La Fe Policy Research

and Education Center 1313 Guadalupe Suite 102

San Antonio, Texas 78207

Phone: 210-208-9494

Fax: 210-208-9493

Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren Together

Abuelos Y Nietos Juntos

A La Fe Policy Research

and Education Center Program

Engaging our community with research, education,

training, policy development and collaborative

advocacy to address the social and health Inequalities

Who We Are

La Fe Policy Research and Education

Center is a non-profit organization

engaging advocates from across the

country that have a demonstrated

commitment to the Bienestar (well-

being) of the Latino community.

Our Mission: Increase the

involvement and influence of Mexican

Americans in health and social policy

issues important to their Bienestar

and health.

Our Vision: Social and health

policies reflect the values and

priorities of Mexican American

families and positively contribute to

their Bienestar and health.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Abuelos Y Nietos Juntos, Grandparents Raising

Granchildren Together continues our tradition

of promoting civic involvement for system

changes in health and social policies. The pro-

gram focuses on a targeted group of grandpar-

ents, residing in the West Side of San Antonio,

who are raising grandchildren.

From 1999-2000 there was a 30% increase in grand-

parent headed households for grandchildren.

The Research

Research has shown, in the United States, 1.5

million children are cared for by grandparents.

In Texas, 293,000 grandparents are raising

their grandchildren. However, the need is espe-

cially great in San Antonio, where Hispanic

grandchildren are twice as likely to be raised by

grandparents than anywhere else in the State.

As the second-largest city in Texas, San Antonio

is experiencing growing pains as socio-

economic conditions such as educational at-

tainment, poverty, teenage pregnancy, has led

to a growing population of grandparents raising

grandchildren. These realities, among others,

shape the struggles that grandparents face in

raising their grandchildren

Grandmothers raising grandchildren are more likely to

live in poverty or be working poor.

Program Services

Abuelos Y Nietos focuses on developing data

and information on grandparents and grand-

children through a series of focus group discus-

sions regarding their experiences, concerns and

needs. The program also offers these services:

Information on Community resources

(including social services, health, legal etc.)

Community Discussions on removing bar-

riers and accessing community services

Community Discussions on how to better

manage stress

Training and mentoring to address grand-

parent needs

Basic computer literacy skills training

Individual Support Services