Video Transcript
As you’re moving from this role of grandparent to parent, part of what needs to happen is you need to identify what kind of authority you need.
You need to have authority to be able to enroll them into school, show up to a parent-teacher conference, talk to the nurse at school about them, or speak with the counselor. You can do that through something called an affidavit. If you don’t have access to the parent, you can have this signed before a notary, which will allow you to take those actions.
There’s also a power of attorney if you do have access to the parents. They can sign it and have it notarized, which will give you more authority, including taking them to the doctor, getting them into counseling, and accessing other programs.
You also have to determine if your child is safe from being taken by their parents or even being with their parents. What does that look like? Are the parents in active addiction? Are they mentally ill to the point of causing danger to the child? You don’t have to make these decisions alone—ask for help—but these are important factors to consider.
My line is, I wouldn’t have my grandchild around my daughter if she was using. That’s just my choice because I wanted her to feel safe and have a consistent environment.
To have authority over those decisions, you have to have guardianship. That’s a longer process and will require legal support. Your state aid offices or local community organizations can help connect you to the right people. Guardianship gives you the authority to obtain services like Medicaid or financial support.
