PathWays PA Policy Blog

All month, we’re partnering with the Women and Girls Foundation , Pittsburgh United , MomsRising , Women's Law Project , and the Family Care Act to co-host What Workers Should Know, a webinar series in the age of COVID-19. We’ll provide practical advice on how to navigate the current job crisis. Every Tuesday at 1 PM, join our live Zoom meeting to learn what’s happening in Pennsylvania, what help is available and what policies can help turn things around. 5.12.20: Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave : For the first time in our country’s history, Congress passed a law providing paid sick days and emergency paid leave to some workers. Join the Family Care Campaign for a discussion of the new laws; who can access them and how; and ideas on what we can do to cover all workers in the future. Join Marianne Bellesorte and Heather Arnet, from the Family Care Campaign, for an overview of the new and existing laws at the local, state, and federal levels and to learn about what you can do ...

In October 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put out a final rule to protect consumers and borrowers from excessively high interest rates on payday loans, car title loans, and other predatory lending. According to Prosperity Now, these rules  represented "the first-ever attempt at the federal level to regulate an industry that each year siphons off more than $8 billion dollars from the pockets of hard-working individuals and families. Built on over five years of CFPB research, community and stakeholder engagement—including more than one million comments submitted during the public comment process last year—this landmark regulation ensures that consumers everywhere are protected from the many predatory practices that plague the payday lending industry." But today, unfortunately, these rules are in jeopardy. Earlier in the year, CFPB announced plans to change the payday lending rule. We are now in a comment period to allow stakeholders to offer feedbac...

April 2, 2019 12:00 - 1:00 pm Cohosted by PathWays PA, Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission, Delaware County BPW, and District 10 BPW Women's Commission Join us on Equal Pay Day to learn more about Equal Pay affects you and what you can do about it! Whether you're an employer or employee, there are ways that you can make the workplace more equitable for everyone. Sign up  here  or join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/913032585

Adapted from our friends at NN4Y: Two key pieces of legislation were introduced in Congress to support higher education access and completion for youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness or been involved with foster care. Youth experiencing homelessness and youth from foster care face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education. Lack of family and supports, coupled with histories of neglect, abuse, trauma, mobility, and deep poverty, create roadblocks to their path to and through post-secondary education. Yet higher education is their best opportunity for economic independence and healthier lives. The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act (HEASHFY) was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Katherine Clark (D-5th/MA) and Don Young (R-AK). Streamlines the application and verification process for financial ai...

The Department of Labor Women's Bureau will be hosting a webinar focused on Promising Employer Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Women in Construction next Wednesday (July 19th, 2017) at 2:00pm. Despite public and private efforts to increase the share of women in construction trades, women remain significantly underrepresented. As of a 2016 study, women make up only 3% of workers in construction and extraction occupations. Increasing the participation of women in high-wage, high-skill nontraditional fields such as construction are incredibly important to their economic security. This webinar hosted by the Women's Bureau will include a peer learning forum featuring advice from experienced contractors who have been successful in recruiting and retaining women in construction fields. Featured panelists will offer practical advice and applied learning to showcase promising approaches for recruiting and retaining women on job sites. The panelists who will be featured in t...

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...

From our friends at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women : Can you really draw your way to success? Heather Willems, co-founder of ImageThink and co-author of Draw Your Big Idea will prove you can in this 30-minute teleclass where she explains the secret power of visuals for achieving your goals in the workplace. Willems will offer techniques to harness your creativity and master success using nothing more than your basic drawing skills. Learn how to clarify complex ideas, spark creativity, solve problems and propel your productivity to the next level—all from picking up a pen. Join us on Tuesday, July 26th at 1 pm Eastern for this call-in event . The day of the call, follow along and share your own highlights on Twitter using @PennWomen and #PennWomen . Heather Willems, co-founder of ImageThink, has a passion for making connections. Whether she is developing client relationships, leading workshops, or speaking about visual thinking, she loves supporting people’s personal ...

