William Penn Foundation – Philadelphia Grandfamilies & Kinship Care Learning Community
More than 2.5 million children in the United States are being raised in kinship families and grandfamilies, households where relatives and close family friends step in as primary caregivers when parents are unable to care for their children. In Philadelphia alone, more than 17,000 children are estimated to be living in these arrangements, and across Pennsylvania, for every one child in kinship foster care, an estimated ten are being raised by kin outside of the foster care system.
In 2022, the William Penn Foundation invested in strengthening services for these families by bringing together partner organizations in Philadelphia to provide case management, peer support, outreach and education, resources and referrals, and emergency assistance. Building on that initial investment, a second cohort launched in 2025, expanding to 10 partners serving grandfamilies and kinship caregivers raising children ages 0 to 8, reaching an estimated 1,045 caregivers per year. Generations United convenes the learning community and provides technical assistance to support all partners across both cohorts.
2025-2027 Partner Organizations
- Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) (also 2022–2025) is a Latino-based nonprofit serving North Philadelphia families through behavioral health, early childhood education, foster care, and housing assistance. Through this work, APM is strengthening grandfamily and kinship caregiver peer networks and community-based assets.
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems, delivering both clinical care and community-based programs that support families’ health and financial well-being. Through this work, CHOP is expanding support services for grandfamilies and kinship caregivers.
- Connectedly (also 2022–2025) is a Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to reducing social isolation among older adults, best known for its GrandFamily Resource Center serving Philadelphia’s 17,000+ grandparent-headed households. Through this work, Connectedly is supporting and expanding its GrandFamily Resource Center programs.
- Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (GPCA) is a South Philadelphia-based organization that works to break the cycle of generational poverty through early childhood education, family support, workforce development, and housing assistance. Through this work, GPCA is operating the Kinship Caregiver Resource Pantry to support families in Southwest Philadelphia.
- Northeast Treatment Centers (NET) is a licensed and accredited nonprofit providing trauma-informed behavioral health and social services — including mental health, addiction treatment, foster care, and child welfare — to over 10,000 people annually across Greater Philadelphia. Through this work, NET is leading the Kinship Family Caregiver Support Initiative.
- Philadelphia Children’s Alliance (PCA) is Philadelphia’s only Child Advocacy Center, bringing together law enforcement, medical, and mental health professionals to support child survivors of sexual abuse and their families. Through this work, PCA is providing caregiver support groups and workshop programs for grandfamilies and kinship caregivers.
- Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) (also 2022–2025) is the fourth-largest public housing authority in the U.S., housing approximately 80,000 Philadelphians while also connecting residents with programs that support long-term self-sufficiency. Through this work, PHA is supporting kinship families raising young children in PHA and HUD-assisted housing citywide.
- SeniorLAW Center (also 2022–2025) is a nonprofit that provides free legal representation, education, and advocacy to older Pennsylvanians on issues including housing, elder abuse, and family law. Through this work, SeniorLAW Center is ensuring access to justice for grandparents raising grandchildren across Philadelphia.
- Temple University – College of Education and Human Development is a major public research university with a deep commitment to community-engaged work and equitable outcomes for children and families. Through this work, Temple is launching the Guiding Generations initiative, designed to increase caregivers’ knowledge and skills in North Philadelphia.
- Widener University is a private university with a strong focus on civic engagement and professional education, including a Master of Social Work program emphasizing community and intergenerational practice. Through this work, Widener is leading Strength in Kinship, an initiative providing innovative therapeutic care, training, and education for grandfamilies across Philadelphia.
2022-2025 Partner Organizations
- Coalition of African Communities (Africom) has offered community services for over 20 years to help African immigrants feel at home in Philadelphia. Africom conducts outreach to grandfamilies, connecting them with resources, referrals for services, workshops, and operates an emergency fund for urgent one-time expenses.
- Grand Central was founded over twenty years ago to improve the lives of grand/kinship caregivers by ensuring that resources, services, and systems are responsive to their unique needs. Grand Central provides access to resources, workshops, peer support groups, and an emergency fund for urgent expenses.
- Masjid Al-Wasatiyah Wal-Itidaal provides religious, educational, and health services to Muslim families in Southwest Philadelphia. The mosque offers respite childcare, support groups, and connects grandfamilies with necessary resources.
- Turning Points for Children is a multi-service agency that supports at-risk families in Philadelphia through programs that include staff training, support groups, respite childcare, emergency funds, and trauma-informed behavioral and mental health services for grandfamilies.
About the William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at williampennfoundation.org.