Grandparents Stepping Up: Alabama's Innovative Approach to Supporting Families Impacted by the Opioid Crisis

In a small town in northern Alabama, a group of grandparents have found themselves thrust into a new phase of parenting, raising their grandchildren due to their children's struggles with opioid addiction. This heartwarming story sheds light on the challenges these "grandfamilies" face and the groundbreaking efforts by the state of Alabama to provide them with much-needed support.

Empowering Grandparents: Alabama's Pioneering Opioid Settlement Funds

Grandparents as Parents: A Community of Resilience

The cafeteria at Locust Grove Baptist Church in New Market, Alabama, is filled with the happy shouts and laughter of grandchildren chasing each other around the tables. This is the quarterly meeting of a group called Grandparents as Parents, a support system for those who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. These grandparents, like Jeff and Donna Standridge, have stepped up to provide a loving and stable environment for their grandchildren when their own children have been unable to do so, often due to the devastating impact of opioid addiction.The Standridges, along with other grandparents in the group, share their personal stories, revealing the tough realities they face. Donna Standridge explains how her daughter's opioid use disorder, which began with prescription painkillers and escalated to heroin and fentanyl, has led to her and her husband taking on the role of primary caregivers for their four grandsons. The back-and-forth nature of her daughter's addiction and periods of sobriety has created an unstable environment, prompting the Standridges to step in and provide a safe haven for their grandchildren.

A Glimmer of Hope: Alabama's Opioid Settlement Pilot Program

The grandparents gathered at the church on August 22nd were there for more than just support and community. They were also there to learn about a new pilot program that had just been approved by the Alabama state legislature, which aims to provide direct financial assistance to grandparents raising their grandchildren due to the opioid crisis.Alabama has received almost $100 million in legal settlements from opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies, and the state has now allocated $280,000 of these funds to support grandparents like the Standridges. The new pilot program, jointly managed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) and the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS), will provide one-time payments of $1,000 to $2,000 to eligible grandfamilies in three counties: Madison, Coffee, and Escambia.This innovative approach to utilizing opioid settlement funds is a significant step forward in addressing the needs of the growing number of grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. According to the 2022 "State of Grandfamilies" report from Generations United, a national advocacy group, more than 2.5 million children in the U.S. are being raised by grandfamilies, with parental substance use, especially the rise of opioids, being a key driver behind this trend.

A Glimmer of Hope: Alabama's Opioid Settlement Pilot Program

The new pilot program in Alabama is a groundbreaking initiative, as it is the first time that opioid settlement funds have been directed specifically towards supporting grandparents or relative caregivers over the age of 55 who are raising their grandchildren due to the opioid crisis. This move has garnered attention from other states, such as Nevada, which are now looking to follow suit and allocate a portion of their own opioid settlement funds to assist grandfamilies.For the grandparents at the Locust Grove Baptist Church, this pilot program represents a much-needed lifeline. Many of them are living on fixed incomes, such as pensions, Social Security, or disability payments, and struggle to make ends meet while caring for their grandchildren. The one-time payments, though modest, can make a significant difference in their ability to provide for their families' basic needs, from groceries and bills to medical care and extracurricular activities.

Challenges and Resilience: The Unique Struggles of Grandfamilies

The grandparents in this community face a unique set of challenges that go beyond the financial burden. Many are caring for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, and they must navigate the complex emotional and behavioral needs of their grandchildren. Additionally, some are caring for infants born dependent on opioids, or premature babies with medical issues, further straining their resources and energy.Despite these challenges, the grandparents in the Grandparents as Parents group have found strength in their community. They share their stories, offer each other support, and work together to ensure their grandchildren have the best possible upbringing. As Keith Lowhorne, the founder of the group, says, "This is like a dream come true. You've got grandparents that are suffering, and now they're going to get some help."

A Beacon of Hope: Alabama's Potential to Inspire Change Nationwide

The pilot program in Alabama is not only a lifeline for the grandfamilies in the three participating counties but also a potential model for other states to follow. As Lowhorne notes, "Alabama is not known for being first about anything. As far as we know, and as far as everyone has told us, this is the first for the country. We are extremely proud of that."By directing a portion of their opioid settlement funds towards supporting grandfamilies, Alabama is setting a precedent that could have far-reaching implications. Other states, such as Nevada, have already expressed interest in following suit, recognizing the essential role that grandparents and other relative caregivers play in preventing children from entering the foster care system.As the opioid crisis continues to devastate families across the nation, the innovative approach taken by Alabama serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that with the right resources and support, grandparents can provide a stable and nurturing environment for their grandchildren, even in the face of the most challenging circumstances.