(WTAJ) — U.S. Senator Bob Casey recently introduced a bill to help ease the financial burdens of grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren to continue combatting the devastating effects of the opioid crisis. 

The Grandfamilies Act builds on the success of legislation that was signed into law last year to help grandparents easily find the resources they need.

 All across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grandparents caring for grandchildren continue to tell me that they need more help, I believe the federal government needs to do more. This is why I introduced the Grandfamilies Act to help relieve some of the financial burden many grandparents face as they take on the unexpected challenge of parenting a second time around. I will continue to the fight to ensure that grandparents who are doing this selfless work have what they need.”

-U.S. Senator Bob Casey.

The legislation would increase access to Social Security child’s benefits, and temporary assistance to needy families cash assistance program incentivized, incentivize states to create temporary guardianship laws for grandparents who need to step in quickly to help a grandchild, provide support for housing specifically provided for grandparents raising grandchildren. 

The Grandfamilies Act is supported by Generations United, American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Defense Fund, Leading Age, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and Social Security Works.