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.

The Legal Issues of Raising Grandkids 

When Grandparents Can Seek Custody 

NEPA Intergenerational Coalition of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren  

Resources for Caregivers of Children  

Luzerne County Children and Youth Services  

Enrolling a Child into School 

PA Department of Education Support Services 

Luzerne County Head Start 

Early Intervention Services  

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)  

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)