Across Pennsylvania, many older adults are taking on the responsibility of raising children who cannot be cared for by their birth parents. This is referred to as kinship care and can involve various family members, close friends, or adults with a significant relationship to the child. Kinship caregivers provide full-time care, love, and protection to the children. Studies have shown that children in kinship care perform better in school and have fewer behavioral issues than those in foster care. Our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project, led by supervising attorney Heather Kelly, Esq., provides free legal services to eligible older adults who want to provide kinship care. Our advocacy work aims to improve the lives of kinship caregivers, protect their rights, and raise awareness about kinship care through community outreach events and training sessions.

SeniorLAW Center hosted the inaugural meeting of its new Grandparents Justice Advisory Council last month, and it was a powerful gathering as grandparents raising young children shared their lived experiences, insights, and unique journeys. The Council is comprised of former clients of our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) project and community members who are raising grandchildren in Philadelphia. It was created to give voices to those the program serves so that they may advise the project and serve as ambassadors. Peggy Haley, former SeniorLAW Center client and current member of the Council shared that “Instant friendships formed at the Grandparents Council. Informative information sharing as well as members offering support to each other as they shared their stories. I am eager to partake in and contribute to the Council.”

The Council will continue to meet and work with the SeniorLAW Center team to address ongoing barriers to justice and raise the visibility of the program and services. Heather Kelly, Supervising Attorney of the GRG program, shared: “It was a pleasure listening to these dynamic women about their journeys, lives, and challenges and how we can continue to raise the visibility of grandfamilies. Their stories and insights are a powerful reminder that we need to continue to work to meet the needs of all Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. They are heroes.”

At the Generations United's 2023 Intergenerational Conference in Washington, DC, Heather Kelly, Esq., SeniorLAW Center's Supervising Attorney of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project, joined a diverse group of professionals, educators, caregivers, advocates, and enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to exchange ideas, build connections, and explore cutting-edge practices and programs related to intergenerational themes, including kinship and grandfamilies. 

“I am grateful to William Penn Foundation who made attendance at the Generations United 2023 Global Intergenerational Conference possible. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together with other intergenerational professionals, and those with lived experiences, to learn, connect and share innovative practices and programs. I particularly appreciate the grandfamilies and other kinship caregivers who shared their experiences and insights on how we can all better support and advocate for grandfamilies. I am excited to come away from the conference with fresh ideas on how we can improve services for our clients and advocate for grandfamilies in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.” 

We are grateful for the excellent efforts this summer of our 2023 externs, Guozhen Xiao (Penn State Dickinson Law) and Lucas Mason-Moyer (Temple University Beasley School of Law) for their work supporting our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Tenant Rights teams as they made an enormous difference in the lives of our clients and communities.

As a Chinese lawyer, human rights activist and author who overcame tremendous odds, Guozhen Xiao joined SeniorLAW Center as an accomplished professional. She always dreamed of practicing law with a global perspective. Upon arriving in the United States, she eagerly pursued her goal of practicing American law. In 2020 she applied to law school after meeting two self-imposed conditions: improving her English and ensuring her children were more independent. Gouzhen strongly believes that the well-being of older people is of the utmost importance, especially during their advanced years stating, “It is vital for them to live with dignity, have access to necessities, and maintain a positive outlook on life.” During her summer, she helped with the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project, went to court with her supervising attorney, assisted with case management and intake, and attended the first meeting of the Grandparents Justice Council. Guozhen states: “Working at SeniorLAW Center brought me great joy. I am honored to be able to provide our clients with skilled service while under the guidance of my supervisor, Attorney Heather Kelly, Esq. It fills me with a sense of achievement to be a part of this team.” Gouzhen will be interning for the Honorable Jessica Brewbaker, Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, in the fall and traveling internationally to work at the Hague in the Spring semester. 

Lucas Mason-Moyer's journey from teaching in Minnesota to pursuing a career in law also inspired us. Although he loved teaching, he knew that his true calling lay elsewhere. His desire to make a positive impact led him to the legal field, where he could help older Pennsylvanians with their legal concerns. His internship at SeniorLAW has given him the opportunity to do just that, and he is grateful for the chance to make a difference in the lives of others stating “At SeniorLAW Center, I really expanded my knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the legal profession. I was able to see attorneys and legal advocates conduct intakes, draft documents for court, and serve as advocates for clients, all of which I had limited experience seeing before.” Through the experience of working as part of the Lawyer of the Day program in Landlord/Tenant Court in Philadelphia, he not only assisted in intake and observed firsthand the functions of Municipal Court but was also able to assist and observe attorneys from SeniorLAW Center in action as they represented low-income tenants who arrived to court without counsel on that day. Jacob Speidel, Esq. Director of our Tenant Rights project states "Lucas has been an excellent addition to our Tenant Rights team for the summer. He is a quick learner, a hard worker, and a great person to work with. We will miss him and hope he will be back at SeniorLAW Center again in the future!" 

