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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 12, 2024 12:56 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judy Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Kinship Care Legal Assistance |
| With the enactment of Acts 88 and 89 in 2018, Pennsylvania has improved the support available to grandparents and other kinship caregivers. To continue this support, I am introducing legislation that will amend Act 89 of 2018 (the Kinship Caregiver Navigator Program Act) to create The Legal Services for Kinship Caregivers Grant Account within the Department of Human Services. Grants will be awarded from this account to eligible non-profit organizations that provide civil legal services to kinship care families. These grants can only be used to assist with administrative, civil legal services and other costs associated with being a kinship caregiver. Throughout the Commonwealth, kinship caregivers face complex issues and must navigate an often-daunting legal process on their own. Many of the people who wish to serve as kinship caregivers do not have the resources to employ professional assistance. The grants created by this legislation will permit more at-risk children to remain in stable family environments, which, in turn, will reduce pressure on the Commonwealth’s foster-care system. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to improve the access to affordable legal services for Pennsylvania's kinship caregivers. With these grants, kinship caregivers will be better equipped to stabilize the children’s lives in their care. If you have questions, please contact Gregory Beckenbaugh at gbeckenbaugh@pasen.gov. |