So I willl do this in segments. I have 3 GC who has a mother who is a alcoholic and meth addict. Looking for support and other resources in Grandparenting my GC.

She just finished treatment for chemical abuse. Now has relapsed.So she riding on the edge of losing her housing and her children. I looking for support and resources that are available. Before the ball hits.

Are you prepared to take in your grandchildren? Do you want to get Children's Services involved?

My daughter is on welfare due to being homeless for over a yr. Her and the children are living in Sober housing. Which she will be on the streets because of her chemical use

Police has been involve many times over the past year. They have reported her to CP and along with me reporting. It takes act of congress to get them involve. So hopefully be the final straw when she is terminated with her housing. and the family will be out on the strreets. So in the mean time I am checking into grandparenting.

How old are the children and if you believe the children are in real danger call Child Services. Children don't belong on the streets.

Will your daughter allow you to take the children in your house without having to call Child Services? Also are you able to take in children - such as do you have enough room for them and the resources to care for them? know taking in children can be stressful but what are the alternatives? If you can't care for them I guess calling Child Services as a last resort would be better than having children with a meth addicted mother on the street. Not a good situation. So sorry you are going through this.

My GD is 11 yrs and 2 GS 7 and 15. No they are not living on the streets. By my daughter not being sober right now. They are one step from being put out on the street. Hopefully CP will intervene. Until than I am searching out what my options are in taking them in. Bottom line they are not going to a foster home.

Dealing with a Meth Head is real crazy making and Reality is not part of their being. She had her house torn apart. Wall Sheet rock torn from the the walls looking for bugs. Tearing electronics apart looking for bugs. Paranoid thinking. Police called many times. Many ER visits.

Police filed report to CP. No follow up from CP

I also followed up the report that was given from the police to CP. Talk about butting ones head against dealing with CP. Each time my daughter would end up in the ER. The kids would get help. No. As long I was there I was the safety net for the kids. My other daughter and I have taken them to her home or mine to give them a break.

ONe of the saving graces for my grandchildren and I getting involve with Alateen and me Alanon. We have been in the program for 2 yrs. Thank goodness my daughter allows them to get involve. Its a positive program is directing for us to take care of ourselves. Not the addict.

If you are willing to take the children in see if you can get your daughter to sign papers to give you gaurdianship. You u should be able to find the forms on line for your state. If she will sign you should be able to go to court without a lawyer and get it. BUT if the father is known and living he has to sign too. If they do not sign you can still apply but the parents would have to be notified and they would have to show up in court.
Look on line to see if your state has a resource for grandparents. MA is through Elder Care. They can tell you what resources are availible in your state.

Hi, I think it's great that you are looking for answers and support before taking your grandchildren!

When our GD was 4, we convinced bio to let her live with us informally, no legal guardianship. After 2 yrs. I contacted an attorney to get legal custody. He told me "not to rock the boat." This was incorrect advice that I didn't find out until it was too late.

When our GD was 6, her mother took her for a visit and refused to return her. We hired the same attorney and filed for custody in family court. Before our hearing date my daughter was arrested for child neglect after neighbors reported my GD outside looking for mother at 4a. My daughter was drunk and taken to detox.

CPS was forced to get involved due to police and county attorney charges against her. They had been refusing to help GD since she was a year old.

CPS started a CHIPS case and we were forced to join our custody case to the CHIPS case. After a year, my mentally ill, drug addicted daughter got our GD returned to her.

We started a new case in Family Court but were not successful. Our GD was neglected and abused for 8 more years.

In August of this year she came to me at the age of 16. I immediately filed for emergency custody on my own. I did not use an attorney. I went to the Family Justice Center in my county in Minnesota. The self help service center helped me fill out the forms and led me through the process. I now have full physical and legal custody of her.

I wish I would have known to do this when she was living with us informally.

thank you for your support Hope4Delaney and being respectful. Dealing with these issues is very painful. The reality of Drugs and Alcohol is a family diease