Origins-USA Supports Kinship Cargiver Support Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 2, 2007 --
Origins-USA supports The Kinship Caregivers Support Act
(S 661 in the Senate and HR 2188 in the House)

According to the Children’s Defense Fund, kinship care and subsidized guardianship programs “can help provide safe, permanent families for children who are being raised by relatives when their parents are not able to do so.”

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) found that many relative caregivers are willing to offer a home and support for children in need, but occasionally caregivers require financial assistance to provide the necessary support. CLASP found that “subsidized guardianship programs have proven valuable tools in supporting kinship care efforts throughout the country. Kinship care research reveals that children experience greater stability, have more positive perceptions of their placements, and have fewer behavioral problems in kinship care. Additionally, kinship care supports ethnic, racial and cultural traditions. Research also shows that kinship care is safer than other out-of-home placements.”

This legislation . introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton and enjoying bi-partisan support, would provide financial aid to grandparents and other qualified relatives so that they can care for their grandchildren and keep them out of foster care and allows these relatives to become guardians of the children.

Origins-USA, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to natural family preservation and protection and support of families separated by adoption, supports S 661 and HR 2188 as being in the best interest of children and the preservation of their natural families by addressing the financial, emotional, and physical problems often faced by children and their guardians.

Origins-USA urges everyone to phone or write their Congressperson and ask him/her to support this bill. You can do so at: http://www.votesmart.org/ official_ congress.php or use any of these toll-free phone numbers to call congressional offices in DC: 866.340.9281; 866.338.1015; 877.851.6437; 800.828.0498; 800.459.1887; 800.614.2803.

Contact: PR@Origins-USA.org

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