Three organizations ( ACCE , NJCU and ISAIAH ) are releasing a report today about women and debt called “ Pinklining: How Wall Street’s Predatory Products are Pillaging Women’s Wealth, Opportunities and Futures .” “Pinklining" refers to aggressive lending by banks and the finance industry disproportionately harming women, and particularly women of color. The report focuses in on payday, student and mortgage lending and is available  here. At the end of the month, another organization will turn its attention to predatory lending as well. On Thursday, June 30 at 2 pm EDT, CFED will host a webinar to explain how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new proposed regulations aimed at curbing the most abusive practices of the small-dollar lending industry will work and the implications for state-level rule-making. They will also discuss what you can do during the comment period to stay engaged and support the Bureau’s efforts, including engaging with the # ConsumersCantWait ...

September 18, 2015 1:00-2:30 EDT Register here . Join USDA, FRAC and Robert Wood Johnson to learn how you can create healthier child care environments with the newly released Spanish language version of USDA's "Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program," and other Spanish language resources, including the Look and Cook Recipe Cards and the Two Bite Club. Find out how to: Build a healthy plate with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, Encourage physical activity and active play, Keep food safe and more! This is an opportunity to learn and ask questions. 18 de septiembre 2015 1:00-2:30 EDT Regístrate ahora . Acompáñanos a aprender cómo puedes crear entornos de cuidado infantil más saludables con la nueva versión en español de “Consejos de Nutrición y Bienestar para Niños Pequeños: Manual Proveedor del Programa de Asistencia Alimenticia para Niños y Adultos" del Departamento...

The U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will host an online webinar on employment protections for older workers on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Register  here Speakers: Lucia Bruce, U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, Regional Administrator, Regions 3 and 4 Mary Tiernan, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Program Analyst Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 11/10/14 - Join Us in Building Assets in Pennsylvania! 9/8/14 - PathWays PA Launching "Second Act" Employment Training! 7/11/2013 - 2014 RSVP Competition Has Begun!

From our friends at the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, Region 3 The U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will host an online webinar on employment protections for pregnant workers. Speakers will include Lucia Bruce, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, Regions 3 and 4, and Mary Tiernan, Program Analyst for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Click here  to receive the webinar log-in information. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 6/25/14 - President Announces Executive Action on Working Families Policies 4/25/14 - Ask the Senate to Co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act! 4/3/14 - Philadelphia Pregnancy Accommodations Law is Going Into Effect  

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 ...

From our friends at FRAC . New Polling on Attitudes and Perceptions of Hunger and Public Policy Date: Monday, October 27, 2014 Time: 3 p.m. ET Register here The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Tyson Foods recently conducted a poll to measure attitudes and perceptions on hunger and its solutions among voters. Join us for a webinar to go over the findings, which show that Americans firmly believe hunger is a serious issue facing the nation, that its impact is widespread, and that government is key to solving it. The data reveal striking findings on American attitudes and perceptions of hunger, showing that many people either have recently experienced hunger themselves or know someone who has. Specifically, the call will discuss what the new polling data tell us, and how advocates and others concerned about hunger and its adverse effects can use this information to raise awareness of the problem, and knowledge of and support for nutrition programs, particularly chi...

Those of us who like statistics know that it's getting to be that time of year - the time when the Census Bureau releases poverty figures from last year. As always, CHN has us covered - they are offering a webinar on September 11 to help everyone get up to speed on the best ways to use this data. From our friends at CHN : Get ready for the September 16 and 18 release of Census Poverty data with CHN’s annual webinar training , co-sponsored by Community Action Partnership . Join expert Jared Bernstein, former Chief Economist and Economic Advisor to Vice President Biden, to hear what the new data will likely show about poverty, income, health insurance and much more. You’ll also learn how you can access and utilize national, state, and local data. The training is free and all webinar registrants will receive timely follow-up information before and after the data is released. This training will be available on-demand. Be sure to register to receive all materials and updates. ...

