Senators Collins, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Grandfamilies Affected by Substance Misuse and Other Trauma

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act, bipartisan legislation to better support kinship caregivers — the vast majority of whom are grandparents — who have taken over as primary caregivers for children exposed to substance misuse or other trauma.

A growing consequence of the opioid crisis is an increasing number of grandparents raising their grandchildren because the children’s parents overdosed or are absent due to substance use disorders. This bipartisan legislation would help address the unique challenges that face grandfamilies and all kinship families, including ensuring that these families are eligible for services under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and providing support to meet the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma, including exposure to substance misuse.

 “As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families across Maine, grandparents increasingly are being called on to become the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. Although this caretaker role can be a source of tremendous comfort and stability for families, it also presents several challenges,” Senator Collins said. “The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act would provide grandparents access to important resources they need to help their grandchildren succeed.”

“We must be there for the children whose parents have died or are absent because of their substance use disorder,” Senator Hassan said. “Largely due to the opioid epidemic, 2.6 million children are currently being raised by their grandparent – or other relatives or close family friends – without their parents in the home. This bipartisan bill will help ensure that these children get the care and support that they need to thrive.”

“In the midst of the opioid crisis, more and more grandparents and other older relatives are stepping in with little to no warning to raise children and keep them out of foster care,” said Jaia Lent, Deputy Executive Director at Generations United. “This legislation helps grandfamily caregivers access critical supports and services to help the children thrive.”

The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act would:

• Help to ensure that grandfamilies and all kinship families are eligible for services under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

• Provide additional support to these families to meet the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma, including being exposed to substance misuse. 

• Call for specialized training to help kinship caregivers navigate the complicated supports and services they may be eligible for.

As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins authored key legislation that created a one-stop-shop of resources to support grandparents raising grandchildren.  The Supporting Grandparents Raising Children Act was cosponsored by Senator Hassan and was signed into law last June.  

Click HERE for more information on the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act and click HERE for the bill text.