Donna InDelicato

I serve on a a YMCA Board. At the Y of Greater Londonderry we have a wonderful program called PASTA (Parenting a Second Time Around), which is a kinship/guardian childcare navigation and support program. These guardians are unable to work and also take care of the children left in their care. They are mostly older, and caring for children at a more mature age requires so much from them physically, mentally, and in terms of their limited financial resources. They need as much financial, practical, and social support as possible, and the children depend on them having the resources and tools to in order to have healthy futures. Please vote in the affirmative for this bill and prioritize supporting the caregivers as well as children in need of care, most often due to their parent's inability to care for them due to addiction, substance misuse, or mental health challenges.