From our friends at CLASP Register now for three national audio conferences on job scheduling! Job schedules matter in many ways. For all workers, it helps when an employer is responsive to a request for a needed schedule change. And far too many workers have volatile and potentially destabilizing schedules. If you don't know when you are supposed to be at work until the last minute, how do you arrange child care or transportation? If your total hours fluctuate from week to week, how do you budget for rent and food? To address these issues and emerging policy opportunities, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is hosting and sponsoring three Job Schedules Matter audio conferences. The conferences, which are co-sponsored by the Center for Popular Democracy and the National Women's Law Center, will include comments from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman George Miller on why they introduced the Schedules that Work Act. You'll also hear from workers abo...

From our friends at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women : Tory Johnson's The Shift —out in paperback September 9—chronicles a very personal journey sparked by a candid conversation with a boss that led her to make the biggest shift of her career, and ultimately realize a better life both professionally and personally. Her story illustrates the success you can achieve when you're flexible and willing to reinvent with the times. Also on September 9, in this free 30-minute teleclass on the Five Steps to Shifting , Tory will share how she made a big life change, and how exactly you can, too—in every area of life, from relationships to career and health. If you have a specific personal or professional goal to tackle this fall, sign up here .

From our friends at the Coalition for Human Needs The Coalition for Access and Opportunity is a collaboration of advocates, researchers, and practitioners working to improve access and coordination of the range of federal income and work supports. The Coalition is sponsoring a series of webinars. The next one will be Wednesday, May, 21 from 2:00PM to 3:00PM focusing on online public benefit applications . Online applications can be very helpful to working participants and those with limited mobility; however, when poorly designed, they can act as barriers to access. Many states are in the process of revising their systems due to the changes required by the Affordable Care Act, so this is a critical time to pay attention to online applications in your state. During this webinar, participants will hear from Ty Jones of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, who will discuss tools and tips advocates can use to engage their state on online application concerns.

From our friends at the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center  Tomorrow, at 3:30PM, the PBPC will host a webinar will special guests, State Senator Vincent Hughes and State Representative Gene DiGirolamo to discuss the current outlook on budget negotiations. Budget negotiations will move quickly and could end with another austere budget on June 30th. There is bipartisan interest in raising revenue, but cuts are inevitable unless there is vocal public opposition. Space is limited, so please RSVP here.

From our friends at the Coalition on Human Needs  HHS.gov is hosting a series of webinars on the Affordable Care Act throughout March. All webinars are open to the public and include a question and answer session where you can ask HHS staff any questions you may have. Please see the full list of upcoming webinars below. Health Care Law 101 - Health Insurance Marketplace  Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.- Register Here   To Join By Phone Only, Dial 646-307-1706, Access Code: 281-771-511 For those joining by phone only, the Pin Number is the # key.  A presentation on the main provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the health care law. Information on the Health Insurance Marketplace, how to enroll in health insurance and key websites with resources on the law will be shared. We will end with a question and answer session. Please send your questions to ACA101@hhs.gov prior to March 19 at 12:00 p.m.  Questions and Answers on the ACA  Thursday, M...

From our friends at the National Partnership for Women and Families On Thursday, March 13, at 1:00 pm Eastern/10:00 am Pacific, the National Partnership for Women and Families will host a webinar featuring the results of Eileen Appelbaum and Ruth Milkman's recent study of Connecticut employers, Good for Business? Connecticut's Paid Sick Leave Law . Ruth and Eileen will discuss key study findings and answer questions about Connecticut employers' experiences with the nation's first statewide paid sick days law. The webinar will also be joined by officials from the Connecticut Department of Labor and Lindsay Farrell from Connecticut Working Families Organization to talk about Connecticut's experience. Please RSVP here to receive call-in and log-in information.