Posted: | May 19, 2017 02:25 PM |
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From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Joint State Government Commission study on grandfamilies |
I am preparing a House resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to study grandfamilies in Pennsylvania, with a focus on how the opioid crisis is impacting this growing trend. Grandfamilies are families in which children reside with, and are being raised by, grandparents or other extended family members and adults with whom they have a close family-like relationship. In 2014, 40 percent of children placed in the care of relatives were there because of parental drug or alcohol abuse. According to Generations United, an organization at the forefront of helping grandparents raising grandchildren:
Grandfamilies save the state an estimated $21 billion a year by keeping children out of the foster care system. Grandfamilies face unique challenges as they suddenly find themselves raising a second family, including; enrolling children in school, getting consent for medical care, finding affordable housing appropriate for children and managing the expense of raising a child while trying to save for their own retirement. At my hearing on the issue in 2014, and at a recent hearing conducted by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, grandparents didn’t ask for a handout, but rather for a helping hand so they can do their part to keep a fragile family together. The JSGC study will look at what our grandfamilies need to successfully raise the children in their care, and will make recommendations to the General Assembly so we can do our part to help these families that are helping the state by keeping children out of foster care. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HR390