Cavin Harper, CGN Executive Director

It is no secret that today, millions of grandchildren in this country are raised by their grandparents.   In an ideal world, stable, loving parents raise their kids in their own homes while grandparents provide a supportive and more relaxed role that simply encourages parents – and allows us to “spoil” our grandkids every once in a while.   But we don’t live in an ideal world, and more and more grandparents are finding themselves thrust into a role they never expected to have – being the primary caregivers and/or guardians of their grandchildren either full-time or part-time, temporarily and permanently.

This is not an issue restricted to certain ethnic or socio-economic groups – it is an indiscriminate condition of our entire population regardless of geography, age, race or socio-economic state.  For some, this role may result from a mutually agreed commitment to build strong family relationships through a “traditional” family lifestyle where grandparents and parents provide specific roles in the raising of the kids.  The reality is that, in most cases, grandparents raising grandchildren grows out of “unexpected” circumstances that are often tragic events that necessitate a complete change of direction in life.  

For those “thrust” into such an unexpected role, it can seem overwhelming.  Laws, insurance coverages, social services, education, and court attitudes have all changed dramatically in the last 100 years, even since most of us raised our own children.  Most grandparents are “clueless” when is comes to many of these issues and where to find help.  

The Christian Grandparenting Network is committed to helping grandparents in the unexpected role of raising their grandchildren.  We use our web site as a tool for grandparents to find resources and support they need to fulfill this role with hope and joy.  We collect stories from grandparents like you who are going through similar circumstances and have words of hope and encouragement to share with others.  We have begun to compile national and state resources, books and other publications.  Our goal is to have a comprehensive listing of state agencies and resources for every state of the union including lists of attorneys and various legal resources to help you in your struggles with issues of custody and guardianship.  And we provide support through our national prayer partners, inspiration from devotionals and information to help connect you with support groups of grandparents in your area who are in this race with you.  

Click on the RESOURCES tab to find what current resources are listed.  This list of resources grows each month as we discover more ways to provide help to you in this “GrandAdventure” of GRANDparenting.  So, continue to check out our web site regularly to see what new information is available.  

Regardless of the reasons Christian grandparents are raising their grandchildren, all have one thing in common: to selflessly make whatever sacrifices are necessary to provide a loving, safe, stable and godly environment in which their own grandchildren can grow up with a solid foundation of truth and love from which they may grow into maturity and become all that God desires them to be.