The National Family Support Network launch research into the experiences of grandparent carers caring full-time for their grandchildren as a result of parental substance misuse.
The National Family Support Network (NFSN) is delighted to announce the launch of research conducted by Megan O’Leary, NFSN and Dr. Shane Butler, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) that explores the experiences of grandparents caring as a result of parental substance misuse. This study identified particular difficulties and dilemmas faced by grandparent carers, including financial difficulties, relationship issues and mental health problems. The study found that grandparents who have assumed full-time care of children of drug-using parents feel they are being taken for granted by social services. In addition to this, grandparents often found themselves facing difficult ‘catch 22’ situations when they sought the support of social services.
This research will be launched on Tuesday, the 22nd of March at 11:00a.m. in the Mansion House, Dublin 2. Megan O’Leary, NFSN and Dr. Shane Butler, Trinity College Dublin will present the findings of their research. Maureen Penrose will also provide a personal insight into the role of grandparent carers in this situation.
Background
The NFSN is an autonomous self-help organisation that respects the lived experiences of families affected by drugs and alcohol in a welcoming non-judgemental way. The Network supports the development of family support groups and networks throughout Ireland in addition to advocating for the needs of family members through national policy making committees and the publication of relevant research.
This small qualitative study looked at the experiences of 11 grandparents who had assumed full-time child care responsibilities as a result of parental substance misuse. The research has been recently published in the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2015.1090999
Megan O’Leary, Community Development Worker, NFSN, co-author of the report added:
“Grandparent carers are fulfilling a vital role for their grandchildren under extremely difficult circumstances. The stresses associated with this caring role are further compounded by support services that are often ambiguous, unclear and inconsistent in their approach to this group. As a result of these factors the mental health of grandparent carers is frequently compromised”.
Maureen Penrose, Former Grandparent Carer, “I became a different kind of Granny. I was the fallback for when my kid needed her children to be mothered while she was in treatment. I was the one who tried to protect the grandchildren from the consequences of my daughters drug use. I tried to teach the children how to behave because, in her drug use, my daughter was not consistent in her expectations of them. The children were missing their Ma, and also had to learn to live within my structures. It can’t have been easy for them, and it felt awful to me that I was being strict with them at such a time. But we all adapted, and my girl got clean, positive,
healthy and motivated. She stepped back in to her role as mother; I was to step back out”.
Shane Butler, Associate Professor in Social Work, TCD, co-author of the report said: “While there are obvious advantages for the children in being cared for by family members as opposed to stranger foster parents, the grandparent carers report some specific stresses. This distress is exacerbated by poor collaboration between child protection and adult addiction services. This study points to the need for the drafting of a formal protocol governing collaborative work between the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to the needs of the children of drug-dependent parents and grandparent carers. Such a
protocol, which could be drawn up with the assistance of the National Family Support Network, would reduce the risk of these children falling between these two bureaucratic stools.”
Further information
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Megan at NFSN on 01 8980148 or via email at megan@fsn.ie
Check out their Facebook page, follow on Twitter @NFSNIreland or visit our website www.fsn.ie for more information.
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