigma or possible reductions of benefits. Multiple systemic barriers to case management and other services also frustrate attempts to bring available resources to elder caregivers. These barriers include professional ignorance or denial that HIV affects surrogates, eligibility restrictions through CARE, limited funding and age restriction on OAA, and a fragmented health and human service system. Because the issues facing elder caregivers are many and varied, this collection covers a host of issues: community health, aging, HIV services, child welfare, education, public policy, and mental health.

Grandparents have a vital role in the lives of their grandchildren, not only as a mentor and loving family member, but as a spiritual rock during the hard times. Extreme Grandparenting helps readers understand how to make the most of the new role of grandparent and how to grow the next generation for greatness.

Grandparents today are healthier, more active, and more youthful and young at heart than their predecessors. Dr. Georgia Witkin, senior editor of Grandparents.com, draws on her experience as a psychiatry professor, therapist, and grandparent to help readers be the best grandparent they can be. They'll learn: How to connect with their grandchild-online and off How to contribute to their grandchild's emotional development and boost their IQ The secret hidden stresses of being a grandparent- and how to deal with them The three things they should never say to their son- or daughter-in-laws And more!

This book focuses on two particular contexts of grandparenting in Newfoundland and Labrador, an island community: grandparents as full time carers and sandwich generation grandparents. We are very much aware of the current global contexts and how grandparents navigate the many different realities and contexts today. Technological, political, economic and social forces have shaped this community as it currently exists. Island communities such as Newfoundland and Labrador are no longer isolated by water masses but have been transformed as part of the global reality and have changed our sense of community. With outmigration of families to other parts of the country and internationally, grandparents and grandparent-grandchild relationships are adapting, in part, by using technology to develop and enhance those relationships through medium such as Skype, "What's App", texting, email and so on. In addition grandparents often embed, as part of their travel plans, regular visits to their adult children and grandchildren to maintain those relationships, oftentimes being available to provide extensive levels of care for critical times in the lives of their adult children and, subsequently, their grandchildren. Grandparents are the transmitters of culture, values and knowledge within families and within community.

You thought you were done raising children. But now, unexpectedly, your child isn't able to raise their own kids, so you step up to fill in the gap. But what comes next? Do you have the energy to get the job done? Are you equipped in this ever-changing world? And will you be able to help your grandchildren draw close to the God you love? In Raising Your Grandchildren, you'll discover the practical tools as well as the encouragement you need to find hope in Christ and strength for the journey. With wisdom and compassion, this book focuses on common emotional and spiritual challenges, and along the way readers will hear true stories from other grandparents going down this road themselves. No one expects to be a grandparent raising a grandchild, and it can be a daunting task. But take courage--it can also be a blessing. Let this book be your guide to finding hope and joy in the journey.

This landmark resource investigates and documents current and predicted trends regarding the experiences of grandparents in the United States and abroad. Edited by two of the foremost scholars and educators on the health and wellbeing of grandparents raising their grandchildren, it reflects the enormous changes in the roles of grandparents during the last several decades and explores the historical and social context in which these changes have occurred. With contributions from internationally recognized scholars in family studies, gerontology, human development, psychology, social work, and sociology, this interdisciplinary resource examines the roles of grandparents from multiple perspectives including the cultural/historical, developmental, ecological, and cross cultural, as well as from a clinical/family systems perspective. It reflects the redefinition of the role of grandparents over the past 20 years, mirroring societal shifts in greater longevity and life expectancy, and a greater awareness that grandparenting cannot be viewed in a sociocultural vacuum. Scholars, clinicians, and educators of adult development and aging, will find a wealth of critical information in their fields of endeavor, as will policy makers and clinical practitioners. Print version of the book includes free, searchable, digital access to entire contents of the book! Key Features: Addresses new dimensions of grandparenting such as sexual orientation, health of grandparents, resilience and resourcefulness, step-grandparents, and great-grandparenting Delivers groundbreaking research on the health and wellbeing of grandparents caring for their grandchildren Covers decreasing health disparities, health care coverage, and stipends for grandparents who are not certified kinship providers Examines grief, clinical interventions, grandparent-grandchild and intergenerational relationships, divorce, and the prevalence of multigenerational households Discusses the expanding role of grandfathers, the impact of HIV-AIDS and drug addiction on grandparents, and the global nature of grandparenting Includes clinical case study approaches to helping grandparents