SeniorLAW Center was able to provide Lucas with a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of everyday operations in public interest law. He was able to assist with intake, draft legal documents, attend collaborative systemic advocacy meetings, and help advocate for our clients. This experience expanded his knowledge and expertise in landlord-tenant law, including the statutes and case laws that govern it in Philadelphia. In the fall, Lucas will be participating in an international exchange program at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.  

We know Guozhen and Lucas will shine as they pursue their legal careers. Keep in touch and keep public interest and pro bono in your worlds! 

Former Board Member and pro bono volunteer Courtney L. Schultz, Esq., of Saul Ewing writes about her experience representing older homeowners facing tangled title in Philadelphia and the obstacles they face to both clear title to and maintain their family home. Tangled title affects over 10,000 homeowners in Philadelphia with a combined value of over $1 billion, and has disparate impact on black and brown communities. Tangled titles pose a threat to the housing security of many families and puts their generational wealth at risk. Courtney’s recent article for The Bar Reporter details her pro bono service, which expands SeniorLAW Center’s capacity to address this issue. 

Courtney joined SeniorLAW Center's Board of Directors in April 2019 and served until November 2022, including leadership roles as Co-Chair of our 2022 Gala and our Program & Personnel Committee. She continues to support SeniorLAW Center in a variety of ways, including through her pro bono service and advocacy for elder justice. If you're interested in making a difference in the lives of low-income older Americans by enabling them to own homes, fighting elder abuse, supporting older tenants facing eviction, or helping grandparents raise their grandchildren, please visit www.seniorlawcenter.org for more information about our pro-bono volunteer opportunities. 

Read this important article here: The Philadelphia Bar Reporter: SENIORLAW CENTER: Giving a whole new meaning to the terms ‘master’ or ‘madam’ of the house – SeniorLAW Center.

It is mandatory for all Pennsylvania residents who receive healthcare coverage through Medicaid, a program that supports low-income Americans, to take necessary steps to maintain their coverage. This obligation extends to senior citizens who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Our joint effort can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to receive essential medical care. In order to receive support, please follow these instructions:

• Confirm your address and phone number are up to date, so you get needed information about your coverage.

• Call the Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 in Philadelphia)

• Read your mail and if you get a renewal form, fill it out and return it. It is very important to complete your renewal on time.

• Complete the renewal even if you think you are no longer eligible. This may help you avoid a gap in coverage or care.

• If you receive a notice that your Medicaid will end and feel it is not correct, file an appeal quickly to prevent a gap in your Medicaid coverage. You may also reapply for Medicaid at any time.

• Complete your renewal online in COMPASS

• Complete and submit your renewal in person at any local county assistance office (CAO)

If you need more assistance, The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is helping older adults and their caregivers navigate renewal. The AAAs provide information and support in completing Medicaid renewal forms. You can also call for information on health care programs and resources, and how to access them. To find your local Area Agency on Aging, visit www.aging.pa.gov/AAA or call the Department of Aging at 717-783-1550.

• The Legal Intelligencer: As Pa. Aims to Tighten Guardianship Laws, Practitioners Expect Litigation to Increase – SeniorLAW Center

SeniorLAW Center is deeply involved in reform of the guardianship system in Pennsylvania. Executive Director, Karen C. Buck, Esq. highlights the use of a legal aid model to address guardianship reform in this article by Max Mitchell, Bureau Chief of The Legal Intelligencer. Proposed legislative changes would require a right to counsel for all facing guardianship in Pennsylvania, among other essential changes, transforming due process and access to justice. 

• Writing a will and estate planning can help prevent loss of homes (inquirer.com)

SeniorLAW Center is proud to be a member of the legal services collaborative addressing the crisis of tangled title and working to preserve generational wealth as a poverty fighting tool. The Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Michaelle Bond writes about this pervasive problem facing over 10,000 Philadelphia homeowners with tangled titles, and the work SeniorLAW Center and our legal aid partners are doing to help families maintain and convey their homes. Tangled titles threaten the housing security of thousands of Philadelphia families and put them at risk of losing crucial generational wealth. Along with our partners, Philadelphia VIP, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Legal Assistance, and with the help of increased funding from the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Housing and Community Development, we help to untangle titles, prevent homelessness, and seek security for future generations.

• Philly ranks low for aging in place due to low incomes, rowhome inaccessibility (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia Ranks Near Bottom in the Country for Aging in Place. An important article in the Philadelphia Inquirer reveals how poverty, lack of affordable and accessible housing, and more makes aging in place hard in our city and what we can do to make it better. Our work at SeniorLAW Center addresses all these key issues. Thanks to Michaelle Bond for insightful reporting.