PathWays PA Policy Blog

All month, we’re partnering with the Women and Girls Foundation , Pittsburgh United , MomsRising , Women's Law Project , and the Family Care Act to co-host What Workers Should Know, a webinar series in the age of COVID-19. We’ll provide practical advice on how to navigate the current job crisis. Every Tuesday at 1 PM, join our live Zoom meeting to learn what’s happening in Pennsylvania, what help is available and what policies can help turn things around. 5.12.20: Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave : For the first time in our country’s history, Congress passed a law providing paid sick days and emergency paid leave to some workers. Join the Family Care Campaign for a discussion of the new laws; who can access them and how; and ideas on what we can do to cover all workers in the future. Join Marianne Bellesorte and Heather Arnet, from the Family Care Campaign, for an overview of the new and existing laws at the local, state, and federal levels and to learn about what you can do ...

Due to Coronavirus, Pennsylvania delayed their primary until June 2, 2020. Please remember that for the first time, Pennsylvanians are able to vote by mail. Read below to learn more or visit here . The League of Women Voters has published a list of actions that can help you vote during the coronavirus . Please take a look as we all continue to adapt to social distancing. *** PA primary elections are on June 2, 2020! If you live in Pennsylvania and are eligible to vote, you need to be registered by May 18, 2020. (If you live in another state, please visit  866-OUR-VOTE  to find your state's information.) ***If you have any issues on Election Day, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.  Be sure to bring this number with you when you vote!*** NEW THIS YEAR: Mail-In Ballots, Extended Voter Registration Period, and More Pennsylvania made some changes to election law  on October 29, 2019. Mail-in ballots: PA voters may choose to mail their ballot inste...

As COVID-19 wreaks havoc across the globe, Philadelphia workers are experiencing devastating - and potentially long lasting - economic hardship. On Thursday, March 26 at 6 pm, join hundreds of impacted Philadelphia workers and elected City Hall officials for a virtual town hall to hear more about the impact of the coronavirus on retail, restaurant, healthcare, education, and domestic workers - and proposed solutions to the financial devastations we face. Workers will be joined by City Councilmembers and the Mayor’s Office for this video (Zoom) town hall. Join us to make sure that ALL Philly workers receive the support they need during this difficult time! Here’s how you can get the word out! RSVP here in English ; RSVP aqui en espanol Share on social media and your listservs using this toolkit Keep signing and sharing our petition We’re all in this together - see you at the virtual town hall to make sure workers demands are met and our families and communities are safe.

UPDATED 4/8/2020 - PA PRIMARY MOVED TO JUNE 2, 2020 Due to Coronavirus, Pennsylvania delayed their primary until June 2, 2020. Please read our blog post here for information based on the new date . Please remember that for the first time, Pennsylvanians are able to vote by mail. Read below to learn more or visit here . ***

As more people are being diagnosed with COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our area, and as our schools and businesses begin to make plans for people to remain home to slow the spread of the disease, it's important to remember the role that paid sick days and paid family leave can play during a public health emergency. Workers needs paid sick days in the best of times, but when there are issues of public health, that time is needed more than ever. The same is true of paid family and medical leave, in order to be sure that people who need more time to recover - and their caregivers - can do so without risking their jobs. After you follow CDC recommendations for handwashing and other safety measures , here are some steps you can take to help everyone access the time they need. Sign a letter to Congress asking them to support legislation around paid sick days for public health emergencies Take a look to see what kind of paid leave laws already exist where you live Reach out to yo...

Census data tells us that 13% of Pennsylvania households live in poverty. In reality, even more households don’t have the income they need to reach self-sufficiency. One in four Pennsylvania households – over 846,000 – lack enough income to cover just the necessities. Since 1997, PathWays PA has worked with Dr. Diana Pearce and the University of Washington to calculate  The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania . Over the last 23 years,  The Self-Sufficiency Standard of Pennsylvania  has documented the continuing increase in the real cost of living, illuminating the economic crunch experienced by so many families today. Since 2010, PathWays PA and the University of Washington have also issued three versions of the  Overlooked and Undercounted  report, which looks at the number of households living above and below self-sufficiency. You can now use the interactive materials below to find out what it takes to be self-sufficient in your county. Click ...

