TV: Primetime Live (ABC)

Cynthia McFadden reports on a hidden epidemic: a generation of forgotten children left to be raised by their grandparents.

Tonight: Thursday, May 26 at 10 p.m. ET on Primetime Live (ABC)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1970, 2.2 million or 3.2 percent of American children lived in a household maintained by a grandparent. By 1997, this number had risen to 3.9 million or 5.5 percent, representing a 76 percent increase over the 27 year period (Lugaila forthcoming). Substantial increases occurred among all types of households maintained by grandparents regardless of the presence or absence of the grandchildren’s parents, but were the greatest among children with only one parent in the household (Figure 1).

The number of grandchildren living in households maintained by grandparents with just their mothers present increased by 118 percent from 1970 to 1997, while those living with just their fathers increased by 217 percent. In stark contrast, much smaller increases occurred among those living with both of their parents (53 percent) and those living with neither parent (37 percent).

The majority of change for most households types occurred in the decade of the 1980s. However, since 1990, the greatest growth by far has occurred in the number of grandchildren residing with their grandparents only, neither parent present. Note that this number did not change in the 1980s.

Read more about grandparents raising grandchildren