PathWays PA Policy Blog

From our friends at the National Women's Law Center Women in the military and women in military families serve and sacrifice for our country every day. It only makes sense that we should give them the support they deserve in return, especially when it comes to important health benefits. Unlike most women with private insurance plans - which must cover breastfeeding supplies and counseling - military women and military families lack comprehensive insurance coverage of the same supplies and support under the Department of Defense's TRICARE health care program. In fact, TRICARE only covers a breast pump in extreme circumstances for most women. But a bill currently before Congress would make sure all military women and military families have better coverage of breastfeeding supplies and education.  Breastfeeding benefits both mothers and children, reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women and asthma, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and leukemia in children. Women w...

The CDC reported that a national trend of rising obesity rates among pre-school age children may be reversing. However, Pennsylvania continues to see an increase.  From 2008 to 2011, the Atlanta-based CDC collected height and weight data from about 11.6 million children ages 2 to 4 who participated in the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System across 43 U.S. states and territories. This week, the government agency published a report showing that, after decades of rising obesity rates, the prevalence had declined in 19 of the 43 states and territories studied and had remained statistically consistent in 21. But in three states -- Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Colorado -- the childhood obesity rate increased. 12.2% of Pennsylvania pre-schoolers are now considered obese. The report states that factors such as local and state initiatives focused on nutrition and exercise, as well as increases in breastfeeding, might explain in part the trend reversal. But the report gave no clear...

Concerned about junk food in schools? Want to get the inside scoop on upcoming USDA action to improve the nutritional quality of foods sold in schools? Or want to participate in MomsRising's upcoming blog carnival on school foods and not sure what to write? Bring your questions, comments and concerns to: No More Junk in School Foods National Webinar FRIDAY, April 13, 2012 at 12PM ET MomsRising is hosting this webinars with their partners at PreventObesity.net . Join them for this informative and interactive session on important data related to the impact of junk food on children's health and the upcoming USDA proposal for nutrition standards for snack foods sold in schools. To register the free 45-minute webinars click below: Friday, April 13th at 12pm ET - http://bit.ly/HgKplf Jessica Donze Black, the Director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project – a joint initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-- will give the keynot...

Childhood obesity and adequate nutrition in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas has been the focus of media coverage and governmental agendas this year. Much has been made about what and how much children in Philadelphia eat, and the growing negative effects these habits are having on childhood health. We’ve provided a summary of the major initiatives and news stories that have been a part of the local and national conversation so far this year. In January the federal government released updated nutrition recommendations , including an interactive, personalized food pyramid model, in an effort to bring attention to the necessity of a sea change in the way Americans approach sustenance. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack summarized the government’s objectives: “The 2010 Dietary Guidelines are being released at a time when the majority of adults and one in three children is overweight or obese and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore. These new and improved dietary recom...

Special Announcements Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces: Press Conference and Lobby Day Over 41% of workers in Philadelphia have no earned sick time, while 78% of restaurant and accommodation workers are forced to choose between going to work sick (or sending a child to school sick) and losing a day's pay or possibly their job. The Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces is holding a Press Conference and Lobby Day, complete with Lobby Training, to provide information for Philadelphia's City Council about the importance of earned sick time and to urge them to continue work on the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (Bill No. 080474). WHEN: Tuesday, October 12th There will be a Lobby Training held at 123 S. Broad Street 8th Floor - Room 8B at 11:00 AM. Food will be provided The Press Conference will take place at 1:00 PM, in the Mayor's Reception Room in City Hall, with visits to City Council Members throughout the afternoon.. Come for ...

PathWays PA Offers Expedited Career Path to First Responders and EMT PathWays PA is offering eligible job seekers free education and training to achieve certification as a First Responder followed by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. Successful candidates will have: Achieved qualifying scores on WorkKeys® Assessment Clean criminal background check No back problems or physical restrictions The ability to lift 125 pounds 33 inches off the ground and carry for 10 feet Willingness to working with and touch all people A valid drivers license (or the ability to obtain one during training) Ability to pay attention to detail and flexibility to change course as circumstances warrant Willingness to work different shifts and weekends If the above qualifications are met, then an individual may be eligible for the training, which includes: 6 weeks of Math/English Skills building classes CPR Training and Certification 50 hours of First Responder Training ...

We at PathWays PA hope that everyone is having a nice Memorial Day! Please remember to thank those who have and who are serving our country. This Wednesday! The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011 Philadelphia Release PathWays PA is proud to announce the Philadelphia release of the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011 ! WHEN: Wednesday, June 2nd 2:00-4:00 WHERE: United Way Building of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA The Standard measures how much income a family of a certain composition in a given place must earn to meet their basic needs without public or private assistance. The Standard is based on the cost of each basic need in each county—food, housing, health care, child care, transportation and taxes— determined independently using official and publicly available data. Join us to learn more about the Self-Sufficiency Standard from the President and CEO of PathWays PA, Carol Goertzel, and the aut...

As the Pennsylvania State Budget process kicks off this week, be sure to keep an eye out for PathWays PA’s weekly Budget Alerts. PathWays PA Publications Survey In order to enhance our work we have put together a short survey for individuals who have received any of PathWays PA’s publications. Your response would be greatly appreciated! Please click here to be taken to the short survey. If you are interested in learning more about PathWays PA’s publications, you can access them online by clicking here . Free Tax Preparation from PathWays PA PathWays PA’s basic tax preparation service is designed to provide free tax filing for households whose income does not exceed $50,000. We can also assist tax filers who are disabled or who do not speak English as their first language. If you or someone you know would like to have taxes prepared by the Self Sufficiency team, please call the numbers below to schedule an appointment. Philadelphia PathWays PA West Philly Office 3617 Lancaster Avenue...

"Delaware County Children, Families & Advocates to Urge Legislators to 'Be Strong' During Budget Negotiations" Large and diverse groups of families are experiencing economic distress and are routinely overlooked and undercounted. PathWays PA has recently released a new study showing the income inadequacy in Pennsylvania, in which we learned that in Pennsylvania, 21%, or 1 in 5 households, lack sufficient income to meet their basic needs: food, housing, transportation, and, especially, childcare and healthcare. In Delaware County, the number of households lacking sufficient income rises to 21.9%. I note childcare and healthcare particularly because they are expensive but necessary items that allow parents to work while keeping their children safe and healthy. For many parents who are working hard but still unable to make decent wages, the cost of child care may surpass the amount they bring home in a paycheck. Without affordable child care, these parents must ...