Priscilla Matos

Testimony in Support of SB 608 – Family and Kinship Caregivers Priscilla Matos Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Priscilla Matos, and I am writing in strong support of SB 608. Through both my professional work in the recovery community and my personal experience working alongside individuals and families navigating complex systems of care, I have seen firsthand how critical family and kinship caregivers are. These caregivers—often grandparents, relatives, or close family friends—step in during some of the most difficult moments in a child’s life. They do this out of love and necessity, often with little to no formal support. SB 608 is a meaningful step toward recognizing and supporting these caregivers. By expanding access to services such as counseling, education, and training, this bill helps ensure that caregivers are not left to figure everything out on their own. When caregivers are supported, children are more stable, families are stronger, and outcomes improve across the board. In my work, I have seen how lack of access to resources—especially affordable child care—can create overwhelming barriers. Caregivers are often balancing employment, recovery, financial strain, and the emotional weight of stepping into a parenting role unexpectedly. Without support, even the most dedicated caregivers can struggle to maintain stability. This bill does more than provide services—it invests in prevention. It helps keep children connected to family, reduces the need for more costly interventions later, and strengthens communities by supporting those who are already doing the hard work. Supporting kinship caregivers is not just compassionate policy—it is practical, cost-effective, and necessary. I respectfully urge you to support SB 608. Thank you for your time and consideration. Priscilla Matos