GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 33
families and the courts on this very issue for almost 20 years. “Many attorneys get out of this type of law eventually,” she says, “because it is so emotionally draining. They’ll tell you not to get so personally and emotionally involved. But you can’t help it when you have a passion for children and the desire to fight for them.” Glanz says that the benefits of legal guardianship are obvious when a grandparent tries to get medical care for that child or engage in school activities. “Without it,” she says, “it is often difficult, if not impossible, to schedule regular health checkups, teacher conferences or even enroll the child in school.” For Baxter, she decided that guardianship was more beneficial than foster parenting. “As legal guardian to my grandchildren, I have the ability to add them to my healthcare plan, make decisions for them that are usually only afforded a parent, and I don’t have the state stepping in, sending caseworkers to my house to check up on me. I know I’m a good parent to these kids. I don’t need someone else coming in and deciding that for me.” Despite the fact that there are requirements for legal guardianship, such as regular reporting, it is less intrusive than the requirements for foster parent status. In addition, says Glanz, with regard to foster care, “the goal is for reunification with the parent(s) if this is at all possible. The court monitors the progress of the child and the parent and helps them to work towards reuniting families. With full guardianship, this is not the case.” On the rise The number of grandparents obtaining legal guardianship in the United States is climbing due to a variety of factors affecting the parents of today’s children: • state of the economy • military duty • incarceration • mental health issues • drug use In Baxter’s case, the big picture was what steered her and her husband to seek full guardianship. And, “at this point, I’ve bonded with these children,” she says. “They know we will never give them up and we will always act in their best interests.” G Suzanne Finley is the Metro Detroit regional editor for GRAND Magazine. Her blog is Liam’s Grandma . Share this article with your friends. Ed. note: Names of the family have been changed to protect privacy. This article is abridged. For the entire article, click here. Click and connect to more resources instantly where you see this symbol: DECEMBER GRAND
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GRAND Magazine - December 2009
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - December 2009
GRAND Magazine - December 2009
Contents
GRAND Central
GRAND Shout-Outs
No More Holiday Meltdowns
Top 10 Toys of 2009
Cyber-Savvy GRAND
“They Call Me Mom”
GRAND Ride
Resources
GRAND Finale
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Intro
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - GRAND Magazine - December 2009
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Cover2
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 3
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 4
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 5
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Contents
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 7
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 8
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 9
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 10
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - GRAND Central
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 12
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 13
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 14
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 15
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 16
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 17
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - GRAND Shout-Outs
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 19
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 20
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 21
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - No More Holiday Meltdowns
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 23
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Top 10 Toys of 2009
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 25
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 26
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 27
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Cyber-Savvy GRAND
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 29
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 30
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 31
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - “They Call Me Mom”
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 33
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - GRAND Ride
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 35
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 36
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 37
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 38
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 39
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 40
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 41
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - 42
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Resources
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - GRAND Finale
GRAND Magazine - December 2009 - Cover4
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