Across the United States, 2.4 million grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren. More than 6 million children are living with grandparents or other relatives (U.S. Census 2000).
More grandparents are raising grandchildren today than in previous generations. Generally, grandparents are asked to step in to care for their grandchildren due to a family crisis. Child and family service workers first look to grandparents or other relatives if a child needs to be removed from his or her parents.
