PathWays PA Policy Blog

The Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT) has created a new one-stop website. It is funded by the Bureau of Autism Services, Office of Developmental Programs, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The goal of the ASERT Collaborative is to provide streamlined access to information for the estimated 30,000 Pennsylvanians living with autism. Please visit www.paautism.org to see all the resources available for the autism community in Pennsylvania.

Thanks to The Advocates Agenda for letting us repost. Corbett Administration and County Commissioners Association Going to the Mat for Human Services Block Grant PA House tweaks the Senate passed budget bill to spend more on early childhood care and education, domestic violence, rape crisis centers and public libraries June 5th – Tuesday brought stepped up debate and political posturing about Pennsylvania’s budget. The morning started with Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Jim Cawley putting forth a united front with the County Commissioners Association of PA (CCAP) touting the benefits of “a new way of doing business” that will result from block granting certain state funding. Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander said the “landmark block grant” would deliver real “innovation, control and flexibility” at the local level. Cawley stressed the Corbett Administration is committed to transforming “the relationship between the state and local governments.” Ber...

State Update This week, the Pennsylvania Senate released its numbers on the state budget.  In their version, the Senate restores $500 million in funding, including restoring funding for Pennsylvania's colleges to its current levels. In addition to adding higher education funding, the Senate chose to increase funding in certain health and health-related departments such as Epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, Autism, and various MA related programs, While overall funding increased,  The Philadelphia Inquirer   reported that attempts "to put in another $250 million for social services, child-care services, and a temporary cash assistance program for poor and disabled adults failed."   According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center , the Senate budget increases spending while continuing a proposed tax cut and cutting a proposed cap on the sales tax vendor discount. In response to the budget proposal, Governor Corbett's spokesman Eric Shirk said...

THE LATEST BUDGET INFORMATION FROM HARRISBURG While no new budget legislation has emerged from Harrisburg in the past two weeks,  constituents across the state are keeping up the pressure against budget cuts.  Here are some of the clips we've found detailing the potential impact of the budget throughout Pennsylvania: " Proposed Budget Cuts Would Hit Home " - the proposed cuts to the Human Services Development Block Grant could mean the end of Compeer, a Lehigh Valley organization that recruits and trains volunteers to build friendships with adults receiving mental health services.  According to the article, local programs that provide help to families dealing with autism and prevents the placement of children in foster homes may also be cut. " Pennsylvania budget cuts, policy changes are ravaging services, disability advocates say " - Despite 16,000 people waiting for services, agencies in Cumberland and Perry Counties are concerned that they will again hav...