Rallying for a Cause - Grandparents.com

More than 1,000 grandparents and other relatives who serve as caregivers attended the third GrandRally on May 7 in Washington, D.C., hoping that strength in numbers brought more attention to their needs.

The GrandRally was sponsored by AARP, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund (CDF), Generations United, GrandFamilies of America, and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights (NCGCR).

Former American Idol contestant and country star Kellie Pickler, who was raised by her grandparents in North Carolina after her mother left when she was only two years old, gave a short musical performance and addressed the crowd.

“I'm proud to take part in the GrandRally,” she said. “Having been raised by my grandparents, I know the struggles that grandparents face in raising their grandchildren.”

AARP research shows that 4.5 million children live in households headed by grandparents, and another 1.5 million live in households headed by other relatives. Of that 6 million, about 2.5 million children reside in these households without their parents.

Grandparents and other relatives often step in to raise children due to the death of a parent, substance abuse or mental health problems, domestic violence, incarceration, or military service. Many grandparents and relative caregivers have made great sacrifices to help care for and protect these children and would have it no other way. But they often struggle to provide financial security for their families and in creating a health, mental health, and educational support system the kids need.

That was the message organizers were trying to drive home to members of Congress — U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott (D-Washington) and Danny Davis (D-Illinois) attended the rally — as well as to other decision-makers.

“We should not be asking grandparents raising grandchildren to choose between buying medicine for themselves and putting food on the table for their children,” said Christine James-Brown, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America. “Congress must help assist these caregivers in gaining access to the services and supports they need to take care of their family.”

Davis is among the co-sponsors H.R. 2188, a bi-partisan legislation known as the Kinship Caregiver Support Act. The bill, designed to give assistance to children and caregivers, is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support.

“We need to make it easier — not more difficult — for grandparents and other relatives raising children to care for the ones they love,” said W. Lee Hammond, AARP President-Elect. “The GrandRally brought much needed attention to their plight and we hope Washington takes notice.”