Bill Clinton: “today I am pleased to be submitting a resolution that urges Congress to expand the supports and services available to…”

“today I am pleased to be submitting a resolution that urges Congress to expand the supports and services available to grandparents and other relatives who are raising children when their biological parents can no longer take care of them. I am pleased to have worked with my friend and colleague, Senator Olympia Snowe, in crafting this important bill. Today, in Albany, NY, there is a ``GrandRally'' going on to celebrate and honor the almost 300,000 children who live in grandparent-headed households--a total of 6.3 percent of all children in New York State. Another 112,000 children live in households headed by other relatives. I am so pleased that this resolution coincides with the GrandRally because they compliment each other nicely. Nationwide, four and a half million children are living in grandparent-headed households and an additional 1.5 million children are living in households headed by other relatives. This represents a 30 percent increase between 1990 and 2000. Kinship care families came to be because there are many tragic instances when parents are unable to raise their own children. Serious illness, death, substance abuse, incarceration, domestic violence, and unemployment are just some of the reasons that have forced grandparents and other relatives to step forward, often at great personal sacrifice, to provide safe and loving homes for the children in their care.”