CHAPTER 5: Educational and Mental Health Challenges of Grandchildren Raised By Grandparents During The Covid-19 Pandemic In South Carolina: Qualitative Results From a Community-Based Study

Approximately 2.7 million grandparents in the United States raise their custodial grandchildren. In this research study, we identified educational and mental health challenges of grandchildren raised by grandparents during COVID-19 and explored the role of access to the Internet and technology in influencing grandchildren’s educational and mental health challenges. We collaborated statewide on a community-based research study with K–12 school districts, state agencies, and community organizations with an interest in supporting grandparents raising grandchildren. Using a qualitative methodology, this study identified educational and mental health challenges faced by grandchildren during COVID-19 and further indicated the critical need for school personnel to better support grandfamilies with a focus on increasing access to the Internet and technology to address the educational and mental health concerns of students raised by grandparents. In this chapter, we describe the unique challenges faced by custodial grandparents and the need for coordination at both the local and state levels to positively impact grandfamilies. These efforts call for establishing reciprocal school–university–community relationships, which we utilized by engaging with our partners and study participants throughout this study to ensure that we met their needs. We hope our findings are not only informative for addressing custodial grandparents’ and their grandchildren’s concerns, but also instructive in how to build more sustainable partnerships with state and educational institutions.