Grandparents, particularly grandmothers in the African American
community, have historically provided custodial care for their
grandchildren (Crewe, 2003). Before the child welfare system accepted
its responsibility for the needs of African American children, grandmothers
served as the safety net for their biological and informally adopted
grandchildren. Throughout history, they have cared for grandchildren
whose birth parents were unable or unwilling to care for them. The
Children’s Bureau has honored this African American tradition of kin
caring and has historically supported vulnerable children and their
grandparents and relatives who care for them and offer unconditional love.
During its 100-year history, the Children’s Bureau has emphasized the
importance of relatives in creating a safety net for children through kinship
care and other supports. It has recognized both the systemic and
personal shortcomings that contribute to the substantial and
disproportional numbers of African American grandparent caregivers who
make extraordinary sacrifices to ensure a good life for their grandchildren.