Gair, Susan, and Zuchowski, Ines (2017) Grandparents must be included in decisions about children in out-of-home care. The Conversation, 10 October 2017.

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Abstract

[Extract] Across Australia, growing numbers of children are entering out-of-home care, including disproportionate numbers of Indigenous children. As a consequence, more grandparents are becoming primary carers for their grandchildren, often due to family breakdown, incarceration of a parent, substance misuse, or family violence.

Intergenerational relationships are crucial to the transmission of cultural knowledge, and severed family relationships can trigger trauma. Yet some grandparents report decreased, precarious or even denied contact with grandchildren after child protection concerns, or an unpredictable cycle of maintained and then lost contact, even in circumstances where a child is placed in kinship care.

Our latest research builds on previous research to optimise grandparent contact after child protection concerns. Findings reveal that grandparents yearn to maintain a significant role in grandchildren's lives. Yet grandparents reported being overlooked and routinely sidelined in decision-making by child protection workers.

Item ID:	51204
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
Keywords:	families; Indigenous Australia; grandparents; children; child protection;
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Research Data:	https://research.jcu.edu.au/researchdata/default/detail/0aae4e67cfac2103caed58c3d0aeccce/
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2017 02:03
FoR Codes:	16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1607 Social Work > 160701 Clinical Social Work Practice @ 50% 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1607 Social Work > 160799 Social Work not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920501 Child Health @ 50% 94 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 9401 Community Service (excl. Work) > 940112 Families and Family Services @ 50%
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