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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 13, 2023 02:52 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Patty Kim |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Grandfamily Assistance Program |
| I will soon be introducing legislation to provide much needed support to grandfamily/kinship caregivers. Specifically, families in which children reside with and are raised by their grandparents. Throughout Pennsylvania many families of grandparents supporting grandchildren are low-income households depending upon social security, Medicare and Medicaid. Often, they are facing complex issues and aren't financially equipped to address emergency personal needs of the child or children for whom they are caring. Although responsible for assessing the needs of older adults, Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) struggle to aid these grandparents. This legislation will provide grants to AAAs to evaluate and assist in those instances where grandparents need short-term emergency help to address the personal care needs of the grandchild who is living with them. Currently, over 7.6 million children across the country live in households headed by grandparents, other relatives or a close family friend with about 2.7 million grandparents/kinship caregivers reporting they are responsible for their grandchildren’s needs. Across Pennsylvania, nearly 260,000 children are being raised by more than 84,000 grandparents/kinship caregivers. In about one-third of these homes, neither of the children’s parents live in the home. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |