PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1989
PRINTER'S NO. 3358
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
390
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, THOMAS, WATSON, FREEMAN, VAZQUEZ,
MILLARD, READSHAW, BULLOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, DeLISSIO, WARREN,
V. BROWN, TOOHIL, KORTZ, SAMUELSON, ROTHMAN, DOWLING,
ENGLISH, BARBIN AND MICCARELLI, JUNE 13, 2017
AS AMENDED, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 17, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the
trend of grandfamilies in Pennsylvania and report its
findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.
WHEREAS, Grandfamilies, or kinship families, are families in
which children reside with and are being raised by grandparents,
other extended family members and adults with whom they have a
close family-like relationship, including godparents and close
family friends; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, more than 195,000 children are
living with their grandparents; and
WHEREAS, More than 88,000 Pennsylvania grandparents are
householders responsible for their grandchildren who live with
them, and of these households nearly 29,000 do not have the
child's parents present in the home; and
WHEREAS, Nearly one-third of grandparents raising
grandchildren are 60 years of age or older, nearly 60% are in
the work force and nearly 20% are living in poverty; and
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WHEREAS, For every child in foster care with relatives, there
are 20 children being raised in grandfamilies outside of the
foster care system; and
WHEREAS, Grandfamilies provide the State with significant
savings by keeping children out of the foster care system; and
WHEREAS, Forty percent of children in foster care with
relatives are there because of parental drug or alcohol abuse;
and
WHEREAS, Grandparents face unique emotional, legal, health
and economic challenges when they unexpectedly find themselves
in the position of raising a second family, yet they find little
support; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to submit a report on grandfamilies
that identifies:
(1) The number of children being raised in grandfamilies
from 2011 through 2016 and a comparison with the number of
children being placed in foster care.
(2) The average length of time children remain in
grandfamilies.
(3) The reasons children are placed in the care of
grandparents and great-grandparents.
(4) The impact parental drug or alcohol abuse has on
children being raised in grandfamilies.
(5) The economic impact raising children has on
grandfamilies, including how it affects the earning ability
and retirement savings of grandparents.
(6) The impact of grandfamilies on the Commonwealth's
foster care system, including how much grandfamilies save the
Commonwealth in foster care costs.
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(7) Emotional, social and legal challenges facing
grandfamilies.
(8) The behavioral and emotional outcomes of children
placed with grandparents or great-grandparents.
(9) The number of parents successfully reunited with
their children after placement with grandparents or great-
grandparents as compared with the number of parents
successfully reunited with their children after placement
with foster families;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report include recommendations on how to
connect grandfamilies with services and information, including
the creation of a Statewide website within an appropriate State
agency; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission develop
the report in collaboration with all of the following:
(1) THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES OF THE
COMMONWEALTH.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
(1) (3) Residents who have raised their grandchildren or
other minor relatives.
(2) (4) Residents who have been raised by their
grandparents.
(3) (5) The NEPA Intergenerational Coalition.
(4) (6) A family law expert;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission report its findings and
recommendations, including proposed legislation and programs, to
the General Assembly within one year of the adoption of this
resolution.
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