Research evaluating our program’s effectiveness demonstrates that PHG grandparents experience statistically significant improvements in family resources, social support, family coping, and improved physical and mental health attributes and health promotion behaviors. The PHG intervention and its beneficial outcomes have been published in several academic journals and presented at major national and international child welfare conferences to highlight PHG outcomes. Our service model aligns with best practice methods for supporting family protective factors that are the basis for the Strengthening Families approach (parental resilience, social connections, material aid, knowledge of parenting and child development, and child social/emotional competence) which is supported by the Department of Family and Children’s Services in Georgia. Research suggests these factors are essential for reducing negative child outcomes.
Reference list of publications directly related to Project Healthy Grandparents outcomes and research findings:
Clark, K. C., Kelley, S. J., Clark, P. C., & Lane, K. (2022). Needs of grandparents raising grandchildren: A qualitative study. The Journal of School Nursing, 0(0), 1-10. https://doi.10.1177/10598405221115700
Kelley, S. J., & Whitley, D. (2003). Psychological distress and physical health problems in grandparents raising grandchildren: Development of an empirically based intervention model. In B. Hayslip & J. H. Patrick (Eds.), Working with custodial grandparents (pp. 127-144). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Kelley, S. J. and Whitley, D.M. (2014). Kinship care (pp. 96-106). R.M. Reece, R. F. Hanson & Sargent, J. (Eds.). Treatment of Child Maltreatment, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Press.
Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D.M. & Campos, P.E. (2013). African American caregiving grandmothers: Results of an intervention to improve health indicators and health promotion behaviors. Journal of Family Nursing, 19, 53-73.
Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D.M. & Campos, P.E. (2011). Behavior problems in children raised by grandmothers: The role of caregiver distress, family resources, and the home environment. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 2138-2145.
Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D.M. & Campos, P.E. (2019). Differential impact of an intervention for grandmothers raising grandchildren. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 17(2), 141-162.
Kelley, S. J., Whitley, D. M., & Campos, P. E. (2010). Grandmothers raising grandchildren: Results of an intervention to improve health outcomes. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(4), 379-386. https://doi.10.1111/j.1547-5069.2010.01371.x
Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D.M. & Campos, P.E. (2013). Psychological distress in African American grandmothers raising grandchildren: The contribution of child behavior problems, physical health, and family resources. Research in Nursing & Health 36, 373-385.
Kelley, S. J., Whitley, D. M., Escarra, S. R., Zheng, R., Horne, E. M., & Warren, G. L. (2021). The mental health well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Marriage & Family Review, 57(4), 329-345. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2020.1861163
Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D., & Sipe, T. (2007). Results of an interdisciplinary intervention to improve the well-being and physical functioning of African American grandmothers raising grandchildren. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 5(3), 45-64.
Kelley, S. J., Whitley, D., Sipe, T. A., & Yorker, B. C. (2000). Psychological distress in grandmother kinship care providers: The role of resources, social support, and physical health. Child Abuse & Neglect, 24(3), 311-321.
Kelley, S.J., Yorker, B.C., & Whitley, D. (1997). To grandmother’s house we go……and stay: Children raised in intergenerational families. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 23 (9), 12-20.
Kelley, S.J., Yorker, B.C., Whitley, D., & Sipe, T. A. (2001). A multi-modal intervention for grandparents raising grandchildren: Results of a pilot study. Child Welfare, LXXX(1), 27-50.
Kicklighter, J.R., Whitley, D.M., Kelley, S.J., Lynch, J.E., & Melton, T.S. (2009). A home-based nutrition and physical activity intervention for grandparents raising grandchildren: A pilot study. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly, 28, 188-199.
Kicklighter, J.R., Whitley, D.M., Kelley, S.J., Taube, J., Berry, R., & Shipskie, S. (2007). Grandparents raising grandchildren: A response to a nutrition and physical activity intervention. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(7), 1210-1213.
Whitley, D.M., & Kelley, S.J. (2008). Developmental screening and evaluation results of young African American grandchildren raised by grandparents: Thoughts for research and practice. ARETÊ, 32(1), 38-57.
Whitley, D. M. and Kelley, S.J. (2013). Promoting family empowerment among African American grandmothers raising grandchildren. Bert Hayslip Jr. & Gregory C. Smith (Eds.) Resilient Grandparent Caregivers: A Strengths-Based Perspective, pp. 235-250. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Whitley, D.M., Kelley, S.J., & Campos, P.E. (2011). Perceptions of family empowerment among African American custodial grandmothers raising grandchildren: Thoughts for research and practice. Families in Society: Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 383-389.
Whitley, D. M., Kelley, S. J., & Lamis, D. A. (2016). Depression, social support, and mental health: A longitudinal mediation analysis in African American custodial grandmothers. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 82(2-3), 166-187. https://doi.10.1177/0091415015626550
Whitley, D. M., Kelley, S.J., & Sipe, T. A. (2001). Grandmothers raising grandchildren: Are they at increased risk of health problems? Health & Social Work, 26, (2), 105-114.
Whitley, D.M., Lamis, D. & Kelley, S.J. (2016). Mental health stress, family resources and psychological distress: A longitudinal mediation analysis in African American grandmothers raising grandchildren. Journal of Clinical Psychology 72, 563–579 doi:10.1002/jclp.22272.
Whitley, D.M., White, K. R., Kelley, S.J., & Yorker, B.C. (1999). Strengths-based case management: The application to grandparents raising grandchildren. Families in Society, 80, 110-119.
Yorker, B.C., Kelley, S.J., Whitley, D., Lewis, A., Magis, J., Bergeron, A., & Napier, C. (1998).Custodial relationships of grandparents raising grandchildren: Results of a home-based intervention study. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 49(2), 15-25.