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In the News: Madonna Harrington Meyer

Why is Food Insecurity High among U.S. Grandparents who are Caring for Grandchildren?

Madonna Harrington Meyer and Anna Delapaz
This brief draws on interviews with U.S. adults ages 60 and older who are caring for their grandchildren to summarize the factors contributing to food insecurity among grandparents.
January 23, 2024

Harrington Meyer Quoted in Bloomberg Article on Grandparents and the Childcare Crisis

“For a lot of families, grandparent care is the gold standard,” says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer, who notes that grandparents are often far more flexible than other childminders; they’ll watch your kid for free, for long or short periods of time, on little notice. They will even do it when your child is sick. 

June 9, 2023

Madonna Harrington Meyer Reappointed as University Professor

In recognition of exceptional scholarship and innovative academic and professional activities, Madonna Harrington Meyer has been reappointed to a four-year term as University Professors, one of the highest honors the University bestows on faculty members. 

May 15, 2023

Harrington Meyer Quoted in New York Times Article on Grandfathering

Overall, grandmothers still take the lead in spending time with grandchildren, often rearranging their schedules to do so, says Madonna Harrington Meyer, University Professor and author of “Grandmothers at Work: Juggling Families and Jobs” (NYU Press, 2014).

March 9, 2023

Nine Ways Grandparenting is Changing with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Madonna Harrington Meyer

This research brief describes these long-term sociodemographic changes and uses in-depth interviews conducted before the pandemic to illustrate nine specific ways grandparenting is shifting in the U.S.

May 17, 2022

Tracking COVID’s Toll

Pandemic research by Maxwell faculty and students is shaping policy and perception on everything from aging to opioid addiction.

December 21, 2021

The U.S. Should Expand Access to Dental Care for Older Adults

Madonna Harrington Meyer, Sarah Reilly, Julia M. Finan

Older adults with lower socioeconomic status tend to have worse oral health, less dental insurance coverage, greater difficulties finding a dentist, and low-quality care.

November 23, 2021

Harrington Meyer quoted in NY Times piece on vacationing with grandparents

Madonna Harrington Meyer, university professor of sociology and author of "Grandmothers at Work," is included in the New York Times article, "How to Have a Fun, Multigenerational Family Vacation." 
July 19, 2021

Maxwell scholars publish book on public policy and the life course

Janet M. Wilmoth and Andrew S. London
June 21, 2021

See related: Health Policy

Harrington Meyer talks to AARP about grandparenting special needs kids

 About 17 percent of children are diagnosed with some kind of disability, says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer, co-author of the book "Grandparenting Children With Disabilities." While that percentage seems to be increasing, support programs for families are not, she says.
March 2, 2021

Harrington Meyer discusses new book on Colgate University podcast

University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer and alumna Ynesse Abdul-Malak ’13 MA (Soc)/’17 PhD (Soc) of Colgate University discuss their research related to grandparents caring for grandchildren with disabilities in an episode of 13, a bi-weekly podcast from Colgate University.
November 4, 2020

Physical Health Impacts of Grandparenting Children with Disabilities

Ynesse Abdul-Malak, Madonna Harrington Meyer

For many grandparents, caring for their grandchildren makes them feel younger, mostly because they are more physically active and maintain healthier diets.

October 14, 2020

Harrington Meyer quoted in Christian Science Monitor article on working parents, COVID-19

"A lot more grandparents are deciding to burst their bubble," to see or care for their grandchildren.
July 10, 2020

Dean’s Office, CPR fund summer project assistantships

Eleven faculty members will receive awards from the Maxwell School to support emerging research projects this summer.
June 24, 2020

Grandmothers at Work during Coronavirus

Madonna Harrington Meyer

COVID-19 is reshaping the lives of working grandmothers in the U.S. This brief draws on in-depth interviews and grandmothers’ stories to show how the coronavirus is redefining the lives of working grandmothers.

May 1, 2020

Complementary projects on food insecurity funded by Russell Sage

The Russell Sage Foundation has announced funding for two complementary projects related to food insecurity among older adults, and conducted by Maxwell faculty members. One is a qualitative assessment funded at $48,191 and led by Madonna Harrington Meyer, University Professor of Sociology, while the other, funded for $34,997, involves quantitative analysis, conducted by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs. These complementary projects, which are expected to result in a book-length manuscript, will assess the social, political, and economic dimensions of old-age food insecurity.
March 3, 2020

See related: Grant Awards

Harrington Meyer discusses intensive grandparenting in Christian Science Monitor article

"Historically, grandparents have always provided care," says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer. "What we’re seeing now is grandparents providing care that looks a lot more like parenting: more hours and more tasks."

September 20, 2019
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