On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, December 27, 2018.
For many Missouri grandparents, the thought of raising young children again may seem overwhelming. Unfortunately, the nation is in the grips of a drug epidemic that continues to affect hundreds of children each day. Many parents struggling with addiction are unable to care for their children, promoting grandparents to pursue a change in child custody.
It was estimated that in a single year, in one state alone, about 1,000 babies were born addicted to the drugs they were exposed to in the womb. Called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, newborn infants often suffer withdrawal symptoms from the drugs a biological mother uses during the course of her pregnancy. These children are often born with special medical needs, and must go through a type of detox as soon as they are born.
When a parent is addicted to drugs, a grandparent may feel the immediate need to take action. In one case, a grandmother explains how she made her way through the court system to legally adopt her infant grandson. Though she was successful, and the child is safe in her loving care, she expressed a wish that her daughter, the infant’s natural mother, will be able to overcome her drug addiction, and perhaps one day be a part of the child’s life.
When a Missouri parent is unable to care for his or her own child, grandparents may be able to step up to the plate. A compassionate attorney can help a client become educated on the legal process necessary to change child custody. It is important for children to have the opportunity to live in an home where they are safe and well cared for, and taking action in a family court can help grandparents ensure that their young family members are no longer at risk for abuse and neglect, and will not suffer as a result of a parent’s continued drug use.
