Tulsa World: Legal protection for grandparents urged

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Legal protection for grandparents urged

HELP SOUGHT
Rep. Jeannie McDaniel: The Tulsa Democrat says many grandparents don't know what assistance programs may be available when they are caring for their grandchildren. She joined with Rep. Wade Rousselot, D-Okay, in asking for a study on the issue.

By MICHAEL McNUTT NewsOK.com
Published: 10/30/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009 4:54 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma needs to provide better legal protection and laws for grandparents raising their grandchildren, two legislators said Thursday.

The state also needs to do a better job of letting grandparents know about available assistance, said Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa.

One in every 14 children in the state is being raised by grandparents, Sandy Ingraham, a McLoud attorney, told members of the House Human Services Committee.

Census figures show 38 percent of the grandparents will be responsible for raising their grandchildren for at least five years. Grandparents are responsible for the primary care of about 57,000 children in the state, she said. Census figures show 46,863 grandparents in Oklahoma live with their own grandchildren and assume the primary responsibility for raising at least one grandchild.

Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com.

By MICHAEL McNUTT NewsOK.com

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	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (10/30/2009 10:29:56 AM) Ellusive. This was a surprise to me also. Grandparents need all the help and breaks they can get for raising their grandchildren.
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/30/2009 10:36:27 AM) Ditto Few Clothes!
	Report Comment FinallyDebtFree, Broken Arrow (10/30/2009 5:30:20 AM) Good job on giving specifics. Sounds like one of those "we need 'change'" deals. What assistance are you talking about? Are you saying we should spend taxpayer money telling people how to get taxpayer money? Also, I find it curious that a very inportant part of the demographics was left out of the statistics she depends on to push the agenda.
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (10/30/2009 3:12:15 AM) Why waste money on a study, it's obvious we need the law changed to give preference to relatives who want to adopt their own grandchildren so they don't go to strangers. I had no idea Oklahoma was beind the ball on this.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/30/2009 3:28:05 AM) She wants a study? Why not actually get her little do nothing self moving and trying to get a bill put together instead.
	Report Comment DavidM F, (10/30/2009 12:29:32 PM) If they would have raised they kids right, they would not have this job... Quit baby sitting adults for there bad choices they made....The cost of not parenting goes to the tax payers???? In lies the problem, make excuses for big boy choices they can not handle. Make parents deal with there own kids....
	Report Comment honky donkey, (10/30/2009 10:00:34 AM) A study is not needed. Change is needed. Why haven't DHS officials taken the ball to ensure these grandparents are informed and assisted? Four words that are consistent with most state assistance programs: "It's Not MY Job." Typical stupidity from our state assistance programs.

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