Some grandparents on Long Island who are legally raising their grandchildren while their own children are struggling with addiction are finding out that they are not alone.

The Shirley Grandparents Support Program is now in its fifth year. While each of their stories are different, the bottom line is the same – they will do whatever it takes to protect their grandchildren.

“My youngest is 26 so I was way done, and I was handed a newborn at 43,” says Lisa Laznovsky, of Sayville.

Laznovsky was awarded custody of her granddaughters Jaden and Sabrina while her daughter Tina and her son-in-law were struggling with heroin addiction. She says there were bitter verbal fights and described it as a heartbreaking situation for all involved.

“My granddaughters were innocent and needed someone to care for them, so it was a tough decision to make, but one I needed to make,” she says.

Laznovsky’s daughter and son-in-law went into treatment and are now in recovery. They eventually regained full custody of their girls.

Theirs is a success story with a future many other families don't get to have. In the five years the Shirley support group has been together, there has only been one other family who managed to beat the odds and reunite.

She says it was a long, painful journey for everyone involved. At times, she still can't believe it all happened. 

“They've had another child…[they] have another one due in December. So they're doing really well,” said Laznovsky.

The grandparents in the support group say they rely on each other and consider each other part of their family. It was modeled after a previous parenting group called Parents a Second Time Around, or PASTA.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with an addition, there's help available.
Resources
Nassau Alliance for Addiction Services 
NAFAS Addiction Service Links
Nassau County Drug and Alcohol Hotline (24/7) - (516) 481-4000

Suffolk County Substance Abuse Resource Center
Suffolk County/LICADD Substance Abuse Hotline (24/7) - (631) 979-1700
Long Island Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence
LICADD Services

Family & Children's Association
FCA programs
FCA Hotline - (516) 746-0350

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Contact SAMHSA - Website or 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
OASAS Treatment Centers
New York State HOPEline: 877-8-HOPENY (877-846-7369)

The Grandparents’ Support Group is co-facilitated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library.

If you would like more information on this Support Group contact: Dinah Torres Castro at: dc258@cornell.edu or Pat Mininni at:  Pmininni@communitylibrary.org