PathWays PA Policy Blog

Today I had the opportunity to present materials on paid leave and financial resources at a cancer navigators meeting. We're putting these materials online so more people can access them. Special thanks to PathWays PA (in particular Paula Staton) and Family Values @ Work for their research and support! Laws that help patients and caregivers at work Financial Resources for patients and caregivers Resources for staff and counselors to share Put the FMLA to Work for You (PS- please remember that bit.ly links have to be typed exactly as they are, including capitalization, to work!)

The Assets & Opportunity Scorecard enables states to compare their performance to other states and the District of Columbia on measures of financial security and household wealth. When it comes to many measures, Pennsylvania ranks right in the middle - some states are better than us, some states are worse. So what's wrong with status quo? Well, here is the impact if Pennsylvania performed as well as the best state (with thanks to the Assets & Opportunity Initiative  for putting this together):

Ready to achieve a financial goal, but need help getting started? Have you created a plan and need some support to stay with it? Our Financial Coach will work with you one-on-one to help you achieve your financial goals. The Financial Coach will provide the information, resources, support, encouragement, and accountability so you can take control of your financial situation and meet your goals. If you or someone you know needs help achieving their financial goals and achieving self-sufficiency contact our Financial Coach Keith Miller at (610) 543-5022. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 1/29/15 - Pennsylvania Extends Streak of Lackluster Performance for Financial Security of its Residents 11/10/14 - Join Us in Building Assets in Pennsylvania! 5/30/13 - The Payday Lenders Are Swarming. It's Time to Act.

Statement from Lyn Kugel, Vice President of Workforce Development and Self-Sufficiency at PathWays PA and leader of the Pathways to Opportunities Partnership (POP), on the new Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) Assets and Opportunities Scorecard : Despite an improving national economy, far too many Pennsylvania residents are still struggling to achieve financial security. A new report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), reveals that Pennsylvania ranks 24th overall for access to financial assets, income, jobs, housing, healthcare and education. We know that well-targeted policies can make a huge difference in the financial security of Pennsylvania families. The Scorecard complied by CFED takes a close look at how Pennsylvania and its families are faring across multiple indices and policies. Financial Assets and Income: Owning assets leads to improved economic stability for families as well as improved economic mobility. When families have financial...

PathWays PA invites you to join a statewide coalition focused on addressing the needs of low-income Pennsylvanians and the policies that can help them build assets and resources. This coalition will be part of the nationwide Assets and Opportunities Network, a movement-oriented group of advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and others nationwide working to expand the reach and deepen the impact of asset-based strategies. Network members are on the frontlines of state and local policy advocacy, coalition-building and service delivery. RSVP to join us or to learn more during our interactive webinar December 2! As you may know, PathWays PA is an active, known presence in the areas of policy and advocacy in Pennsylvania. We welcome the opportunity to work with your organization to build a strong, vibrant coalition that will play a key role in creating asset opportunities for your clients and for families throughout the state. The goal is to create a statewide effort, encompassing ...

The online radio show "Office Hours" will air this tomorrow, August 21 from 1:00PM-1:30PM to discuss Building Your Financial Confidence. The show will be hosted by Samantha Ettus, a bestselling author and guest Diane MacPhee, and certified financial planner. The broadcast is designed to give you the tools you need to build your financial confidence. Samantha has helped hundreds of women champion themselves in the workplace. Diane is a certified financial planner as well as a professional certified coach and helps her clients through a variety of issues. During this broadcast Diane will share insights that will help you learn how to: Face your money fears  Get educated  Take charge of your financial future  Samantha and Diane will be addressing your questions during the live broadcast. If you are interested in being featured on the show please email info@conferencesforwomen.org with your name, contact information, and brief overview of your financial challenges....

PathWays PA is pleased to announce the launch of its Wallet Watchers series. This financial education workshop series can be offered onsite and is customizable to meet your client or constituent needs. Workshop topics can address creating and following a spending plan - even when today is a rainy day, get credit, funding education, financial fitness for buying a home or car, everything you wanted to know about banks and credit unions. Workshops can be offered a series of two or more parts. Interested participants can also schedule free individual financial counseling follow-up sessions with a PathWays PA Financial Educator. To schedule a workshop, contact PathWays PA at (610) 543-5022.

