KinConnector Hotline
A new hotline is available to help connect thousands of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren to the resources and programs available to them.
The KinConnector hotline was established through Act 89 of 2018 to address the growing number of grandparents who have become primary caregivers to their grandchildren in Pennsylvania. It is a situation that has skyrocketed in recent years as a result of the state’s opioid epidemic. An estimated 82,000 grandparents are the sole caregivers for nearly 89,000 grandchildren.
KinConnector can be reached by calling 1-866-KIN-2111 (1-866-546-2111). The hotline is staffed by social service professionals prepared to help families understand and access local, state and federal resources. A website of resources will also be available in the near future. In the meantime, we have put together the following list of information and services available to grandparents raising grandchildren.
General Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Health County Resource Guides
health.pa.gov
The Department of Health has created guides for available health and human services in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Each guide contains resources for children with special needs, health insurance, housing and more.
United Way of Pennsylvania
uwp.org
Phone: 211 or 717 -238-7365
By dialing 211, you are connected with a United Way operator who has access to a database of health and human services resources available in local areas. These services include support groups, counseling centers, relevant non-profit organizations and more.
Special Kids Network
health.pa.gov
Phone: 1-800-986-4550
The Special Kids Network offers a wealth of resources for children and youth with special needs or physical disabilities. The Network offers referrals to local resources, in-home coordination services and systematic support for families.
PA Families
PAFamiliesInc.org
Phone: 1-800-947-4941
PA Families is a non-profit that offers a database of resources for families caring for children with emotional, behavioral or special needs. You can find resources by searching for your county and/or the type of services you are seeking.
Grandfamilies
grandfamilies.org
Grandfamilies.org is a national legal resource that provides information to grandparents as they navigate the legal aspect of caregiving. Their website offers a searchable database of laws and pending legislation of importance to grandfamilies, as well as resource guides to guardianship, custody, foster care, financial assistance and contact information for local bar associations.
PA Family Support Alliance
pa-fsa.org
Phone: 1-800-448-4906
The PA Family Support Alliance is a non-profit that provides education, support and training to help ensure the safety of children throughout Pennsylvania. The website includes many parenting resources as well as information on events they frequently hold in different communities throughout the state.
Bereavement Resource Guide
elunanetwork.org/assets/guides/BereavementResourceGuide_Pennsylvania.pdf
This resource guide includes information about Pennsylvania organizations available to help children and families affected by grief and addiction.
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Services
dhs.pa.gov/citizens/childwelfareservices/
Phone: 1-800-932-0313
Pennsylvania’s Child Welfare services include information and contact info for county Children and Youth offices, local family centers, and resources for preventing child abuse and neglect.
Penn State’s Kinship Navigator
aese.psu.edu/extension/intergenerational/program-areas/kinship/programspsu.edu
As a part of Penn State’s Intergenerational Program, the Kinship Care Locator is an online database of resources for kinship caregivers. You can find relevant resources by selecting your county of interest.
Legal and Adoption Resources
Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
pabar.org/site/For-the-Public/Find-a-Lawyer
Phone: 1-800-932-0311
The Pennsylvania Bar Association provides lawyer referrals and information on local Bar Associations.
PA Law Help
palawhelp.org
PA LAW HELP provides free information on a variety of civil legal issues including adoption, guardianship and custody. You can find information about legal proceedings and use the website’s interactive tool (LawHelp Interactive) to fill out necessary forms and documents.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
palegalaid.net
Phone: 1-800-322-7572
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network connects individuals and families who meet income requirements to local Legal Aid programs that can assist them with legal matters.
Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN)
adoptpakids.org
Phone: 1-800-585-7926
Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, SWAN offers a network of resources and/or information for families and children going through the adoption, custody and guardianship processes. With regard to Kinship families, they offer a variety of post-permanency services such as support groups and referrals to local family centers.
Resources for Caregivers
County Assistance Offices and COMPASS
dhs.pa.gov
compass.state.pa.us
Phone: 1-800-692-7462
County Assistance Offices can help Pennsylvanians identify and apply for available benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care Works and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Residents can also search for benefits using COMPASS, which is an online tool that allows users to find out what benefits they qualify for and apply for those benefits online.
Area Agencies on Aging
aging.pa.gov
Phone: 1-800-753-8827
Provides contact information for your local Area Agency
on Aging (AAA). Some AAA’s offer a Caregiver or Grandparent Support Program which can provide resources, support groups and financial assistance to grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Find Your Local Social Security Office
ssa.gov
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
You can search for your local Social Security Office and contact them to determine if you or your grandchildren are eligible for any additional benefits. Find your local Social Security Office here.