Michigan Older Adult Substance Abuse Network

Made possible through funding by the Michigan Department of Community Health - Division of Substance Abuse Quality and Planning - Michigan Older Adult Substance Network Grant

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Traveling Grannies/Grandpas Intergenerational Program Benefits At Risk Teens, Their Families, And Older Adult Mentors

In 1993, Grand Rapids-based Gerontology Network launched an innovative intergenerational program under the guidance of its creator, Peggy Lawrence Burns, a licensed social worker with more than 25 years experience in the field of Gerontology. Known originally as Traveling Grannies, the program provides older adult mentors to teen parents to assist these young adults in improving their coping and problem-solving skills, prevent further pregnancies, prevent substance abuse, and reengage the teens in school and/or work situations. In 1996, the program was expanded to include Traveling Grandpas who serve as mentors to young men at risk of becoming fathers or involved in gangs or drugs.

Today, the target population of the Traveling Grannies/Grandpas Program is low-income Grand Rapids inner-city teen parents 12-19 years of age, male and female; their immediate and extended families (which may be as many as 20 additional individuals); and low-income Traveling Grannies/Grandpas volunteers, aged 60 years or older.

To learn more about the Traveling Grannies/Grandpas Program, Profile spoke with Peggy Lawrence Burns, who serves as the program's director. Following are excerpts from our conversation.

Profile: What types of results have you experienced to date with the Traveling Grannies/Grandpas mentoring program?
Burns: Through private funding and grants from The Carls, Sebastian, Steelcase, Grand Rapids and Isabella Foundations plus other private donations, the program has served 204 teens and 311 babies since its inception. Currently, 72 teens and their families are receiving services. Out of the 72 teens, 40 are in school, 5 are enrolled in college, and 23 are working. At least 85% of the teen girls have not had a repeated pregnancy, and at least 80% of the teens have demonstrated improved parenting skills thus preventing abuse and neglect of themselves and their infants.
To remain in the program, teens must be in school or working, unless special circumstances such as caring for an infant with special needs prevents this.
Traveling Grannies/Grandpas is truly an intergenerational program which is having a very real and positive impact on future generations. It is wonderful to see the dominos effect of this program. We start out by helping the struggling teen parent, and as trust builds and the older adult volunteer builds a rapport, very often the Grannie or Grandpa is able to help the extended family. We have had documented cases of physical, mental, and substance abuse with more than one teen's parent, and by helping the teenage, we've been able to reach out and provide counseling and substance abuse treatment to the extended family member(s). Our Grannies and Grandpas are seen as a neutral party and they don't take sides. The older adult's wisdom and own life experiences help them over time build respect and trust. Grannies and Grandpas mentor in their own communities, and this helps build common ground and a better understanding of the struggles the older adult has faced in his or her life.
Also, in nearly every case, friends of the teen parent latch on to the Traveling Grannie or Grandpa and want to be part of the program. As a result, we have developed community projects such as sewing and quilting so teens can invite their friends. These have been enormously successful and it is very gratifying to see the teens' self confidence and self-esteem grow as they discover new talents.
Our older adults benefit from the program as well. They are truly making a difference in the lives of the teenagers and their families. They earn a small stipend, stay active in their community, and are positively reinforced for the wisdom and concern they share with others. They also greatly appreciate the training and recognition they receive.
Profile: What types of training do the Grannies and Grandpas receive?
Burns: Each Grannie or Grandpa receives intensive training, including more than 80 hours of education on illegal substances and substance abuse prevention, plus parenting techniques to decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and school dropout. A substance abuse counselor shows the older adults what illegal drugs look like, what their street names are, how to recognize signs of behavioral changes, and how to talk to teens about the risks of substance abuse and its effect on their children. Ongoing training is conducted monthly.
Profile: What happens when a Grannie or Grandpa finds out a teen may be using drugs or alcohol?
Burns: We will continue mentoring as long as the teen remains committed to treatment. The Grannie or Grandpa may take the teenager to his or her treatment appointment, plus provide counseling on the effects of abuse and how it is impacting the teen's ability to care for their child, make good decisions, and perform well in school and/or at work. We also let the referring agency know of the problem and work together to find an appropriate treatment program. To date, at least 75% of the teens in the program have not displayed evidence of substance abuse.
Profile: How do you recruit your older adults?
Burns: Mainly by word-of-mouth. They may have a friend who is serving as a Grannie or Grandpa and they want to be a part of the program. All older adult volunteers must be in a low-income bracket. Each receives a small stipend for their services, plus mileage and extra liability and car insurance, an annual physical exam, a tee-shirt to be worn during visits, annual recognition, and extensive training.
Profile: Are their limitations to your program?
Burns: Our biggest limitation is funding. It costs approximately $11,100/volunteer/year for 1,044 hours of service. Each volunteer serves a minimum of 5 teen families at one time. We encourage the volunteers to limit their work to 20 hours per week so they don't get burned out, but most put in more time on their own because they develop such close bonds with their teens and extended families.
We would like to expand our program to outer Kent County as well as other counties if funding is available.
Profile: How can our readers learn more about your program?
Burns: We have a video we can share with them, which includes a segment filmed by NBC Nightly News. I would also be happy to answer any questions. I can be reached at:
Gerontology Network
456 Cherry SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 771-9748
(616) 771-9767 (fax)

