U.S. House Introduces Bills to Support Kinship Families and Grandparents Raising Children
Two bills have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at providing support and resources to grandparents and kinship families raising children. Led by Congressman Glenn Thompson, these bills seek to address the needs of relatives who take on caregiving roles, thereby alleviating pressure on the foster care system. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act, co-sponsored by Suzanne Bonamici, Zach Nunn, and Danny Davis, aims to reauthorize and fund the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies & Kinship Families for another five years. This initiative is designed to help caregivers navigate the child welfare system more effectively. Additionally, the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act, supported by Mary Gay Scanlon, focuses on providing access to services for families dealing with trauma and ensuring they can navigate the child welfare system. The bill also proposes specialized training for caregivers to better utilize available services. 
