PathWays PA Policy Blog

A recent U.S. Census Bureau report, Living Arrangements of Children:2009 , explores the changes in living arrangements for children in the United States over the last several decades, and the ways in which these living arrangements affect the well-being and development of these children. The most notable change detailed in the report was the large increase in the percentage of children living with at least one grandparent. Since 1991, there has been a drastic 64% increase in the number of children living in the same household as a grandparent, rising from 4.7 million in 1991 to 7.8 million in 2009. According to the report, grandparents often play an important role in taking care of the children in the household, although households containing a grandparent did have a slightly smaller chance of being in poverty (22% versus 20%) than those that contained no grandparents.

(From our friends at edtrust.org) Nearly 10 million college students who depend on Pell need your help … RIGHT NOW Today is Save Pell Day — a day devoted to online activism to save the Pell Grant program. Pell is on the chopping block in the debt ceiling/deficit reduction negotiations. Students need you to stand up for them…TODAY We all must tell Washington that the Pell is a vital part of our nation’s education ecosystem. Cutting Pell would damage the lives of hard-working college students and our nation’s economic future. It only takes 2 minutes. Find out how.

FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES HELP PRESERVE FUNDING FOR ANTI-HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS Next Tuesday, July 26, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-H) Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to vote on its draft FY 2012 funding bill. This is the first proposal from Congress on funding levels for key programs targeted toward people experiencing homelessness and we need YOUR help to make sure it's as good as possible. Specifically, we need to make sure that this bill includes $135 million for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Programs and $75 million for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program. What You Can Do: NOTE: Congressional office phone numbers can be found by dialing the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. Click here for more information on contacting your Member of Congress. Find out if your representative is on the Labor-H appropriations subcommittee. Click here to see a list of committee members. If so, call your repre...

In the last session of the General Assembly a number of bills were put forward that would limit a women’s access to an abortion. These bills put women’s health at risk by limiting access and her choice. For instance, one of the proposed laws would not allow a women purchasing insurance through the state exchanges that will be available in 2012 to have that insurance include coverage for an abortion. This limits coverage for even medically necessary abortions. Another bill would add to the already strict restrictions and regulations that medical centers providing abortions face. The new regulations would require facilities to either make costly changes, therefore increasing the cost of their services, or to close their doors. Many people throughout the state are upset about these bills and have come together to let their legislators know their feelings. Join people across PA in telling the Legislature to stop the attacks on women’s health in Pennsylvania! Follow the Ca...

( From our friends at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania ) More than 700 individuals and 500 families are known to be homeless in Delaware County, according to the recent point in time survey. 8,500 people applied for HEMAP in 2010 meaning they were seeking help with a foreclosure. There are 1/4 as many apartments that are both affordable and available for every 100 renters with incomes of about $20,000 a year or less (±$11/hour, FT) Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Cashiers, Child Care Workers and Preschool Teachers, Waiters and Waitresses, Home Health Aides and Pharmacy Techs. At the same time, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Public Housing/Housing Choice vouchers, CDBG, HOME and many other housing programs can and are making a difference to the most vulnerable people in the community. And these programs create jobs and help the local economy. Please join The Housing Alliance on Monday, July 26th at 1:00 p.m. to discuss on-going advocacy activities and strategy in Delawar...

A new site – Generocity.org – aims to empower local non-profits with news, networking and easy fundraising tools. The site, which is still in its beta stages, bills itself as “Inspiration’s hometown.” For it’s news section, it focuses on the beneficial work non-profits are doing in the community, sorting by focus area. So for those who want to find out what’s happening within the worlds of advocacy & civil rights, animal welfare, arts & culture, education, the environment, health & recreation or social services, they’ll be able to have a clearinghouse for much of the work being done in the Delaware Valley. The site goes about funding in much the same way as Kickstarter – a goal is posed, and funds are raised through pledges of microdonations, and it’s all done on a project-basis. Popular current projects include a spay and neuter program, a soccer scholarship for under-priveleged children, a diabetes walk and the Mural Arts Program. In addition to these capacity b...

For young children living in low-income families, there are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood that the child will experience poor outcomes in their health, education and development throughout their lifetime. The National Center for Children in Poverty has developed a new tool to calculate how common each of these risk factors are within each state. The Young Child Risk Calculator allows you to enter your desired state, age range, and income level, and then choose from seven different risk factors(including having a large family, being the child of a single parent or a teen mom, and living in a household with no English speakers) to calculate the percentage of the population that falls into that category. You can choose one or more factors to compare the different risks within a state. This tool could aid legislators in identifying the largest communities of at-risk low-income youth in Pennsylvania.

