The opioid crisis left roughly 2.4 million grandparents across the US with the responsibility of raising their grandchildren.
But with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the ones protecting their grandchildren are themselves the most vulnerable.
Many are over 60, putting them at higher risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Others have risky underlying medical conditions. Their death, or extended hospitalization, would upend their grandchildren's lives once more.
The CDC wants older adults to protect themselves from the virus by self-isolating and avoiding contact with others, including relatives.
But for grandparents raising grandchildren? Impossible.
These grandfamilies can’t take a break from each other. These grandparents are the last option keeping children out of foster care. Jaia Peterson Lent Deputy Executive Director, Generations United