Glenn W. Thompson
07/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/22/2026 13:51
Thompson Introduces 2 Bipartisan Bills to Support Grandfamilies, Kinship Caregivers, Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), introduced two bipartisan bills that would provide support, resources, and safeguards to grandfamilies, kinship caregivers, and the children under their guardianship.
Rep. Thompson introduced theSupporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 and the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act.
About 2.5 million children across the United States are being raised in grandfamilies, in which grandparents raise children, or kinship families, in which adult relatives or close family friends raise children. These families play an essential role in preserving family connections, preventing children from entering foster care, and promoting family stability. Without these caregivers, the foster care system would be overwhelmed and cost taxpayers an additional $10.5 billion annually.
Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026
Led by U.S Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Danny Davis (D-IL), the bill would reauthorize the National Technical Assistance Center (TA Center) on Grandfamilies & Kinship Families to strengthen the support provided for these families.
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is the TA Center led by Generations United through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The TA Center brings together national experts and partner organizations to develop evidence-based tools and promote innovative practices that help communities better meet the needs of kinship families and grandfamilies. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 guarantees these valued programs succeed by providing funding for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network for another five years.
"We can do a better job at helping primary caregivers navigate the child welfare system. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 will provide caregivers, who tend to be older adults, access to the resources they need, so their primary focus can be placed on raising their loved ones," Rep. Thompson said.
"Living with grandparents or extended family and friends can provide children with the stability they need to thrive when their parents aren't able to care for them," Rep. Bonamici said. "We must support these essential caregivers, who often face additional barriers. The bipartisan Supporting Grandfamilies Act will extend support for families and children at a critical time in their lives."
"Not every family looks the same. Kelly and I adopted two of our daughters, and across the country, there are 2.5 million kids being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives - not because of a government mandate, but because family stepped up when the alternative was foster care," Rep. Nunn said. "Those caregivers said yes without hesitation, often with little warning and fewer resources. Our bill reauthorizes the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network for another five years to ensure that when a family steps up, they aren't navigating that journey alone."
"My Congressional District historically has the highest percentage of children living with kinship caregivers in the country," Rep. Davis said. "I am proud to join with Representatives Bonamici, Thompson, and Nunn in leading the Supporting Grandfamilies Act to ensure that the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network continues providing the critical and coordinated support to kinship and grandparent caregivers. For these families, connections to extra resources serve as crucial lifelines. Supporting kinship caregivers strengthens families, promotes stability, and helps children thrive."
Read the full bill text here.
Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act
This legislation, introduced by U.S. Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) would strengthen support for grandfamilies and other kinship caregivers by ensuring they have access to the services and resources they need to help children thrive.
Grandfamilies and Kinship Caregivers often receive little or no support to meet the complex needs of children, especially those who have experienced trauma, and are left to navigate complicated child welfare support systems on their own.
"Stability is the foundation for a child's quality of life and future success. For many children, this stability is found in the care of a grandparent or kinship caregiver who can provide a safe and loving home," Rep. Thompson said. "I am proud to support the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act to ensure these caregivers and children have access to the services they need."
"Navigating the child welfare system can be a stressful experience for children and caregivers already experiencing hardship, especially grandfamilies," Rep. Scanlon said. "It's important that we abolish systemic barriers that prevent all children and families from successfully navigating the child welfare system. I'm proud to introduce the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Abuse Act to set up children and families for brighter futures."
"The National Foster Youth Institute proudly supports the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act because it reflects what young people with lived experience have shared with us for years: kinship caregivers should be the first stop and are often the reason children remain connected to their family, culture, identity, and community, yet too many are left to do it without the support they need," said Cortez L. Carey, Director of Government Relations at the National Foster Youth Institute. "We believe preserving those cultural connections is essential to a child's well-being. By investing in grandparents, relatives, and other trusted caregivers, this legislation strengthens families, honors cultural preservation, and helps more children heal, thrive, and have a support system beyond the age of 18."
The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act would:
Rep. Thompson introduced theSupporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 and the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act.
About 2.5 million children across the United States are being raised in grandfamilies, in which grandparents raise children, or kinship families, in which adult relatives or close family friends raise children. These families play an essential role in preserving family connections, preventing children from entering foster care, and promoting family stability. Without these caregivers, the foster care system would be overwhelmed and cost taxpayers an additional $10.5 billion annually.
Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026
Led by U.S Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Danny Davis (D-IL), the bill would reauthorize the National Technical Assistance Center (TA Center) on Grandfamilies & Kinship Families to strengthen the support provided for these families.
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is the TA Center led by Generations United through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The TA Center brings together national experts and partner organizations to develop evidence-based tools and promote innovative practices that help communities better meet the needs of kinship families and grandfamilies. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 guarantees these valued programs succeed by providing funding for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network for another five years.
"We can do a better job at helping primary caregivers navigate the child welfare system. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 will provide caregivers, who tend to be older adults, access to the resources they need, so their primary focus can be placed on raising their loved ones," Rep. Thompson said.
"Living with grandparents or extended family and friends can provide children with the stability they need to thrive when their parents aren't able to care for them," Rep. Bonamici said. "We must support these essential caregivers, who often face additional barriers. The bipartisan Supporting Grandfamilies Act will extend support for families and children at a critical time in their lives."
"Not every family looks the same. Kelly and I adopted two of our daughters, and across the country, there are 2.5 million kids being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives - not because of a government mandate, but because family stepped up when the alternative was foster care," Rep. Nunn said. "Those caregivers said yes without hesitation, often with little warning and fewer resources. Our bill reauthorizes the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network for another five years to ensure that when a family steps up, they aren't navigating that journey alone."
"My Congressional District historically has the highest percentage of children living with kinship caregivers in the country," Rep. Davis said. "I am proud to join with Representatives Bonamici, Thompson, and Nunn in leading the Supporting Grandfamilies Act to ensure that the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network continues providing the critical and coordinated support to kinship and grandparent caregivers. For these families, connections to extra resources serve as crucial lifelines. Supporting kinship caregivers strengthens families, promotes stability, and helps children thrive."
Read the full bill text here.
Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act
This legislation, introduced by U.S. Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) would strengthen support for grandfamilies and other kinship caregivers by ensuring they have access to the services and resources they need to help children thrive.
Grandfamilies and Kinship Caregivers often receive little or no support to meet the complex needs of children, especially those who have experienced trauma, and are left to navigate complicated child welfare support systems on their own.
"Stability is the foundation for a child's quality of life and future success. For many children, this stability is found in the care of a grandparent or kinship caregiver who can provide a safe and loving home," Rep. Thompson said. "I am proud to support the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act to ensure these caregivers and children have access to the services they need."
"Navigating the child welfare system can be a stressful experience for children and caregivers already experiencing hardship, especially grandfamilies," Rep. Scanlon said. "It's important that we abolish systemic barriers that prevent all children and families from successfully navigating the child welfare system. I'm proud to introduce the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Abuse Act to set up children and families for brighter futures."
"The National Foster Youth Institute proudly supports the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act because it reflects what young people with lived experience have shared with us for years: kinship caregivers should be the first stop and are often the reason children remain connected to their family, culture, identity, and community, yet too many are left to do it without the support they need," said Cortez L. Carey, Director of Government Relations at the National Foster Youth Institute. "We believe preserving those cultural connections is essential to a child's well-being. By investing in grandparents, relatives, and other trusted caregivers, this legislation strengthens families, honors cultural preservation, and helps more children heal, thrive, and have a support system beyond the age of 18."
The Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act would:
Glenn W. Thompson published this content on July 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 22, 2026 at 19:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]