Grandparents raising grandchildren need our help

During this special time of year, we all look forward to seeing our friends and especially our family. Mothers and fathers have their children come home for a few days. Aunts and uncles get to see nieces and nephews they don’t often see and cousins reunite for what may be their only yearly opportunity to see each other.

However, there is one often overlooked demographic that does not get to enjoy the holidays in the way you and I do: grandparents raising their grandchildren. This group is grandparents who have stepped up to the plate to care for their grandchildren when the parents become unable or unwilling to do so. These aren’t happy holiday times when the kids get to bond with grandma and grandpa. These are often trying, stressful times when grandparents feel overwhelmed and children wonder where their parents are.

I recently hosted a forum in Wilkes-Barre on this topic where we heard stories of tragedy and despair. One perfect example was the testimony of Beth O’Boyle, a grandparent raising her grandchildren who passionately described the heartbreak in her family:

“Most of us look forward to — in a perfect family, the Disney family — look forward to Christmas, look forward to Thanksgiving. I’m glad when they’re over because it’s just a painful reminder of what used to be and what doesn’t exist now. They want to see their parents. Their parents are their parents no matter what.”

The pain in her voice was all too real. Unfortunately, Beth is part of a growing population in Pennsylvania and around the country. While many of us hope to be enjoying our golden years with relaxation, travel and new hobbies, more and more grandparents are finding themselves raising children for a second time in their life. In Pennsylvania, approximately 90,000 grandparents are raising more than 195,000 grandchildren. Across the country, 2.7 million grandparents are raising grandchildren, and that figure has been steadily climbing since 2009.

If those numbers seem daunting, it’s because they are. Oftentimes, parents become unable to care for their children due to substance abuse disorders. And with the opioid epidemic claiming lives each and every day, it’s like gasoline being thrown on an already burning fire. These grandparents are saving Pennsylvania over $1 billion each year, and that’s a conservative estimate. The true total is impossible to tell because so many grandparents don’t report that they’re raising their grandchildren out of fear or shame.

Imagine the financial strain, the time commitment and the energy commitment of raising a child for one year, two years, five years or 10 years after you thought you were done. Grandparents who take in their grandchildren are draining their retirement funds and sometimes giving up on the hope of retiring altogether. They’re sacrificing themselves trying to do the best they can to care for their grandchildren, and it’s time we start to give back and help these grandparents.

One of the biggest constraints grandparents deal with is the lack of legal standing as guardians over their grandchildren. Something that most parents take for granted, such as enrolling a child in school or making a medical decision, can be much harder for grandparents. That’s why I’ve introduced H.B. 1539, legislation aimed at providing means for grandparents to acquire temporary guardianship of their grandchild.

This bill isn’t about taking away the rights of the parent. Everyone involved in these tragic situations wants the parent to get their life straightened out and be there for their children as they should be. But it will remove some of the legal hurdles grandparents face as they attempt to care for their grandchild. House Bill 1539 has bipartisan support and I’m proud to work with Republican Chairwoman Kathy Watson of the House Children and Youth Committee on this topic.

This is only a beginning step, but it is an important one. As we enjoy the holiday season, keep in mind those who are dealing with the challenges of raising their grandchildren. We must help them address their concerns and I look forward to working with legislators from both sides of the aisle to help make Pennsylvania a national leader in helping grandparents raising their grandchildren.

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, Democratic Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, represents the 121st Legislative District