Alabama Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A recently established Alabama commission is reaching out to grandparents raising their grandchildren across the state for valuable input.
The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Commission aims to identify ways to support these families. If you’re a grandparent in Alabama raising your grandchildren, the commission wants to hear about the challenges you’ve faced and gather your ideas on how they can be of assistance.
Formed in 2023 as a joint interim study commission, the group’s mission is to explore new legislation that could provide support to these grandparents.
Financial struggles emerge as a significant concern for many grandparents in this situation. Living on a fixed income, some hope for state-allocated funds to ease their financial burdens.
Additionally, there are calls to address barriers in the adoption process. Grandparents are advocating for smoother procedures to make the adoption of their grandchildren more accessible.
Commission Chairman Representative Randall Shedd of District 11 observes a growing trend of grandparents taking on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren in Alabama. He attributes this, in part, to the opioid crisis, recognizing it as an unfortunate circumstance that has affected many families.
Representative Shedd acknowledges the positive aspects of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren but emphasizes that the actual act of raising them poses unique challenges for grandparents at this stage of life. The commission aims to make this journey as manageable as possible for those undertaking this important role.
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