Workshop to Help Grandparents Reduce Risk of Drug Use By Grandchildren| 09:44PM / Thursday, April 13, 2017 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Grandparents raising grandchildren is a growing trend nationally and in Massachusetts. Data that was presented at a town hall meeting with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren stated that "in Massachusetts there were over 10,000 grandparents raising grandchildren with no parent in the home in 2015. … Roughly 80 percent of grandparent care arrangements in the state involve substance and drug abuse by at least one parent."
"Although the statistics seem daunting, grandparents raising their grandchildren should not feel alone," said Donna Senecal, facilitator of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition’s (nbCC) Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group.
In an effort to support grandparents in this situation, nbCC is offering a free workshop series called "Guiding Good Choices," for grandparents to learn how to strengthen their bonds with their grandchildren and reduce the risk that they will use drugs. The five-week program is being offered by nbCC for five weeks beginning Tuesday, April 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Spitzer Senior Center located at 116 Ashland St.
By eighth grade, 11 percent of youth in North Berkshire County report habitual use of marijuana and alcohol, according to the 2017 Prevention Needs Assessment. The Guiding Good Choices class targets grandparents raising grandchildren in grades four through eight, a critical time for establishing clear communication habits shown to reduce the likelihood of substance use. In a lively and open atmosphere, grandparents will learn specific strategies to help their grandchildren avoid drug use and other adolescent problem behaviors, and develop into healthy adults. Grandparents will learn to set clear family guidelines on drugs, as well as learn and practice skills to strengthen family bonds, help their grandchildren develop healthy behaviors, and increase grandchildren’s involvement in the family.
The program is based on research which has shown that when children are bonded to their family, school and non-drug-using peers, they are less likely to get involved in drug use or other behavior problems.
The series is sponsored by the nbCC’s nb21 program and The Family Place. There is no cost to grandparents. Dinner and child care are provided. For more information or to register, call Chris Griffin at 413-663-7588, ext 24.
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