PathWays PA Policy Blog

From the NY Times  http://nyti.ms/2nIUEtp President Trump's budget plan released this morning shows sharp changes in spending compared to previous federal budgets, including the elimination of many programs for low-income people such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) , the Legal Services Corporation , and Community Services Block Grants . Other programs to be eliminated include the Corporation for National and Community Service , which runs AmeriCorps and other community service programs, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ,  and more than 50 programs in the EPA . You can read a full list via  The Washington Post . Meanwhile, the  Department of Veterans Affairs , the  Department of Homeland Security , and the  Department of Defense  are all seeing increases in their budgets under the new plan. The full budget blueprint is available here . So what's next? Congress will begin holding hearings on the President's budg...

This was written by Clay Fitch, Senior Grantwriter at PathWays PA. For the full article, please visit  http://bit.ly/1DjeVtg . LAST MONTH the movie "American Sniper" opened nationwide with a record box office of $90 million, shattering previous box-office records for January releases. Since its release some controversy has surrounded the movie, and much of the coverage of the movie lately has been related to these controversies. What is lost in this coverage, and much of the discussion of the movie, is the very real depiction of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's struggles with transitioning to civilian life. .... Kyle's struggles are not fiction, nor are they unique. There are thousands of veterans across the Greater Philadelphia region who have come home from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, or even stateside, who are now facing the challenges of transitioning to life as a civilian, including gaining civilian employment. .... Veterans often benefit from support i...

The HeroesPath staff will be participating in Veterans Day activities throughout the community to thank Veterans for their service and discuss how the HeroesPath program can help Veterans successfully transition to civilian life and civilian employment. Be sure to say hello to the HeroesPath staff when you see them at the following events: Delaware County Veterans are invited to a breakfast hosted by State Representative William Adolph at Paxon Hollow Country Club, from 8:00am to 9:30am at 850 Paxon Hollow Road, Media Pa 19063. Free breakfast to honor the service of our veterans, as well as representatives from the DMVA and Herbert Fouch, HeroesPath Veteran Navigator to answer any questions veterans may have. RSVP by November 10 to Kyle Rice, Constituent Outreach Specialist at 610-544-9878. The 55th Annual Delaware County Veterans Day Parade starting at 11:00am on State Street in Media. Our own HeroesPath Veteran Navigator, Herbert Fouch, Combat Veteran 2004-2005 Western Iraq, w...

Unitl May 29, Barnaby's of America locations are celebrating Memorial Day by offering a 20% discount on food purchases for active and veteran military with valid ID. This discount is offered by Barnaby's in conjunction with PathWays PA's HeroesPath program. HeroesPath offers veterans in Southeastern Pennsylvania one-stop access to a full range of services, opportunities, programs and supports for a successful transition from military service to civilian employment and family life.  Through HeroesPath, veterans can connect with a Veterans Navigator, who can provide comprehensive access to training, resources and services required for a healthy transition to civilian lifestyles. Navigators meet with veterans individually and in small groups to help veterans identify and achieve personal and career goals. To learn more about HeroesPath, please email heroespath@pathwayspa.org or call 610-237-3866. The discount will be available at all Barnaby's locations:  ...

PathWays PA is seeking two full time Veterans Navigators for a new regional Veterans services initiative based in Delaware County, PA. The Navigators will help connect local Veterans with state, federal, and community resources necessary for securing employment and building financial stability. The Navigator will serve as a primary point of contact to help Veterans prepare for employment, access supportive services, and navigate education systems. This position will include workshop facilitation, individual career coaching, case management, service referrals, business development, and community outreach. The ideal candidate will have a record of success as a Veterans case manager, social worker, program/project manager, etc. He or she must be a “team-player” with a passion for direct service and experience with workforce development. The Navigator must be an excellent communicator with strong problem solving skills, time management skills, and a working knowledge of Veterans issues...

For those veterans who have served and are currently serving, we here at PathWays PA say thank you. We are here to help with our HeroesPath veterans program. For veterans who come home and need any kind of assistance with job searches, training, counseling, HeroesPath will help connect you to the organization that can make your transition to civilian life as comfortable as possible. Veterans can also sign up for several FREE upcoming workshops including Finding the Right Job For You on Tuesday, November 12 from 1PM - 4PM and Best Foot Forward: Strategies for Successful Interviewing on Thursday, November 21 from 1PM - 4PM. Please call 610-237-3866 to schedule a FREE appointment with a Navigator or visit PathWays PA at 310 Amosland Road, Holmes PA from 10AM - 3PM on Wednesdays for "Drop in Hours." For more information contact the PathWays PA HeroesPath Intake Line at 610-237-3866 or email heroespath@pathwayspa.org .