Program Spotlight: Adult Well Being Services

Editor's Note: This issue of Profile focuses on the special needs and circumstances surrounding older adult minority Americans at risk of substance abuse. Following are excerpts from conversations with two substance abuse prevention and treatment providers who serve large minority populations in the greater Detroit area. Susie Moore is a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist with Adult Well Being Services in Detroit. Sandra Shift, Ph.D., is Director of Planning and Development for the Eastwood Clinic, which is affiliated with the Saint John's Health System.

Profile: Are your programs targeted specifically to minority older adult populations?
Moore: Our goal is to provide programs for seniors perceived as at risk for substance abuse, and consequently our programs are not specifically for minorities, However due to our demographics, we serve primarily low income seniors within the Detroit area, many of whom may be of a minority population. Each year we reach out to more than 250 seniors through our prevention programs, and disseminate prevention information to approximately 3,000 older adults.
Shift: Eastwood is the oldest substance abuse treatment program in the city of Detroit. We do not have a program designed specifically for minority seniors, but because of our location, we do serve a large number of African Americans.
Profile: What types of services do your offer?
Moore: Our focus is on substance abuse prevention among older adults and consequently we place great emphasis on education. We try to inform older adults and service providers about things that place a senior at risk of substance abuse. We disseminate information at senior health fairs, we host conferences for service providers, we network with community agencies, and we offer a number of programs on assertive training, building positive self esteem, staying active in the community, and loss and grieving. We also provide case management, assistance with home repairs, food and friendship needs; and run a number of support groups. Through our advisory council, we also perform drama programs with prevention themes. These skits are performed by older adults and are very well received among their peers.
Profile: Do you feel older minorities are more at risk of substance abuse?
Shift: No. My experience tells me that is a complete myth. The trouble lies more with access to care and the lack of information and training provided to health care professionals. Physicians and their staff are poorly trained to meet the needs of at risk older adults. They may not recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse, or they may choose to ignore them because of the stigmatism attached to older adult substance abuse. This can compound the situation because as a person ages, the probability they will be taking more medications increases, which increases their risk of drug interactions and complications with alcohol and medication usage. At Eastwood, we have hosted conferences for physicians to better educate them on dealing with substance abuse. The trouble has been that those who care attend; those who don't, don't. And those who care, generally understand the situation and have formed relationships with providers such as ourselves so we can provide the necessary treatment services.
Minorities – especially those with low income – are more at risk of not getting the care they need. People with a low income traditionally have less access to care, and are less educated on the risk factors they face. When compounding this with health care providers not properly trained to identify the situation, there is a real barrier to proper treatment.
Moore: Minorities are not any more likely to misuse or abuse substances than Caucasians. However, risk factors contributing to substance abuse may contribute to their lack of access to care.
Profile: What risk factors place an older adult at risk of substance abuse?
Moore: There are a number of risk factors, Including:
  • Persons who live isolated lives with little or no support system available to them
  • Persons experiencing a loss of a spouse, family member or friend
  • Life changes such as retirement or the loss of one's job
  • Persons with a chronic illness
  • Passive behavior
  • Abused persons
  • Family with substance abuse problems
  • Persons without hobbies, friends, or volunteer work to keep busy and involved in the community
As your readers well know, these risk factors cross all ethnic lines and are not more prevalent among minorities.
Profile: In developing your programs, have you taken into consideration special factors or issues pertaining to minorities?
Moore: Yes. We recognize that various ethnic groups respond differently to intervention. African Americans, for example, tend to be more private and leery of being taken advantage of. They also want to be in programs with their peers, not younger people. Consequently, our approach is one of respect and we are always conscious of the importance of maintaining a person's dignity.
Our experience with Hispanics is similar to that with African Americans, although they tend to be even more private. We work on establishing a rapport with the older adult before prevention and treatment services are offered.
Profile: How can our readers contact you for more information about your programs?
Moore: I can be reached at:
Adult Well Being Services
4750 Woodward
Suite 212
Detroit, Michigan 48201
(313) 833-3765
(313) 833-3783 (fax)
Shift: I can be reached at:
Eastwood Clinic
(810) 773-2300
(810) 773-0857 (fax)

Network Profile is published with support from the Michigan Department of Community Health - Division of Substance Abuse Quality and Planning, and in cooperation with the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging and members of the Network Leadership Council, Older Adult Network Project. Quotations from or reproductions of articles contained in this publication are permissible as long as the source is cited.

Copyright 1999 Gerontology Network.

Since 1979, Gerontology Network (GN) has been helping older adults maintain or increase their independence and restore meaning to their lives. GN provides many programs designed to serve the older adult, their families, and their care providers.

For further information, please call Regina McClurg at (616) 977-3300.