In Loving Arms
Most babies, children and youth have traumatic
experiences before going to live with their
grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives in
grandfamilies. More than half of children involved
with the child welfare system have experienced at
least four adverse childhood experiences (ACEs),
leaving them 12 times more likely to have negative
health outcomes than the general child population.
As the number of children in foster care increases,
due in part to the nation’s opioid crisis, the child
welfare system is increasingly relying on grandparents
and other relatives to raise the children. Yet grandparents
and other relatives are less likely than
non-related foster parents to receive supports
and services, including those provided by
professionals trained in helping children who
have experienced trauma.