Parental Substance Use Disorder and the Rise in Children Being Raised by Grandparents: Focusing on Children's Needs and Improving Outcomes

Abstract

The occurrence of children being raised solely by their grandparents has steadily risen in the past decade prompted by parental substance use disorder (SUD) and associated incarceration and death. These families, especially children, are a vulnerable population with unique needs. Nurses should be cognizant of the needs, risk factors, and protective factors often associated with this population. Meanwhile, the literature to date mostly focuses on grandparents. School and pediatric nurses, specifically, are in an advantageous position to help support these families and help foster better child outcomes. The purpose of the current article is to explore the experiences, needs, and resources for supporting children being raised by grandparents due to parental SUD. Best practices for health care professionals, especially nurses, are discussed as well as future directions for research with this vulnerable population. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx (x), xx–xx.]