PathWays PA Policy Blog

On October 18, 2014, the Sisters of Saint Francis Advocacy Group will be presenting a symposium on Human Trafficking at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, PA . To register for the symposium call 610-558-5309 or send an email to  osfadvoacypj19014@yahoo.com on or before October 4, 2014. You can find more information about the human trafficking symposium and the threat posed by human trafficking in the group's updated brochure, which is available for free download at http://bit.ly/ZigW8M . Trafficking can happen anywhere, including right here in Pennsylvania. PathWays PA provides a residential facility in West Philadelphia for teen girls (age 13-17) who have run away or are homeless (or are at risk of becoming so). This program helps girls escape trafficking or situations that can put them in danger. An after-school drop-in program for residents and non-residents is now available from 4-7 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. To learn more about this program, please contact the Basic Cent

Right now in the United States , homeless youth are at high risk of being victimized, exploited, or coerced into human trafficking. Many also find themselves involved in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare system. To stem the tide of abuse and victimization, The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would help create appropriate, accessible trauma-informed services that can provide health, healing, and a safe haven for homeless children and teens. Here in the Philadelphia region, runaway and homeless girls can get help right now through a number of organizations, including PathWays PA. Our Basic Center program provides residential facilities for five runaway/homeless girls between ages 13-17 and an after-school drop-in program for residents and non-residents. To learn more about the Basic Center Program, please contact the Basic Center at 215-397-4287. From our friends at the National Network for Youth: S. 2646, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Traf

As early as today, the US Senate could vote on legislation that would help to close the current wage gap between men and women. The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that remain in the Equal Pay Act while preventing retaliation against workers who compare their pay. While it has been more than 50 years since the Equal Pay Act was passed, women still face a significant wage gap when compared with men. On average, women earn 77% of the wages that men earn. The money that families lose to the pay gap each year could cover 89 weeks worth of food or 3,000 gallons of gasoline per household. Take action now to show that #WeMatter! Email  or call your senators ASAP to share how you feel about Equal Pay! Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 8/26/14 - #WeMatter on Women's Equality Day: Tweet Storm at 1PM and 9PM 6/11/14 - Join MomsRising & AAUW for a #MomsEqualPay Tweet Chat Tomorrow! 5/3/14 - Join us on Monday! FREE Workshop on Women and Work

Those of us who like statistics know that it's getting to be that time of year - the time when the Census Bureau releases poverty figures from last year. As always, CHN has us covered - they are offering a webinar on September 11 to help everyone get up to speed on the best ways to use this data. From our friends at CHN : Get ready for the September 16 and 18 release of Census Poverty data with CHN’s annual webinar training , co-sponsored by Community Action Partnership . Join expert Jared Bernstein, former Chief Economist and Economic Advisor to Vice President Biden, to hear what the new data will likely show about poverty, income, health insurance and much more. You’ll also learn how you can access and utilize national, state, and local data. The training is free and all webinar registrants will receive timely follow-up information before and after the data is released. This training will be available on-demand. Be sure to register to receive all materials and updates.

We're launching a new program called "Second Act" employment training. If you are 50 years of age or older, the Second Act program is a great way to learn new skills and tips for re-launching yourself into the new job market. Second Act connects income eligible seniors (50 and older) with FREE job training, resume help, and interview preparation. To learn more about Second Act, contact Norm Solomon at (610) 543 - 5022, x256 Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 7/11/2013 - 2014 RSVP Competition Has Begun! 6/19/2013 - Ask Congress to Support Meals on Wheels 2/8/2013 - New National Elder Economic Security Standard Now Available

On Wednesday, September 17, from 10 am - 1 pm, you can take part in free health screenings, gather educational materials, and learn the latest about preventative health at the 4th Annual Women and Families Wellness Event. The event will take place at the Delaware County Government Center, which is located at 201 Front Street in Media. Please share this information and join us there! Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 5/29/14 - Support Health Care for Military Women and Military Families 3/18/14 - Upcoming Public Webinars on the Affordable Healthcare Law! 5/22/13 - Make Sure You Know-Women's Preventative Health Services Have NO Co-Pay!

On September 3, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed legislation ensuring that mothers working in the city will now have access to reasonable accommodation when it comes to expressing breast milk. The bill, which takes effect immediately, means that mothers must have access to unpaid break time or be able to use paid time in order to express milk. They must also have access to a safe, sanitary place to do so - and that place cannot be a bathroom. The new legislation is part of the Fair Practices Ordinance, which is enforced by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. To learn more, please visit their website , or call 215-686-4670. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 5/29/14 - Support Health Care for Military Women and Military Families 4/25/14 -Ask the Senate to Co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act! 4/3/14 - Philadelphia Pregnancy Accommodations Law is Going Into Effect 

From our friends at CLASP Register now for three national audio conferences on job scheduling! Job schedules matter in many ways. For all workers, it helps when an employer is responsive to a request for a needed schedule change. And far too many workers have volatile and potentially destabilizing schedules. If you don't know when you are supposed to be at work until the last minute, how do you arrange child care or transportation? If your total hours fluctuate from week to week, how do you budget for rent and food? To address these issues and emerging policy opportunities, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is hosting and sponsoring three Job Schedules Matter audio conferences. The conferences, which are co-sponsored by the Center for Popular Democracy and the National Women's Law Center, will include comments from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman George Miller on why they introduced the Schedules that Work Act. You'll also hear from workers abo

The most recent report from the Department of Agriculture shows that 1 in 7 American households had problems feeding their families at some point in the last year - a number that adds up to 17.5 million families . Even more troubling, these numbers are virtually unchanged from last year. In fact, even though the United States is in a period of job recovery, hunger and food insecurity remain at the same level as in the recession . While the percentage of food insecure households in Pennsylvania is below the national average, more than 1 in 10 PA families are struggling to access the food they need. If you or someone you know need food help, there are many resources available to you. In Pennsylvania, you can apply for SNAP (food stamps) online via the COMPASS system. Families in southeastern PA can also call PathWays PA at 610-543-5022 for assistance in applying for SNAP. Pennsylvania families can also visit  http://www.foodpantries.org/st/pennsylvania  to find local food pant

Leanne Brown , a New York University student earning her master's degree in food studies, has published a cookbook for families and individuals living on SNAP (food stamps). The book, called Good and Cheap , is available for free on Leanne's website or can be ordered in hard copy. Good and Cheap  sets out to offer " filling, nourishing and flavorful meals " for the 47 million Americans living on SNAP. Recipes include Tomato Scrambled Eggs, Spicy Green Beans, Mexican Street Corn, and Savory Summer Cobbler. If you use Good and Cheap  or plan to use it, let us know what you think in the comments! If you or someone you know needs food help, there are many resources available to you. In Pennsylvania, you can apply for SNAP (food stamps) online via the  COMPASS  system. Families in southeastern PA can also call PathWays PA at 610-543-5022 for assistance in applying for SNAP. Pennsylvania families can also visit  http://www.foodpantries.org/st/pennsylvania  to fin

From our friends at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women : Tory Johnson's The Shift —out in paperback September 9—chronicles a very personal journey sparked by a candid conversation with a boss that led her to make the biggest shift of her career, and ultimately realize a better life both professionally and personally. Her story illustrates the success you can achieve when you're flexible and willing to reinvent with the times. Also on September 9, in this free 30-minute teleclass on the Five Steps to Shifting , Tory will share how she made a big life change, and how exactly you can, too—in every area of life, from relationships to career and health. If you have a specific personal or professional goal to tackle this fall, sign up here .