Earlier this month, President Trump signed into law the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act sponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey in the Senate and Rep. James McGovern in the House. The law recognizes the unique difficulties of 2.6 million grandparents caring for their grandchildren, many of whom doing so because of opioid and drug abuse by the children’s parents. The bill creates a task force that will come up with a one stop clearinghouse to provide information for grandparents on legal and custody issues, mental health and other social services which can assist the grandparents.
“With so many parents struggling with addiction, grandparents are increasingly coming to the rescue and assuming this role,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. “It is essential that we do all that we can to help these families.”
“I am pleased that the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act has been signed into law. This law will provide grandparents in Pennsylvania, and across the nation, with easy access to helpful resources,” said Senator Casey. “These grandparents, some of which have stepped in to raise their grandchildren due to the opioid crisis, are faced with unique challenges such as delaying retirement, bridging the generational divide, and working through the court system to secure custody. I look forward to the Administration swiftly convening the advisory council created under this legislation so grandparents can access the supports they need.”
