CRAB ORCHARD, WV (WOAY) – National Grandparents Day is a time to appreciate the joy and wisdom they bring to our lives.
Mountain State grandparents often take on another role, stepping in to become primary caregivers when their children have substance abuse issues.
Grandparents can provide much love, guidance, and stability.
“Grandparents deserve that break in life for raising children, providing and then really just being there for their grandchildren,” said Sen. Brian Helton (R-Fayette). “They shouldn’t have to be there as their full-time parent. Being able to honor our grandparents this weekend is a really great thing. And we’re excited for the grandparents in our area to get that recognition.”
There is much kinship in foster care, and Pressley Ridge says they get daily referrals of kids whose parents’ rights have been taken away. Grandparents play a crucial role with kids in care.
“There’s an increase in the age of these grandparents taking care of their grandchildren. It’s heartbreaking,” Program Director Shameka Mitchell said. “We want to provide them with the support they need. Our program does provide respite.”
If grandparents want to be certified as foster parents for their grandchildren and have the available resources, they can call Pressley Ridge about training.
“They can become a fully-fledged certified treatment foster parent with Pressley Ridge and they can get all the supports and the benefits,” said Recruiter & Certification Specialist Kristen Adkins. “There’s actually a subsidy, a Medicaid card, they’re going to get like a ‘thank you’ for taking care of their grandchildren.’
West Virginia is number one in the nation for children being removed from the home.
“That’s resulted in a lot of children being misplaced in the foster care system, but it’s also resulted in lots of grandparents having to raise their grandbabies as full-time caregivers,” Helton said.
Hopefully, parents can get their kids back from their grandparents if they work through the system and do what’s required of them.
“Some of those facilities and treatments they go through, we want to help them along the way as well,” said Mitchell. “That is our main focus at Pressley is to reunify, if possible.”
Pressley Ridge says they track the children’s behaviors and issues from when they first go into the home. The children do much better after they are in the grandparents’ home with the associated services.
“We’re constantly monitoring that and collecting data on their well-being. It’s always good for the children to be in a familiar environment instead of being put in a home with strangers,” Adkins said. “They already have that relationship and know this is a safe place for them to be. They don’t have to worry about any other complications. They know their grandparents are going to take care of them and love them.”
To be able to stem the tide of this drug epidemic, the senator says we have to do a better job with our Mountain State treatment programs.
“So we’re looking hard right now at legislation that’s going to bring accountability for results, and I think that’s the best way we can support our grandparents,” said Helton. “It’s to help them get their children sober, to get their lives back, and get back to a point of sobriety where they can take care of their own children.”
