The Increase in Intergenerational African American Families Headed by Grandmothers

Authors

Dorothy S. Ruiz, Duke University
Iris Carlton-LaNey, University of North Carolina

Abstract

This article analyzes census data on grandparent heads of household. Information on African American grandparents, grandmothers in particular, is the focus of this analysis. The data include a profile of African American grandparent householders, reasons for the increase in households headed by grandparents, challenges and problems, living arrangements/household characteristics, and implications for practice. African American children are more likely to live in the home of their grandparents than are White or Hispanic children. In 1993, 12 percent of African American children lived in the home of their grandparent in comparison to 4 percent for Whites and 6 percent for Hispanics. The increased complexity of intergenerational households, along with a variety of social problems, suggest that new strategies must be developed to help these families cope.

Recommended Citation

Ruiz, Dorothy S. and Carlton-LaNey, Iris (1999) "The Increase in Intergenerational African American Families Headed by Grandmothers," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 26: Iss. 4, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2609
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol26/iss4/6