Alabama is pioneering a pilot program that allocates $280,000 from opioid settlement funds to assist “grandfamilies”—grandparents raising children whose parents are caught in the grips of addiction. This initiative comes as over 2.5 million children in the U.S. find themselves being raised by grandparents and other relatives due to parental substance use, with Alabama’s foster care entries citing substance abuse as a factor in nearly half of all cases. These families often lack the formal support systems available to foster families, making this funding a critical support measure. The program will initially benefit families in three counties, providing one-time payments to help with everyday expenses like groceries, dental care, and school supplies.
The financial aid, though modest, represents a significant step in acknowledging and supporting the unseen victims of the opioid epidemic—children and their caregivers. The effort underscores the importance of keeping children with family members rather than placing them in the foster care system, a sentiment echoed by advocates nationwide. Alabama’s approach could serve as a model for other states, with plans to distribute more funds in the future as additional settlement money becomes available. For more information, visit NPR.
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