HeroesPath, a new Veterans Services and Employment Program is now available to Veterans in Southeastern Pennsylvania. This exciting new initiative offers a single point of contact for Veterans seeking to transition their military skills to civilian careers and access other programs and supports available to Veterans. Specific services include: Job Readiness and Employment Guidance  Access to a comprehensive Service Referral Network Employment Support Groups; Veterans Issues Discussion Series Family Violence Prevention Healthy Families Workshops  Veterans can call 610-237-3866 to schedule a FREE appointment with a Navigator or visit PathWays PA at 310 Amosland Road , Holmes PA from 10AM - 3PM on Wednesdays for "Drop in Hours." For more information contact the PathWays PA HeroesPath Intake Line at 610-237-3866 or e-mail heroespath@pathwayspa.org

PathWays PA will be hosting the first HeroesPath Employer Leadership Corp Planning Meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 from 8:30AM - 9:30AM at American Legion Post 94 (2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven, PA 19015). This meeting will introduce local employers to HeroesPath, PathWays PA's new Veterans services and employment initiative. Employers who participate in the initial planning meeting and subsequent Leadership Corp meetings will offer expertise and guidance on translating Veterans' military skills and experiences to successful civilian employment. Participating employers will also have the opportunity to connect with highly qualified Veterans to fill human resource needs.  For employers who are interested in participating, please RSVP to Eve Thomas at ethomas@pathwayspa.org or 610-543-5022 x256.

Employment Opportunity • Employer: PathWays PA • Position: Veterans Navigator • Schedule/Pay Full Time + Health Benefits • Work Location: The position is based in Ridley Township, PA although travel throughout Delaware County PA is required • Position Overview: The Veterans Navigator will help connect local Veterans with state, federal, and community resources necessary for securing employment and building financial stability. The Navigator will serve as a primary point of contact to help Veterans prepare for employment, access supportive services, and navigate education systems. • Daily Duties: This position will include workshop facilitation, individual career coaching, case management, service referrals, business development, and community outreach. • Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a record of success as a Veterans case manager, social worker, program/project manager, etc. He or she must be a "team-player" with a passion for direct service and experie...

The last government shutdown came in the 1990s, so here is a quick refresher course. For more detailed information, please visit  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-government-shutdown-will-work/ . We will continue to update this page. If you see anything missing, or you have a question, please tell us in the comments! What happened?  Because the House and Senate could not come to an agreement about spending for the new fiscal year (which begins today) or an agreement on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded for a few more weeks of negotiation, the government has shutdown all nonessential services. Until a new agreement is reached, many federal offices will be closed, and nonessential workers (about 800,000) will be asked to remain at home without pay. Offices that operate with independent funding, such as the US Postal Service and the Federal Reserve, will remain open. Wh...

With the help of Representatives Adolph, Hackett, Miccarelli and Senator Pileggi, $200,000 has been appropriated in the budget to launch our veterans outreach program, HeroesPath. There are currently about 38,000 veterans living in Delaware County, which is the sixth highest concentration of veterans in Pennsylvania. The program will serve as a pilot to help veterans and their families throughout the region find educational opportunities, financial strategies, and support services. The program will serve as a primary source for all employment training and opportunities available in the area for veterans and assist them in transitioning into their new roles as civilian employees. PathWays PA is excited to embark on this new endeavor with the assistance of the local community leaders and elected officials. If you are interested in learning more or participating ib the program, please contact Lyn Kugel at: lkugel@pathwayspa.org .

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities  has examined how the EITC and CTC programs are utilized by veterans. With Congress considering overhauling the tax code this year, it’s worth noting that about one in four current or former armed forces families with children receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the low-income piece of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) — two key tax credits for low- and moderate-income working families. The Census and IRS numbers that our friends at CBPP examined show significant use of the tax credits by veterans. Nationally, 1.5 million military families receive one of the credits, according to our analysis of Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service data. In about 280,000 of these families, a parent now serves in the armed forces; in the rest, a parent is a veteran. Pennsylvania alone has 48,000 veterans and armed forces families with children that receive the EITC or low-income component of the Child Tax Credit annually. ...

Join the discussion on Tuesday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at CCP in the Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-28, for Honoring Our HERoes: Giving Service for Your Service. There will be a panel discussion and reception sponsored by The Links, Incorporated, Philadelphia Chapter , in partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia Veterans Resource Center . The panel will discuss the challenges of women veterans and the process of successfully transitioning from military life. This event is open to males and to spouses of women veterans. please RSVP: women.veterans.links@gmail.com For more information, contact 215-751-8462 or sbachovin@ccp.edu .

Veterans Day has come and gone, but support for veterans and their service continues.   Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, who served in the Commonwealth’s National Guard, is among the advocates for United States veterans, and recently signed seven pieces of legislation that champions the rights of those who have served in all branches of the Armed Services. Governor Corbett’s legislative package will: •    Finance the Veterans Trust Fund, which will receive $1.7 million after the sale of Scotland School for Veterans Children, and continue to grow, providing help and assistance for veterans. •    Encourage the commonwealth to contract with veteran-owned small businesses. •    Create a “V” designation on Pennsylvania Driver Licenses, which will allow veterans to qualify for discounts or other benefits. •    Update the Pennsylvania Code of Military Justice, giving commanders more options in dealing with military offenses. • ...

