How these grandparents became America’s unofficial social safety net [Washington Post]

American grandparents have long raised their grandkids when their children are unfit or unable to do so. They took over child care during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, especially among African American families.

Now grandparents are stepping up again, Census Bureau data shows. This time, the burden is largely shifting to low-income white families.

As the middle generation has been hollowed out by the abuse of opioids and other substances, the oldest generation has become increasingly responsible for their grandkids, experts say. It’s a responsibility that many didn’t expect and weren’t prepared for. Retired folks find themselves trading their sedans for minivans, moving out of their adult-only communities and searching for work to cover the expenses that come with raising a child.

To read the full article, written by Andrew Van Dam, click HERE