Date of Conferral

4-2-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Gregory Hickman

Abstract

Primary caregivers of teenage violent offenders play a vital role in identifying and addressing safety concerns, providing emotional and financial support, and meeting individual developmental and psychosocial needs. As more grandparents assume the role of primary caregiver, the need for targeted interventions to support their emotional and psychosocial health continues to grow, emphasizing the increasing importance of population-specific support for grandparents caring for their grandchildren. Problems arise when grandparents take on this role without access to interventions or resources that are designed for caring for adjudicated teen violent offenders. This qualitative generic study involved exploring emotional challenges faced by custodial grandparents of adjudicated adolescent violent offenders and caregiving experiences while seeking supportive or behavioral health assistance for themselves. Resiliency theory served as the framework for this study. Using thematic analysis, interviews were coded for specific terms, phrases, and categories, generating eight themes related to their experiences in finding population-specific behavioral health resources that addressed their unique psychosocial challenges, barriers, obstacles, and needs. Social support and population-specific therapeutic services for older individuals serving as custodial or caregiving parents, along with national support groups for grandparents caring for adjudicated adolescents with mental health or behavioral issues, are vital to the success of both adolescent and grandparent reforms that promote positive social change.

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