Building Momentum for Opioid-Exposed Children: Generation O at the National Opioid Settlement Conference

Last month, Generation O attended the first annual National Opioid Settlement Conference (NOSC), and left with renewed energy, new contacts, and perhaps most importantly, we left with momentum.

For years, the conversation around the opioid crisis has focused primarily on addiction, overdose, and recovery. While those issues remain critically important, Generation O is working to ensure another population is no longer overlooked: children with prenatal opioid exposure. As our Playbook explains, these children are often the forgotten victims of the opioid crisis, and many continue to experience developmental and neurological challenges long after infancy.

A highlight of the National Opioid Settlement Conference was the opportunity to present. The session introduced settlement leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to the needs of our population. By combining emerging research with the lived experiences of caregivers, we demonstrated why supporting these children must be part of the national opioid response. The presentation emphasized that while Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) resolve in infancy, many children continue to experience developmental, sensory, and nervous system challenges that require ongoing support. The strong engagement and thoughtful discussions that followed reinforced a growing recognition that opioid settlement investments must include the long-term needs of these children and the families raising them.

Throughout the conference, we connected with leaders in opioid settlement implementation, public health, research, philanthropy, county and state government, maternal health, and hospital systems. Our team had meaningful conversations with organizations and leaders including the Steadman Group, Partnership to End Addiction, the National Association of Counties, Sea Change, and Hard Beauty, among many others. These discussions opened doors to potential research partnerships, educational webinars, collaborative grant opportunities, and new ways to incorporate the needs of opioid-exposed children into state opioid settlement strategies.

These conversations reflect Generation O's broader mission: connecting caregiver experience with research, policy, and practice so that children with prenatal opioid exposure receive the recognition and support they deserve. Our work continues to bridge the gap between emerging science and the day-to-day realities families face.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the National Opioid Settlement Conference was this: the conversation is changing. Across sectors, leaders are beginning to understand that supporting opioid-exposed children is an essential part of opioid remediation.

The conference also reinforced our belief that NOSC should become an annual priority for Generation O. With the 2027 conference already scheduled for Tulsa, Oklahoma, we're excited to build on the relationships we established this year and continue expanding our national impact.

To everyone who stopped by our booth, attended our presentation, shared ideas, or expressed interest in working together, thank you. The momentum is real, and together we're helping ensure that opioid-exposed children are no longer left out of the national conversation.