A Conceptual Pathways Model to Promote Positive Youth Development in Children Raised by Their Grandparents

The numbers of children raised by their grandparents are increasing. These alternate families often emerge following negative life events that result in high risk for adverse child outcomes. Modifications in the traditional roles and relationships of grandparent and child may exacerbate stressors experienced by both parties. The phenomenon has implications for professionals working with these children because these families are increasing in prevalence and research suggests students’ success in school depends on both the home and school environments. Preventing problem behaviors associated with these families and promoting the children’s positive developmental trajectories entail understanding the family members’ unique needs and risks and identifying and accentuating their strengths, supports, and resources. In this paper, (a) the phenomenon of children raised by grandparents is reviewed, (b) positive youth development is advanced as a viable theoretical and applied developmental science framework to understand the children, and (c) a conceptual pathways model is described that can be used to promote their favorable school and life outcomes.