Payday lending proponents just unveiled their proposal in the Senate to bring predatory payday loans to Pennsylvania. The payday lenders are promoting legislation that would authorize a nearly 300% APR on a typical two-week payday loan, significantly weakening the state’s current strong laws against such practices. The proposal seeks to hide the dangerous nature of these loans by calling it “micro credit.” There is nothing “micro” about the high cost and large debt trap that comes with these payday loans. But there’s another problem with the proposed legislation. Pennsylvania doesn’t need it. As recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and Pew Charitable Trusts, Pennsylvanians already have some of the strongest consumer protections in the country. We don’t need debt trap legislation disguised as credit innovation. Please email and call your legislators TODAY through this link . Tell them we don’t need to bring 1,000 payday loans storefronts to Pennsylvania peddling h...

This Thursday at 4PM at The Original Coffee Bar located at 943 MacDade Blvd in Collingdale. State Representative Nick Miccarelli (R-Ridley Park) will cohost an event with the Delaware County Asset Development Group . This event will put residents in touch with services and programs designed to make them financially aware year-round. The event is specifically targeted to assist women who are not only responsible for family care, but are increasingly becoming more responsible for the financial security of their families. It also precedes The Original Coffee Bar's movie night - free for all to enjoy. DelcoAD is a network of agencies, educational and financial institutions dedicated to building the financial health and stability of individuals and families in Delaware County. No RSVP is needed, just stop by!

Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown will be hosting a brown bag lunch on Wednesday, May 8 beginning at 12PM in the Caucus Room of City Council. The theme of the May 8th lunch is " Financial Literacy for Women on Corporate Boards ". The lunch will be led by Women in Banking and Finance who have experience in the financial industry. This interactive workshop is designed to educate the Next Generation of Women Leaders on how to understand financial statements, and use analysis tools to assess performance of corporate boards. Limited Seating Available, R.S.V.P. to Katherine J. Gilmore at (215)686-3438 or Katherine.gilmore@phila.gov .

Since 2009 , savings bonds became even more accessible to families with an ability to purchase them directly on the tax form. We need your help to ensure that the U.S. Treasury maintains its commitment to universal access to tax-time savings bonds and continues to protect access to this easy, convenient, and safe saving opportunity. The elimination of paper bonds in the U.S. Savings Bond Program has made it harder for Americans to access these tried and true savings tools.  Please sign the petition to protect the future of tax-time savings bonds. Don’t allow access to tax-time savings bonds to expire in 2013. We want to continue to save in U.S. savings bonds at tax-time, to save for our children, for emergencies, for our retirement, and for our financial security.

Not sure if you need a lawyer? Call HELP: MLP to see if you qualify for free legal help with your housing, utilities, public benefits, credit, or debt problem. Have you: 1. Stopped answering your phone because of collectors? 2. Received bills for something you already paid? 3. Found an error on your credit report? 4. Been denied a loan modification for your home? 5. Been denied public benefits? Intake Hours: Tuesdays: 9-5 Call: (610) 497-7395 or, e-mail Jordan anytime at: jm.helpmlp@gmail.com More information can be found on our website: www.helpmlp.org Health, Education, and Legal Assistance Project A Medical-Legal Partnership at Widener University School of Law (HELP: MLP) Community Hospital 2600 W. 9th Street Chester, Pennsylvania 19013

Chris Lilienthal has a new post up on the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's "Third and State" blog discussing a bill that was recently before the PA Senate to legalize high-interest payday lending in the state. The bill stalled, but as Lilienthal notes: "To be clear, payday lending is not dead... Polls show Pennsylvanians oppose legalizing this type of lending, but out-of-state lenders are not giving up. They will be back next year, advancing payday lending while trying to change the subject, as Mark Price observed last week. But the will of the people - and the editorial boards - on payday lending remains clear: Don't legalize it." Payday lending is a controversial issue because it is widely seen to be predatory, primarily targeting low-income workers and charging them high interest rates for advances of their own hard-earned wages. The Harrisburg Patriot News is currently conducting an online poll to gauge public support for legalizing payda...

From our friends at Young Invincibles Young Invincibles will be launching National College Affordability Week from October 8-13, and we would love you and/or your student group, or organization to be a part of it. The average student debt for college graduates now surpasses $24,000 and college tuition continues to increase. October 8th-13th is our week to say enough with the tuition hikes and crippling student loan debt! College students all over the country will hold events to raise awareness about the rising cost of college and how it’s hurting our generation. We are asking organizations like yours to bring awareness to college affordability through various programs and events on your campus. These could include: a discussion on tuition hikes, a rally on student debt, trainings on student loan forgiveness, giving out resources about student debt, and voter registration so our voices are heard. If you have other idea...

