• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.185-203
• /
• 2017

Objective: The present study examined the perspectives of grandparents raising their grandchildren in an attempt to better understand grandparents' child-rearing experience while providing kinship foster care to their primary-grade grandchildren. Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with eight grandparents who have raised one or two primary-grade (ages 8-10) grandchildren using a qualitative approach. Results: First, the participants viewed the reason for their kinship foster care as a failure for caring for their own children and accepted the present grandparent-care provision as their responsibility. Second, the participants communicated constant struggles with their own health and grandchild-care as well as positive/negative emotions associated with the care provision. Third, most of the participants did not fully understand the developmental needs of their primary-grade grandchildren. Fourth, the participants articulated concerns for their primary-grade grandchildren's learning, peer interactions, school adjustment, and extra-curricular activities. Lastly, the participants all agreed on hoping to raise grandchildren with good personality traits as members of a society and to have them fill the gap from the loss of their parents. Conclusion: Although most participants accepted the current circumstances as their obligation, they still noted difficulties in child-care provision. Given the developmental needs of grandchildren and the resource needs of grandparents, proper and continuous intervention approaches should be developed/provided.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.59-72
• /
• 2005

This study used secondary data of the Illinois Subsidized Guardianship Waiver Demonstration, Chicago Public Schools and administrative data of the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services. Multiple regression analysis was the main statistical method. Results revealed a positive effect of foster parents' expectations on educational achievement of foster children without disabilities. Among types of educational involvement, 'direct educational activities' showed a positive effect on math and 'supervision reported by children' showed a positive effect on reading achievement. Among indices of the quality of relationship: the presence of kinship ties, permanence achievement, and level of affection between foster parents and children, only level of affection had a significant positive association with both math and reading achievement.