Grandparents and great-grandparents make significant contributions to family well-being in Canada. In some families, they play an integral role in family life and take a lead role in raising their grandchildren in a grand-family. Grand-families are diverse, unique and an important part of Canada’s family landscape.
The Vanier Institute of the Family is partnering with the University of Prince Edward Island and Building GRAND-Families Inc. to increase our understanding of grand-families in PEI and how optimize grand-family well-being.
This innovative two-year collaboration will engage a network of support groups to bring together those who serve families, researchers, community organizations and the general public to increase the understanding of how to optimize family well-being in PEI and across Canada.
Vanier Institute’s Role
Partner, project development
Project Focus
- Building awareness of grand-families and their unique experiences raising their grandchildren
- Building capacity of community organizations that focus on or work with children to recognize and be inclusive of grand-families, such as schools, clubs and child care centres
- Building competency of professionals, practitioners and providers such as educators, school guidance counsellors, and health care and mental health therapists
- Building community of grand-families across PEI
Project Timeline
The project will continue until Spring 2022.
Project Lead
- Lynne Steele, The Vanier Institute of the Family
Project Co-Founders/Co-Investigators
- Christina Murray, RN, PhD, University of Prince Edward Island
- Don Avery, PhD, Building GRAND-Families Inc.
- Jennifer Kaddatz, The Vanier Institute of the Family
Project Partners
- Building GRAND-Families Inc.
- University of Prince Edward Island
