On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti What's driving the rise in grandparent childcare
Dec 17, 2025
Giovanna Archuleta, Early Childhood Program Director, discusses New Mexico's universal childcare law, which aims to support grandparents. Sociology professor Madonna Harrington Meyer shares research on the rising trend of grandparent caregiving, driven by economic pressures and family dynamics. Jessica Naranjo, a grandmother from Santa Clara Pueblo, shares her personal experience raising four grandchildren amid familial challenges. The conversation highlights the emotional and financial toll on grandparents and the need for more systemic support.
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Grandmother Becomes Primary Caregiver
- Jessica Naranjo took full-time care of four grandchildren ages 4–15 after parents struggled with addiction and incarceration.
- She juggled work, school drop-offs, and food insecurity while often qualifying for few services.
Crisis Drives High Kinship Care Rates
- New Mexico has the nation's highest kinship care rate, driven by high alcohol and overdose deaths.
- Kinship care there is about 8%, more than double the 3% national average.
Substance Misuse Fuels Grandparent Care
- Substance misuse and mental health disorders are leading reasons grandchildren are raised by kin.
- About 16% of adults in parts of New Mexico experience substance misuse, worsening child outcomes.