Nethan Reddy recently completed his year-long term of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) as a Substance Use Abatement VISTA. In this role, he was tasked with working on and implementing programs and policies that deal with substance use, especially as it impacts families.

Nethan reflects, “I still remember, the position description said that the North Star of the position was to work towards ‘keeping families together’ and I thought that was a good thing to do. From a clinical perspective, it is clear that disordered substance use can do a number on one’s body and mind. But it can do the same to the family and even friends of the individual who is struggling. Worse, it can lead to the indefinite separation of parents from their children, an event that has led to the concurrent ballooning of the foster care system, across the nation as well as in Virginia.”

That’s where Kinship Navigators step in. Kinship Navigator programs are community organizations dedicated to assisting kinship families—families in which children live with relatives or close family friends while their parents are unable to care for them. Whether it’s getting connected to social services, procuring essential items, or providing support groups and caretaking trainings and tips, Kinship Navigator programs are there to support the kinship families until the parent(s) have addressed their substance use, or other issues, and the family of origin is able to be reunited.

As part of Nethan’s service term as an AmeriCorps VISTA, he helped VDSS increase the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) funding for Virginia’s Kinship Navigator programs to support kinship families affected by substance use, with funds going towards addressing their unique needs and concerns. He also worked with the Kinship Navigator programs to establish and refine robust and multi-faceted programs for kinship families affected by substance use.

Nethan reflects, “My work on securing this grant was the keystone of my service. I was able to write major portions of the grant narrative; coordinate with fellow VDSS staff, the OAA, and multiple Kinship Navigators; collate budgetary information; and write project timelines. I remember being very intimidated and nervous when I started taking on this work, but I hunkered down and conceived of it in terms of “bird by bird.” One thing at a time. And lo and behold, I emerged alive! After weeks of working with others to craft the application, we submitted it and, long story short, we were awarded every penny we requested.”