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Opioid crisis takes toll on NH's children Number of kids removed from parents due to drug abuse surges

Portsmouth Herald - 6/6/2018

CONCORD - The burden of children tossed around by the opioid crisis is now more often falling upon grandparents and relatives, according to a new study released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

The percentage of New Hampshire children or youth removed from parental care with a substance abuse allegation doubled from 30 percent in 2012 to 60 percent in 2016. Of those children, 33 percent were placed with a relative in 2016, up 10 percent from 2012.

The study, examining the caregiving of children affected by New Hampshire's opioid epidemic, was commissioned by New Futures, a statewide advocacy organization, and was authored by Dr. Kristin Smith, a family demographer with the Carsey School.

In addition to numerical findings, the study includes recommendations for Granite State lawmakers to implement the necessary services to assist a generation that will ultimately be affected by adverse childhood experiences, many allege. According to Rebecca Woitkowski, early childhood policy coordinator at New Futures, that includes a gap in services for grandparents and other caregivers who unexpectedly take on that role. She called the study "a call to action" for lawmakers.

Smith said her study includes data from the state Department of Children, Youth and Families, NH BRIDGES and the American Community Survey. She spoke with more than 40 experts in the state working on the frontlines of children and the opioid crisis, a epidemic she said is "hidden in the shadows."

These children, she said, make the 911 calls, fall behind in school and are shuffled to other relatives. They are at increased risk for maltreatment and state child welfare involvement.

On the Seacoast, in 2016, 51.7 percent of DCYF cases had a substance abuse risk factor, according to report. The Nashua area saw the highest number of total cases.

The number of infants diagnosed in the state with neonatal withdrawal increased fivefold between 2005 and 2015, from 52 to 269. In 2016, the most common age group removed from parental care was 0 to 2.

According to the American Community Survey, an estimated 7,983 grandparents were raising grandchildren in the state in 2016, though not all related to substance abuse reasons. Pooled data from 2014 and 2015 shows 55.2 percent of those grandparents were not employed, and 49 percent were living at twice below the poverty level.

Smith said a number of grandparent support groups have been formed in New Hampshire, but additional services are needed to support families.

Moira O'Neill, director of the state's new Office of the Child Advocate, said access to voluntary and preventative services are a focus going forward. In March, the state Senate passed a bill that would restore funding for voluntary services.

O'Neill said the opioid crisis is a complicating factor in New Hampshire, "on a child welfare system that was already in a great deal of stress."

"The thing that I worry the most about is the long-term effects that children experience when they are exposed to parental substance use disorders," she said, noting congestive heart failure, diabetes, obesity, poor school and job performance, and involvement in the criminal justice system.

O'Neill emphasized the importance of "one single, caring, consistent adult" in a child's life. The state needs more programming that is "family-strengthening," both O'Neill and Woitkowski noted.

Ben Vihstadt, spokesperson for Gov. Chris Sununu, said the governor's office looks forward to reviewing the study.

The Office of the Child Advocate, O'Neill said, is consistently assessing services in hopes the state will "invest in a system that's going to meet (children's) needs." The study can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2kQUxwt.