Caregiving grandmothers with vs. without child welfare system involvement: Effects of expressed need, formal services, and informal social support on caregiver burden

This study examined needs, formal service utilization, informal support, and caregiver burden among grandmothers parenting grandchildren. Two groups were compared: 73 public and 108 private caregivers (with vs. without child welfare system involvement). Public caregivers used more formal services, particularly basic subsistence and legal services, suggesting greater access. Higher levels of need were associated with higher levels of caregiver burden. Among low need caregivers only, greater service utilization was associated with higher burden; among private caregivers only, more informal support was associated with lower burden.