Legislation to help grandparents raising grandchildren access legal help introduced by Pashinski

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski    April 13, 2023 | 2:34 PM

HARRISBURG, April 13 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski introduced legislation today to create a Legal Services for Kinship Care Families Grant Program for eligible nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to kinship care families.

“Many kinship families are low-income households already facing complex issues and aren’t equipped to navigate the complicated legal process on their own. This assistance will help at-risk children to stay in stable family environments, relieving excessive pressure on the foster care system,” said Pashinski, D-Luzerne. “In Pennsylvania, there are an estimated 202,000 children who live in households that are headed by their grandparents or other relatives and they deserve access to support and resources just like other foster families.”

Under H.B. 931, grant money through the PA Department of Human Services could be used for administrative, civil legal services and other costs associated with a kinship caregiver retaining the services of a lawyer to ensure the safety and welfare of a child in their care, including, but not limited to, standby guardianship, adoption, power of attorney for medical and educational care, and assisting with informal relative kinship care arrangements. Pashinski said the bill is an enhanced version of last session’s H.B. 2858, incorporating feedback from the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

“We applaud Representative Pashinski for his continued leadership advocating for kinship caregivers,” said Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “Kin play a critical role in Pennsylvania’s child welfare system. We know youth placed with kin experience better outcomes in several areas, including placement stability; school stability and positive educational outcomes; increased likelihood of living with or staying connected to siblings; and greater preservation of race and cultural identity, including community connections. This legislation would empower kin caregivers to navigate the legal system and access services to support the children and youth in their care.”

“PFSA both applauds and thanks Representative Pashinski for being one of our state’s strongest advocates for keeping children out of foster care placement and with their family members whenever possible,” said Angela Liddle, president and CEO of PFSA. “His legislation would assist grandparents raising their grandchildren to do just that. His legislation would protect valuable child welfare resources for when they are most needed and would allow children to have daily care and guidance provided by extended family – it’s a win for everyone.”

The proposal builds on Pashinski’s 2018 legislation creating temporary guardianship for grandparents when parents of children are unable to care for them due to substance use disorder, as well as his H.R. 390, which authorized a Joint State Government Commission study of the trends in Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The commission has since reported its findings to the General Assembly, including the recommendation that the state “Educate grandparents and other close relatives on the full range of their legal options and improve their access to legal assistance.”

“While we’ve made progress, we continue to hear from grandparents and kinship caregivers struggling to access the resources they need and deserve as they take care of their family member’s children,” Pashinski said. “These stories are supported by the commission’s recommendations and advocates who have all identified providing legal and other financial assistance for kin caregivers as an important next step for Pennsylvania policymakers – which is what our grant program would do. I want to thank the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children for helping improve this legislation and everything they do on behalf of children and families across our commonwealth.”