03/05/10

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Grandparents and other close relatives would
be placed at the top of the Department of Health and Welfare's list
of people eligible to become the foster parents of at-risk children.

The House on Friday passed a measure meant to avoid, if
possible, separating children from close relatives who are willing
to step in and care for them if the parents are unfit to do so.

The senior advocacy group AARP hailed passage of the bill,
saying grandparents raising their grandchildren represent the
fastest growing type of family in the nation.

About 6.6 million grandchildren across the United States are now
in households headed by their grandparents.

If a grandparent isn't available, great grandparents, aunts,
great aunts, uncles, great uncles and other close relatives would
come into consideration, according to the bill. It now goes to the
Senate.


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