Members of Congress will face some big choices in the coming months. The upcoming round of negotiations will include decisions on: whether tax cuts for wealthy hosueholds will be allowed to expire; whether to halt across-the-board budget cuts scheduled to hit programs such as affordable housing and early childhood education in January; and whether to continue key expansions in the earned income and child tax credits that lifted 1.6 million people in working families out of poverty in 2011. The Coalition on Human Needs  composed a letter to Congress that details the consequences of congressional inaction . According to the letter, if Congress fails to stop across-the-board cuts: 750,000 fewer infants, toddlers, and moms will get critical nutrition assistance. More than 460,000 adults and youth will lose employment and training services, including 51,000 veterans. 734,000 households will lose access to home heating and cooling assistance. 1.8 million fewer low-income schoolch...

Federal Policy Updates  HELP MAKE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK A REALITY On April 17th, we honored Equal Pay Day – the day where a women’s salary will equal that of a man’s from the previous year. Now, one month later, we need your help to take action in support of equal pay.   In the next few weeks, we expect the Senate to vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. The vote could come at any moment, so we need you to contact your Senators today. Ask your Senators to show their support for equal pay by co-sponsoring the Paycheck Fairness Act. While women make up more than half of the workforce and more than 2/3 of them are their families’ principal breadwinners, women still earn on average only 77% of what their male counterparts do. Women need fair wages that will allow them and their families to be economically secure and the legal recourse to ensure they can. The Paycheck Fairness Act will strengthen the 1963 Equal Pay Act because it will: Deter wage discrimination by ...

State Policy Updates $1 BILLION BUSINESS TAX CUT EXPECTED TO CUT SERVICES THAT HELP KIDS, FAMILIES: REACH LAWMAKERS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK The first priority before the Pennsylvania House when lawmakers return to session next week is to vote on a bill that will cut corporate taxes by close to a billion dollars by the end of the decade, with no commitment from companies to put people back to work . Cutting these taxes will also encourage deep cuts to domestic violence services, education, adult literacy and food pantries due to lost revenue. Billed as a measure to close corporate tax loopholes, House Bill 2150 is paired with such big tax breaks for businesses that it will be a huge net revenue drain on the state for years to come. If you have feelings about this bill, you can send a Message to Lawmakers on Facebook and Twitter . Sample messages include: @Lawmaker Vote no on HB2150. Corporate tax cuts will hurt children and families. PA can’t afford a decade of deep #Pab...

From our friends at the Amputee Coalition . This month, the Amputee Coalition submitted a request to the President of the United States to designate April as Limb Loss Awareness Month. This designation would give individuals in the limb loss community a time to rally together, support one another, educate the broader community about limb loss prevention and raise awareness of issues that members of the limb loss community face. Make Your Voice Heard! We are asking that if you have not taken action yet - that you do so TODAY and ask your family, friends and co-workers to join you in sending a strong message to the White House on behalf of designating April as Limb Loss Awareness Month. Please contact the White House and tell them that you want the President to sign the Limb Loss Awareness Month proclamation! We only have a short time before they make a decision, and we need you to ask for support now! Taking action is easy! The more amputees, family, friends, support groups and ...

From our friends at Half in Ten . March 7, 2012, 10:00am – 11:00am Admission is free. RSVP to attend this event or Watch Live Online Distinguished panelists: Robert Greenstein, President of Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Lawrence Korb, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Koby J. Langley, Senior Advisor to the CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service Tom Tarantino, Deputy Policy Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Moderator: Neera Tanden, Counselor to Center for American Progress Action Fund and President, Center for American Progress As our nation winds down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of veterans are coming home. But too many of them are returning to levels of unemployment higher than that of the civilian population, poverty, and even homelessness. What can we do to ensure they return to jobs and opportunity? As America wrangles over the right way to cut our long-term deficits, we face critical ...

While many of us in Pennsylvania are shivering through the first real cold spell of the winter, Governor Corbett's budget announcement yesterday sent new shivers through many programs and services already struggling in a tough economy.   The projected $486 million revenue shortfall led to the Governor's proposal to "freeze" $160 million in spending.  ( For further analysis of the revenue shortfall, please visit this link from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. ) While this funding could be made available again in the fiscal year if revenue picks up, in most cases, budget freezes equal budget cuts. Below is a partial list of the cuts made to programs - for a full list, visit  http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1214310/12_01_04_2011_12_freeze_tr_web_pdf . Not all line items were frozen. Below are some important items that remain at the same funding levels: Farmer's Market Food Coupons: $2,079,000 State Food Purchase: $17,338,...