Governor Wolf presented his sixth budget today with a focus on education, supporting workers and the workforce, and reducing gun violence. Overall, the budget increases spending to $36 billion compared to last year. Governor Wolf also proposed a higher minimum wage (as he did last year), raising the current rate of $7.25/hour to $12/hour by July and then increasing the wage over time until it reaches $15 in 2026. The last time the minimum wage increased in Pennsylvania was when the federal government increased the wage in 2009. Here are some of the articles we've been reading on the budget: Highlights of the proposed 2020-21 Pennsylvania budget Pa. Governor’s Budget Pushes for Addressing Asbestos in Schools, College Debt Aid Pa. budget: Another year of flat funding for public libraries lands them in ‘Loser’ list Governor Wolf Urges Legislature to Tackle Gun Violence, Student Debt, Toxic Schools Click here for large version Click here to view larger version

Last year, the Social Security Administration stated that it wants to change eligibility rules for disability benefits. Under the proposal, SSA would add 2.6 million eligibility reviews in the next ten years. They would also establish a new eligibility category. Currently, when someone qualifies for disability, they end up in one of three categories :  Medical improvement expected (reviewed every 6-18 months) Medical improvement not expected (reviewed every 5-7 years) Medical improvement possible (reviewed every 3 years) The Social Security Administration proposes adding a new category, "medical improvement likely," which is expected to include 4.4 million recipients. Many of these recipients will be children and people aged 50-65 with poor health and no income. If placed in this category, people will get reviews every two years. Navigating the disability process, including reviews, is already challenging . The process can take 2-3 years in some cases, and pe...

As we reach the holiday season, we hope you will take some time to reach out to Congress in support of other families in need. Over the past year, we've heard reports of horrific conditions in shelters where unaccompanied children were held. . In August 2019, the government announced they had no plans to give the flu shot at border detention camps - despite the deaths of at least three children from the flu while in custody. In October, we learned that 1500+ additional migrant children were separated at the border in the United States. 207 of the children were under the age of 5. We've now reached a record number of children detained , plus  an over 50% increase in the number of pregnant women detained . Even when they aren't separated from their children, whole families remain in detention , with the Administration currently appealing a decision that would enforce a 20-day time limit on family detentions. This type of long-term detention is shown to lead to stress and...

As we get to the end of the year, many individuals and companies are looking for ways to give back to their communities. Here are some ways you can help PathWays PA for the holidays or throughout the year! Donations : You can help to end poverty, homelessness, and abuse by making a donation! The support you provide will help the most vulnerable women, children, teens, and families. Visit PathWaysPA.org to donate or text "PathWaysPA" to 521-82. Donate items : We also offer ways to donate material items. To see what our agency needs that is available on Amazon, check out our general wish list or our Welcome Kits lists for moms , children , and babies . Volunteering : PathWays PA has an ongoing need for volunteers. Giving your time is a great way to help families in your own community. Visit PathWaysPA.org to see what you can do. Shopping : Every time you buy on Amazon via AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate .5% of your total purchase to PathWays PA! Visit smile.amazon.co...

Over the past year, we've heard reports of horrific conditions in shelters where unaccompanied children were held. . In October, we learned that 1500+ additional migrant children were separated at the border in the United States. 207 of the children were under the age of 5. Now, the AP is reporting that the United States held a record number of migrant children in custody in 2019. According to the AP, "The nearly 70,000 migrant children who were held in government custody this year — up 42 percent in fiscal year 2019 from 2018 — spent more time in shelters and away from their families than in prior years." We must work with Congress now to stop family separations and family detentions, which are leading to immediate and long-term trauma for children . Please take action today to help end this practice. Take Action: Call your Senator and Representative at 202-224-3121 and ask them to stop family separation Use this link from Families Belong Together to contac...

We are so excited to share that PathWays PA has been selected to be a part of the GIANT Bags 4 My Cause Program, which is designed to make it easy for customers to contribute to their local community while supporting the environment. For the month of December , each time a $2.50 reusable Bags 4 My Cause Bag is purchased at the GIANT located at 950 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA, $1 will be donated to PathWays PA (unless the customer chooses otherwise). This is a great way to raise awareness, support the environment and fundraise for our cause. If you shop at GIANT, please support PathWays PA in December by purchasing a Bag 4 My Cause! And if you know someone who shops there, please share this information. To learn more about this program, please visit giant.bags4mycause.com .

