ABSTRACT
This chapter presents findings from a research study on the experiences of African American grandparents as caregivers. Natural disasters such as hurricanes influence the caregiving of children. The chapter begins with a brief overview of kinship care and a description of the methods. It presents findings under the headings of: dealing with changes; unanticipated routes to caregiving; keeping grandchildren safe; iterations in the helping process; coping with losses; new needs and new caregiving responsibilities; and continuing the conversation, which involves lessons learned, discussion, and implications. A convenient sample was recruited from social service agencies in New Orleans and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana. Grandparents voiced two recommendations to governmental officials: develop specific procedures for grandparents and their grandchildren and create a national registry of information with school and health records. A national registry ought to consist of kinds of data. This means that data would be collected and available at the city, state, and national levels.
