More … than 62,000 grandparents in Arizona are responsible for their grandchildren. It is a number that continues to to grow. Now a new report shows the emotional impact it can have on grandparents and the children they raise.
Donna Butts is the executive director of Generations United, which advocates for policies and programs that support grandfamilies.
“So each year we delve into a topic that is emerging or hasn’t been covered yet, so this year the focus was on mental health and trauma,” Butts said.
And Butts says these families are more likely to have suffered trauma.
Grandfamilies often form suddenly. A parent may be incarcerated, struggling with a substance use disorder, or deceased. This child is therefore sent to live with a grandparent.
“There’s this sense of loss and the loss of the ability to be a retired senior, or the ability to, you know, spend the holidays with your mom and dad. So there’s a lot of loss ” said Butts.
The study shows that these families may experience higher rates of depression, anxiety or feelings of stress.
