National Grandfamilies Statitics
provided by Generations United
Grandfamilies and kinship families have unique strengths and face unique challenges. Unlike parents, these caregivers do not have inherent legal rights and responsibilities with respect to the children they raise. They often take informal responsibility for children suddenly and have no time to plan for financial, housing, or other needs.
This fact sheet was updated in May 2022.
Family First Prevention Services Act
The Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First) became federal law on February 9, 2018, as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Family First is a landmark child welfare law that aligns with the principle that children do best in families. Although Family First addresses an array of services and programs, this brief summary focuses solely on the several provisions specifically important for grandfamilies. These provisions take effect on October 1, 2019 with some exceptions as noted in the document.
CARES Act
and Grandfamilies
April 2020
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act known as the ‘‘CARES Act’’ authorized more than $2 trillion to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals, governments, nonprofit organizations and for profit industries. The Act, passed March 27th, 2020, is the third package passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.