Last year, National Disability Institute, with the support of Acorda Therapeutics, presented a free four-part Financial Wellness webinar series for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This year, they've partnered with Acorda Therapeutics again to bring you another great Financial Wellness webinar series. National Disability Institute's Financial Wellness Series sponsored by Acorda Therapeutics is a FREE 6-part series that will address financial, tax and public benefits topics for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), their families and care teams. The webinar series will include six free 90-minute programs online, each beginning at 3pm ET on select Wednesdays through December 2012. Visit www.realeconomicimpact.org/financialwellness to learn more about each webinar and to register today! September 5, 2012 - Being Money Smart September 26, 2012 - Prolonging Work - Supports To Keep You On The Job October 17, 2012 - Social Security Disability Insuran...

From our friends at CHN On Monday, June 25 at 3pm, ET, you are invited to join Director Richard Cordray and senior staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for a special briefing call to officially launch CFPB’s new Office of Financial Empowerment. The Office of Financial Empowerment will promote access to products and services that will help low-income and other economically vulnerable consumers achieve financial stability. To register, please RSVP with your name and organization affiliation by e-mailing Empowerment@cfpb.gov Speakers: • Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; • Gail Hillebrand, Associate Director for Consumer Education and Engagement; and • Clifford Rosenthal, Assistant Director for the Office of Financial Empowerment This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

By now, many of you have heard that a spending number has been set in Harrisburg for the 2012-2013 budget.  What remains to be seen is how the $27.66 billion will be spent.  Here is what we've been hearing: Rumors are that public schools and state universities will be funded at the same level as they were last year . The Educational Improvement Tax Credit may double from $75 million to $150 million. Erik Arneson, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, said the budget will return some spending to K-12 and higher education, accountability block grant funding and county human services programs, as well as some additional funding for distressed school districts . As of now, General Assistance remains zeroed out in the state budget .  At this point, it is likely that if the program is not funded, most recipients will not learn of the funding cut until they get a letter in the mail in place of their July check. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Cent...

Federal Policy Updates SENATE FARM BILL: URGE YOUR SENATORS TO RESTORE SNAP CUTS This week, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of the Farm Bill ( S. 3240 ). The proposal includes a $4.5 billion cut to SNAP over 10 years by reducing the ability of states to take part in the “ Heat and Eat ” program. The cut would mean that an estimated 500,000 households a year would lose $90 per month in SNAP benefits. But there is hope. There is an amendment circulating in the Senate that would restore, over 10 years, the $4.5 billion cut to SNAP and invests $500 million in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack program. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has a "Dear Colleague Letter" in the Senate asking for cosponsors for this amendment. If you support this amendment, please contact your Senators (202-224-3121 Senate Switchboard) and urge them to demonstrate their support for SNAP by co-sponsoring the Gillibrand SNAP amendment. Offices should contact Kathryn Tanner in Sen. G...

HELP MAKE CALLS FOR EARNED SICK DAYS In Philadelphia, over 40% of workers do not have a single paid day that they can use to care for themselves or a family member when sick. Last year the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces and PathWays PA passed a bill in City Council that would give workers the opportunity to earn a minimum number of paid sick days. Unfortunately, this bill was vetoed by the Mayor. The proposed 2012 earned sick days bill is very similar to last year’s bill, but with one important difference. After studying earned sick days bills across the country, the Coalition added a “safe days” option to the bill so that workers who are survivors of domestic violence can receive the medical attention and support they need to leave an abuser. To pass this bill again, and to pass it with a veto-proof majority, we need your help. Will you call your City Council member right now? If you see your City Council member in the list below, please call and tell them ...

State TAKE ACTION REGARDING COSTLY VOTER ID BILL The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may vote as soon as this week on legislation that would enact a costly voter identification law in the state. This program may move forward despite its pricetag of $11 million for a measure that will put up barriers to people who want to exercise their right to vote. Discuss this bill with your representative today. The state Senate approved the bill by a vote of 26 to 23 on Wednesday. It now heads back to the House for a concurrence vote since it was amended in the Senate. If passed by the House, it will go to Governor Corbett's desk for a final signature. Learn more in this Philadelphia Inquirer article. This could be the last chance to take action on this bill in the Legislature. Please email and call your House Representative today. JOIN PBPC FOR THE PHILADELPHIA BUDGET SUMMIT ON MARCH 16 Get the inside scoop on the 2012-13 state budget and what it means for the Philade...