Dr. Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich is set to announce the expansion of a free legal advice helpline designed to support grandparents raising grandchildren throughout the state. The announcement will take place at Hotel Hershey and will include Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd and representatives from SeniorLAW Center.
The statewide helpline aims to connect caregivers with legal advice, information, and referrals at no cost. According to state officials, about 83,000 grandparents and other kinship caregivers are responsible for nearly 260,000 children in Pennsylvania.
Secretary Kavulich emphasized the importance of quick access to resources for these families. "Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren often need to access resources quickly. This statewide helpline will link these caregivers to free legal advice, information and referrals," he said.
The initiative builds on existing supports provided by the Shapiro Administration through programs such as the Department of Aging's Caregiver Support Program, PA CareKit, and Pennsylvania's KinConnector.
Karen Buck, Executive Director of SeniorLAW Center; Katie Jones, an attorney specializing in cases involving grandparents raising grandchildren; and Deborah Meyers, a grandmother caring for her grandchildren, are also expected to participate in the event.
The press conference is scheduled for September 24 at noon on the Front Veranda outside of the Fountain Lobby at Hotel Hershey. Media representatives planning to attend must RSVP with their details by contacting agingcomms@pa.gov.