While the legislature has recessed for the summer, legislative business continues. According to an article in the Morning Call, if the state Legislature adopts recommendations of Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, drivers likely would pay a few cents more for a gallon of gasoline, and higher registration, license and other vehicle-related fees. They would register their cars every two years instead of annually, and those tiny license plate stickers would be eliminated to save money and allow for online renewals. Driver’s license renewals would be every eight years rather than every four, and private companies would be authorized to administer tests to new drivers. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

Yesterday, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report which determined that contraception and several other services should be considered preventive care as they improve the health of women . The report recommends that all of these services be covered without co-pays or deductibles. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is expected to use these recommendations to issue the government’s final decision on this issue by August 1st. In addition to contraceptive services for women, the panel recommended that the government require health plans to cover screening to detect domestic violence, screening for H.I.V, and counseling and equipment to promote breastfeeding, including the free rental of breast pumps. The report also found that all insurers should be required to cover screening for gestational diabetes in pregnant women, DNA testing for the human papillomavirus as part of cervical cancer screening, and annual preventive-care visits. Such visits could ...

FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ABOUT DANGEROUS FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS Your call is still needed - please fight dangerous cuts by calling today to support low-income families! Call your senators toll-free at 888-907-1485, and tell them that middle-class and struggling families must not bear the brunt of the budget cuts. Ask for a budget plan that reduces the deficit responsibly and works for all Americans - not just millionaires and big business. Urge your senators to oppose harmful cuts or caps to programs serving our nation's most vulnerable communities. Here is a script you can use: "Hello, my name is ____________ and I am a constituent of Senator ______________. I am calling today to ask the Senator to prevent harmful cuts or caps to low/moderate-income programs in the negotiations to reduce the deficit. Please insist on fair increases in revenues and reductions in wasteful military spending to prevent reckless cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, and...

On June 30, the Pennsylvania General Assembly completed work on a 2011-12 state budget. The final budget spends $27.249 billion, the lowest amount since the 2008-09 enacted budget, with cuts totaling more than $960 million. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) has just released a detailed analysis of the budget . Some of the highlights include: The budget uses only $200 million of a $786 million 2010-11 year-end surplus. The year-end surplus was 10 times the $78 million surplus projected in the Governor’s March budget proposal. The budget suspends a legally required transfer of 25% of the year-end surplus to the Rainy Day Fund. Lawmakers say this was done as a condition of receiving funds through the American Recovery Act (ARRA). With 2010-11 lapses, perhaps as much as $1 billion is carried forward and unappropriated in 2011-12. The budget presumes revenue growth of 1.2% in 2011-12, far less than the 4.7% assumed in the Governor’s budget proposal in March. Public ...

FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES DEALING WITH THE DEBT CEILING: YOU CAN DO A LOT This is a critical time for America's children, youth and families. Please take a moment to follow the three simple steps outlined below, and let Washington lawmakers know that the choices they make today will have very real impacts on children, youth and families for years to come. 1. SIGN ON TO THE CHILDREN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL'S (CLC) DEBT CEILING LETTER AND THEN FORWARD IT TO YOUR NETWORKS To read the letter, click here . To sign your organization on, click here . Debt ceiling negotiations are heating up quickly. Please sign your organization on to the CLC debt ceiling letter and then forward it to your networks. It is especially critical that we have representation from state and local organizations. (Note: this letter is for organizational sign on only.) 2. HAVE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN YOUR OFFICE SIGN ON TO THE CLC DEBT CEILING PETITION, THEN POST IT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND SEN...

According to an article in the Morning Call , as the federal government this week rolled out the framework for states to establish their own health insurance exchanges, a key element of the federal health care reform law, officials in Harrisburg were still trying to determine if they will set up an exchange at all. Gov. Tom Corbett has been an opponent of the law — as attorney general, he joined a multistate suit to fight the law in federal court — and a spokeswoman from the state Insurance Department says officials haven’t decided whether they’ll recommend developing an exchange for Pennsylvania. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

Pathways PA helps women and their families to become self-sufficient with a variety of services. But many of these families need even the essentials to get started. So, Pathways is asking the public to look around to see if there are any gently used items that others could use. To read the full story, please visit http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/07/13/local-self-sufficiency-charity-seeks-donations-of-basics-for-needy-families/ .

As we work with women, children, and families through our many direct services and self-sufficiency and financial literacy programs, we often rely on donations of food, clothing, and household goods so that families can meet their most basic needs. We accept new and gently used items throughout the year to give families an opportunity to set up their apartments, feed their children, and dress appropriately for work. These items can be dropped off at our Corporate Office at 310 Amosland Road, Holmes, PA 19043. For more information regarding donations, please call 610-543-5022. Summer Wish List: Baby equipment and furniture New or gently used clothing (any gender, age or size) Women's personal hygiene items i.e. shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, etc. Baby diapers Baby food and formula Books Kitchen items i.e. kitchen electronics, pots and pans, bakeware, utensils, food storage items, etc. Linens School Supplies Wish List: A new sch...

