Jun 25 2017
Rep. Noem looking to help families struggling with drug/alcohol addiction stick together
KEVN - Black Hills FOX
Representative Kristi Noem is looking to help families stay together while recovering from addiction with two bills now headed to the Senate.
Congresswoman Noem says her bills will make it possible for recovering addicts to be with their children and give them tools to stay together.
The bills passed through the House last week, and now head to the Senate. She says if there aren't any amendments -- she hopes it will head straight to the President.
Funding for the bills would come from money normally paid to foster parents taking care of children while their parent or parents are being treated for addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Instead, those funds would go to rehab facilities to cover the costs of the kids being there as well.
Noem says now more than ever, a bill like this is necessary.
Noem says, "As we know from statistics we've seen across South Dakota -- and frankly, across the United States, drug and alcohol addiction has been rising -- increasing problems across the state. These bills would help keep families strong and together while they're recovering from those addictions."