PathWays PA Policy Blog

As many parents know, a typical American family spends a lot of money on childcare each year. In Pennsylvania, the cost of childcare is often higher than what a family pays in rent each month. One option that some families consider is having a parent leave the workforce entirely in order to care for a child. But until now, there was little research on the financial impact of making that decision. The Center for American Progress  now has a calculator showing the hidden cost of leaving the workforce to provide childcare. The calculator shows the immediate loss (income not earned) as well as the loss in potential wage growth over a career and lost retirement savings. As PBS NewsHour points out , a 26 year old woman earning $50,000 who leaves the workforce for three years to care for a child loses more than $150,000 in salary - she loses over $500,000 in her lifetime in salary, wage growth, retirement benefits, and Social Security.  To test the calculator, I checked...

The FAMILY Act was introduced to Congress in March of this year. Under this bill, workers would have access to paid sick time. This recompense can help families in a great deal of ways. The way one would apply for “caregiving days” would be through the Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave, which is established in the Act. This Office would then deem eligibility for benefits. In order to be eligible, one must meet multiple requirements. One must be insured under Social Security and held a job in the past 12 months before applying. The “caregiving” must have occurred from 90 days before to 30 days following the application. Monthly recompense can range from $580 to $4,000, depending on one’s income. The amount of benefits is a percentage of one’s wages, therefore a part-time or lower tier employee can still receive assistance, however their assistance may be of a lower monetary value than a full-time employee. The bill covers gaps that FMLA creates. Many who qualify for time un...

PathWays PA's Chester Young Parents Program will be holding a parenting education classes at the Chester Boys and Girls Club beginning April 1st. The parenting education classes will help teen parents between the ages of 13 and 25 years old build the skills necessary to ensure the healthy development of their children. For more information about the Young Parent's Program's parenting education program contact Dalana at (610) 543-5022. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 2/5/15 - Letters: Vets' 'Sniper'-like post-combat lives 11/24/14 - Help PathWays PA Give Thanks Throughout the Rest of the Year! 11/20/14 - Runaway Services at PathWays PA and Beyond