From our friends at the PA Fund for Workforce Solutions Pennsylvania's Industry Partnership Program became law yesterday along with 45 other bills recently passed by the General Assembly. Governor Corbett signed the Industry Partnership legislation making it officially state statute and completing what has been two years of legislative activity involving all four caucuses, two Governors, multiple state government agencies, and countless business and individual advocates and supporters. With passage of SB 552 and the line item funding of Industry Partnerships in the 2011-2012 General Fund Budget, Pennsylvania's nationally recognized workforce development program will continue for another year. For his part in this progress, Governor Corbett deserves congratulations for delivering quickly on his commitment to maintain the Industry Partnership program. Thank you to all who actively supported Industry Partnerships — this victory belongs to you! It is also a triumph for pragma...

From our friends at The Career Wardrobe Prior to the creation of PA WORKWEAR, over $15 million was spent throughout Pennsylvania ($5 million in Philadelphia) on cash assistance for women on welfare to purchase employment and training clothing... The PA WORKWEAR program saves taxpayers over $12 million annually and $36 million over the past 3 years. Earlier this spring, the Department of Public Welfare slated the successful PA WORKWEAR program for elimination. The Career Wardrobe applauds the administration for ultimately understanding the merits of the program and choosing to keep this critical support program for women transitioning to employment.

Director, Individual Donor and Corporate Relations and Special Events Individual and corporate fundraiser sought to manage special events, individual, community group and corporate fundraising. Ideal for a mature professional who is seeking a position with a well-regarded non-profit. Public speaking experience and excellent writing skills are mandatory, as well as marketing and individual fundraising experience. This is an office-based position based in Delaware County, with visits to potential corporations and donors throughout the region. There are occasional speaking engagements/events on weekends and evenings. Please respond in confidence with resume and cover letter. Also please provide salary requirements that reflect the reality of working in a non-profit environment during a protracted economic downturn. Please fax resumes to: 610-328-2807, Attn: LD/Dev or e-mail through our website. Learning Center Group Supervisor EDUCATION /QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Minimum Associates...

According to The Times-Tribune , Pennsylvania is planning to scale back benefits commonly termed "welfare" and to place new requirements on people receiving those benefits. Random drug tests of recipients convicted of felony drug crimes are one of the new changes expected.  Recipients tested will be limited to those with a felony drug conviction within the past five years and those currently on probation for felony drug convictions.  The system to be put into place will test approximately 20% of these recipients, according to the article. Under a new law passed in the waning days of the fiscal year, the Department of Public Welfare now has the authority to limit oral and prescription drug coverage for adult medical assistance recipients and overhaul the special allowance program currently used to pay for tools, training, and work clothing so that TANF recipients can move from welfare to work. According to a report released by CLASP earlier this year, th...

Gov. Tom Corbett achieved the primary goals that he and the Republican-controlled General Assembly set when he delivered his March budget address – an on-time, no-tax increase budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, that begins on July 1. The budget and accompanying enabling legislation was basically a product of agreements between the Governor and the House and Senate Republicans, with Democrats generally locked out of the discussions, weighing in with fierce criticism of each piece in floor and committee debates and largely voting against the bills. The overwhelming Republican majorities in both chambers were mostly able to ignore the input from the loyal opposition, pushing their agenda through and overcoming procedural motions that only required a simple majority. Democrats were able to flex their muscles when the rules required 2/3 votes, such as in consideration of “non-preferred” appropriations for higher education institutions such as Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln, on susp...

In a GED classroom emptied by state budget cuts last Thursday, instructor Marylou Fusco began removing paper cutouts that her students - single mothers working to get off welfare - had made of their own hands that were tacked to a bulletin board. This students who used this classroom in one of PathWays PA's many programs are among the many victims of the devastating budget passed by the state last week.  These students, whose goals after passing their GED included going to college, finding good jobs, and living on their own with their children, will now have an even harder time finding education that leads to a GED. PathWays PA and its students, of course, are not the only ones bearing the brunt of these cuts.  Please read the full article to learn more.

With minutes left in the state fiscal year, Governor Corbett signed H.B. 1485, the spending plan for fiscal year 2011-12. The bill was approved by a vote of 30-20 in the Senate and 109-92 in the House. While a deal on the budget had been reached earlier the Governor did not sign the bill until late Thursday because he was waiting for finalization of accompanying legislation, which included legislation rescinding exceptions to requiring school districts to obtain voter approval for raising property tax above a state-set inflation rate. The budget spends a total of $27.15B, a 3.4% decrease from the current fiscal year spending level. This is the first-time since 1970 that the spending level is lower than the previous fiscal year. The result is deep cuts in education, health, and human services. In addition, cuts were made in environmental programs, tourism and other crucial state services. Key spending cuts include: Education by a total of $863M - basic education by slightly...