Overview

A powerful firsthand look into the lives of grandparents and other relatives stepping in to raise children—and the people and policies that help them thrive.  Today in the US, more than 2.4 million children whose parents are unable to care for them live in grandfamilies, where they are raised by grandparents or other loved ones. Until recently, their experiences have been all but invisible. These relative caregivers do time in waiting rooms and court hearings, put themselves at financial risk, and sacrifice their own health, all with the dream of making a better life for the kids they love. In Grandfamilies, Donna M. Butts, former longtime executive director of Generations United, sheds light on the ongoing fight for the recognition and resources these families deserve. Through heartfelt personal accounts, grandfamily members of all ages and backgrounds share their experiences, giving voice to the millions across this nation who have come together in the spirit of hope and resilience to imagine a better future for their loved ones. All book sale proceeds will go to Generations United to support their work with grandfamilies.

Full Product Details

9798896363286

Table of Contents

Reviews

“[Butts] writes about the anecdotal and documented advantages of . . . collective, multigenerational care . . .  these family dynamics will be warmly recognizable to many readers. An informed and engaging overview of the larger family systems so many young people need.”—Kirkus Reviews “Grandfamilies shines a well-deserved spotlight on the heroes who provide loving and stable environments for children in need. I know firsthand how a grandparent can save a child. Donna Butts gives a powerful voice to both children in crisis and the grandparents who step up to care for them. This book is not only needed, it’s to be celebrated. Read it and cheer.”—Michael Morris, author of Slow Way Home “Grandfamilies is a moving, compassionate, and indispensable read, both a tribute to the strength of carers and the children they’ve raised and a call to action for policymakers to support grandfamilies with the resources they need and deserve.”—Debra Whitman, PhD, author of The Second Fifty “Donna Butts has painted a picture of resilience, fortitude, and hope. Grandfamilies inspires action to ensure that all children have the nurturing care they deserve by supporting all families, reinforcing caring communities, and providing public policies that recognize that caring for each other is a collective responsibility.”—Joan Lombardi, PhD, senior scholar and adjunct professor at the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities and author of Time to Care: Redesigning Child Care to Promote Education, Support Families, and Build Communities “This is a book that has readable and understandable strategies, information, solutions, and insights that are useful to members of kinship, grandfamilies, service providers, and policymakers. In one book, the author has consolidated the lived experiences from caregivers, the grandfamily triad, and extended family, as well as current knowledge and research from experts in the field. A must-read.”—Dr. Joseph Crumbley, LCSW, global kinship care expert and author of Relatives Raising Children: An Overview of Kinship Care “Saving a child is the work of angels. This book is full of souls being saved—children and grandparents. Donna Butts writes of her angel’s hand lifting up souls and lifting every reader.”—Juan Williams, journalist and New York Times best-selling author of New Prize for These Eyes “Grandfamilies lifts up the voices of grandparents and kin caregivers who step in with courage and love when children need them most. Their stories remind us what is possible when we choose to invest in families instead of leaving them to navigate alone. This book is both a powerful testament and a call to action for anyone who believes we must do better by caregivers and the children whose futures depend on them.”—Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO, National Council on Aging

Author Information

Donna M. Butts is an award-winning nonprofit executive, author, and trusted voice frequently quoted in the national media. As Executive Director of Generations United, a role she served in for more than twenty-seven years, she was invited to testify before Congress, address the United Nations, and present in more than a dozen countries. As a fierce advocate for intergenerational solutions that benefit children, youth, older adults and families, she has helped pave the way for crucial legislation and support for grandfamilies. She lives in the Washington, DC, area.

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