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The 2000 U.S. Census revealed that nationally there are 4.5 million children under the age of 18 living in grandparent-maintained households –an increase of more than 50% since 1990-, and another 1.5 million children under 18 living in other relative-maintained households. About 2.4 million grandparent caregivers are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren. Over half were still in the workforce and 35% had been responsible fort their grandchildren’s need for 4 years or more.

The specific numbers for each state are also currently available.  To view this information in U.S. Census Table P28, "Relationship by Household Type for the Population Under 18 Years,".  At this point we do not know how many of those households are also inhabited by the parent of the child, only that they are maintained by a grandparent or other relative.  Furthermore, with regard to these families, this is the only data from the 2000 U.S. Census long form that has yet been released.  There will be more 100-percent data on these families released over the course of the next year.

In the meantime, there is data available from another large-scale survey called the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey.  This survey has a sample size of approximately 700,000 households and was conducted throughout 2000, independently of the decennial census.  It used the same questionnaire and methodology as the American Community Survey, which is another yearly supplement to the decennial census, and included the grandparent question as well.  Its results have been found to be comparable to those of the 2000 U.S. Census.  

To obtain the latest data on grandparent caregivers from the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, go to www.census.gov/c2ss/www.  You can view American Community Survey data at www.census.gov/acs/www.  You can view the release schedule of the Census 2000 100-Percent Data at http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/releaseschedule.html.