AARP-backed bill Helps Give Grandparents Better Legal Standing to Raise Grandchildren Removed from Parent's Care

BOISE, Idaho, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Idaho grandparents may soon find it easier to step in and raise their grandchildren when the child's parents are unfit.  Today, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee unanimously passed AARP-backed legislation (HB 610) placing grandparents first in line for consideration to become foster parents to their grandchildren.  The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

The legislation, which also expedites the foster parent process for grandparents, was introduced by Representative Sharon Block and co-sponsored by Senator Patti Anne Lodge and Representatives Richard Wills and Lynn Luker.

"Grandparents are increasingly responsible for meeting all of their grandchildren's basic needs when the parents are unable to, but often times do so without any legal authority," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho.  "This legislation helps grandparents legally care for their grandchildren during a crucial time in the child's life -- AARP thanks Representative Block and the bill's co-sponsors for their efforts on this issue."

Key provisions of the "grandparenting" bill include:

• Establishing a priority list for foster care, placing fit and willing grandparents and other relatives first in line for consideration.  
• Expediting the process for foster care approval for relatives when it's in the best interest of the child.  
• Giving grandparents better standing to become foster parents of their grandchildren when the parent has failed to maintain a relationship with the child for one year.  

Grandparents raising their grandchildren represent the fastest growing type of family in the nation.   In Idaho, roughly 20,000 children live in households headed by 9,223 grandparents. Nationally, 6.6 million grandchildren live in households headed by grandparents, while another 1.5 million live in homes headed by other relatives.  

AARP is Idaho's largest membership organization with over 180,000 members.

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SOURCE AARP Idaho

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