Benevilla announced Marle Ethelbah, from the Arizona Attorney General's Office, will be the expert presenter for a seminar focusing on the way opioids can negatively affect children and families.

The presentation will place heavy focus on prevalence, prevention, and support for caregivers raising a relative’s child.

The event will be from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., April 27, at Apostles Lutheran Church, 7020 W. Cactus Road.

The results of 304 unique family studies from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show children of parents with opioid use disorders showed greater disorganized attachment. They were less likely to seek contact and are more avoidant of social contact than children in a control group. The children also had increased risk of emotional and behavioral issues, poor academic performance, and poor social skills.

Younger children had increased risk of abuse or neglect, or both, that later in life may lead to such difficulties as unemployment, legal issues and substance abuse.

The presentation is free to the public and registration is required. To register for this seminar or to find out more about the Benevilla free Kinship/Grandfamily Program, please contact Sherry Griffin, at 623-986-9580 or sgriffin@benevilla.org.

Are you raising a grandchild or a relative’s child? Do you need answers, information, resources, support, or a caring listener? The Benevilla Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program offers support and resources to help guide you through the intricacies of kinship caregiving.

For individuals there is the Kinship Support Coordination Program, a 90-day, in-home (or safe place) visitation program. There are also monthly support groups, designed to provide emotional and educational support as well as family fun events planned to create family bonding and provide social interaction with other kinship families.

Started by the community and for the community in 1981, Benevilla is a not-for-profit human services agency dedicated to enriching the lives of West Valley residents by providing care services for older adults, intellectually disabled adults, children, and families.

For more information on services, volunteer opportunities, to take a tour or donate to Benevilla, call 623-584-4999 or visit www.benevilla.org.

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The Benevilla Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program offers support and resources to help guide you through the intricacies of kinship caregiving.