General elections are on November 5, 2019. If you live in Pennsylvania and are eligible to vote, you needed to be registered by October 9. If you live in another state, please visit our site via  Rock the Vote  to find your state's information. If you are not sure if you are registered in PA,  you can confirm your registration status in the Pennsylvania voter registration database . ( If you missed the deadline, register now for the primaries next year!  Y ou can register through Pennsylvania's  website , via  our site powered by Rock the Vote , or by  mailing in an application .) *** If you have any issues on Election Day, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.  Issues  may include (but are not limited to): being told the wrong date/time to vote; not being allowed to cast a  provisional ballot ; being intimidated or challenged at the polls.  Be sure to bring this number with you when you vote! *** Who Am I Voting For? On Novem...

Here's a roundup of current actions you can take to support immigrant and refugee families: Support the GRACE Act: Each fiscal year, the president determines how many refugees can be resettled in the United States. For nearly 40 years, the number of refugees entering our country has exceeded 95,000. In September 2019, the president announced that only 18,000 refugees could enter the country in the next year. Under the Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act, a minimum ceiling of 95,000 refugees would be set. You can take action on this Act and read more about it via HIAS Pennsylvania , or call Congress and ask them for support at 202-224-3121. Shut Down Berks: The Berks Detention Center continues to operate in Pennsylvania, despite having its license revoked in 2016. The facility has a capacity of 96 people and is reported to be at or near capacity most of the time. Just this week, a family from the UK were detained there and described the conditions as ...

(From our friends at the National Partnership for Women and Families ) The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently proposed a rule that would gut a long-standing civil rights protection called “disparate impact theory” under the Fair Housing Act that has offered recourse for countless people experiencing housing discrimination and segregation. Disparate impact allows people to challenge housing policies or practices that have a discriminatory impact on them because of their race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, or religion – even if the policy or practice appears on its face to apply to everyone equally. HUD’s proposed rule would tip the scale in favor of those accused of housing discrimination. It would drastically increase the burden of proof for victims of discrimination, and provides new defenses that could shield housing providers, governments, and corporations from being held accountable for discriminatory policies. We need y...

Are you planning to be a voter this November? If you live in Pennsylvania, you need to register to vote by October 7, 2019. If you are not registered by October 7, 2019, you won't be able to vote in this election. To vote in Pennsylvania, you must be: Age 18 or older on Election Day (November 5, 2019) A US citizen A resident of Pennsylvania for at least 30 days before the election If you are on active duty in the military, or you are a hospitalized or bedridden veteran, you can register at any time. See  www.fvap.gov  for more information. How do I register? You can register to vote  online  or by  sending this form  to the county voter registration office. You can also  register in person at your voter registration office . P ennDOT and some other government agencies  can also take your registration. I voted before. Do I still need to register? If you already registered to vote in Pennsylvania and have voted recently,...

This week, the Senate is likely to vote on legislation that would include paid family leave for federal employees in the National Defense Authorization Act. We need you to share your thoughts with Senators right now! The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) already passed the House with bipartisan support. It includes FEPLA, the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act. The Act is now in conference committee where a group of senators and representatives will determine which pieces to keep from the House and Senate versions. Today or tomorrow, Senator Schatz is expected to introduce a motion to include FEPLA in the conference agreement. There may also be a separate motion asking the conference committee to focus on comp time and tax incentives instead of a paid family leave program. These tax incentives don’t encourage new businesses to provide paid family leave, however – they usually just go towards businesses that already have it. Please call, email, and tweet at your Senators to ...

PathWays PA's adult education program helps adult learners achieve their dreams by earning their GED. In today's world a high school diploma or GED is a necessity for securing employment and advancing in the workforce. Our adult education program helps adult learners take the next step in their lives and careers by helping them to prepare for the GED test and building the skills necessary to gain employment, thrive in the workforce, and advance in their careers. For more information about the adult education program and to sign up for our next adult education orientation contact Kathy Raymond at (610) 543-5022.

Did you know that PathWays PA provides SNAP application assistance? Our SNAP Benefits Specialist can assist you in accessing SNAP and other workforce supports to help you make ends meet while you're between jobs and provide assistance to ensure you remain employed and are able to move toward self-sufficiency. To participate in an eligibility screening for SNAP benefits and other workforce supports contact Emily at (610) 543-5022.