PathWays PA Policy Blog

As we wrap up 2013 and look ahead to a new year, please consider giving to PathWays PA this holiday season either using Amazon Smile or Just Give! If you are making holiday purchases through Amazon.com this year, use AmazonSmile when you buy! If you register at AmazonSmile , .5% of your purchase will be donated to PathWays PA. Once you register your account, please continue to sign into Amazon using smile.amazon.com so that PathWays PA continues to get contributions. If you would like to donate to a specific program at PathWays PA, you can use Just Give by visiting our page here . Just Give allows you to see specific needs and programs that you can give to once or on a rolling basis!

From our friends at PHAN Become a PHAN certified health reform trainer. There will be two trainings outside the Philadelphia area in the coming weeks: NorthEastern PA-Monday, January 6th from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Location TBD  Apply Here. Lehigh Valley-Tuesday, January 7th from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Location TBD  Apply Here. To apply you must: Fill out the application for NEPA or Fill out the application for Lehigh Valley . Commit to the classroom training. Be willing to conduct at least 1 training or outreach activity per month for 12 months following your certification. Agree to offer your trainings free of charge (excluding the acceptance of travel reimbursements). Here's how it works: Once your application is approved, you'll be trained by PHAN staff on the law and best practices for public education. We'll also supply you with a resource guide book and a slideshow.  In order to receive PHAN certification at the end of your training, you'll nee...

Once again, Generocity.org is teaming up with Here's My Chance for an even bigger, better, video challenge. Each week, Philly DoGooder will keep you updated on the organizations involved in this year's Philly DoGooder contest, and sending shoutouts to all of the groups that participated last year. They are looking for community-based organizations (nonprofits and for profits), filmmakers, and sponsors to get involved- visit http://phillydogooder.com  for all the information you'll need! Here are important dates for those who want to get involved: Applications to be a part of the Hackathon - Dec 31st, 2013 @ midnight All video submissions - Feb 1st, 2014 @ midnight Hackathon - Jan 20th, 2014 12:00pm - 5:00pm @ Impact Hub Philly Philly DoGooder II Awards night - March 12th, 7:00pm - 11:00pm Sign up to participate here .

From our friends at The Coalition on Human Needs A webinar will take place on Thursday, December 19 beginning at 4PM EST to discuss the federal budget deal. Congress is expected to finish work on a bipartisan budget agreement next week. The bill as passed by the House will make it possible to start to reverse cuts to Head Start, senior meals, housing and many other needed services. But it asks federal workers to pay much of the cost, while not saving one dime from closing corporate tax loopholes. And it leaves out the renewal of federal unemployment insurance. That failure means that on December 28, 1.3 million long-term unemployed people will immediately lose UI. If the expiration remains in place throughout 2014, more than 4 million people will lose access to UI. Presenters Include: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN): Co-Chair of the76-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Ellison has been a staunch supporter of investing in meeting human needs and is a leader in fighti...

From our Friends at NELP  More than 1.3 million Americans will be totally cut off of their federal unemployment benefits three days after Christmas, and nearly 2 million more will not have access to those benefits by mid-2014 once their state unemployment benefits end, unless Congress renews the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program before it expires on December 28.  The House of Representatives is scheduled to adjourn and go home for their holiday recess this Friday, December 13, leaving only a few days this week to renew federal EUC benefits for millions of unemployed jobseekers. Call toll-free 1-888-245-0215 and ask Congress to renew unemployment insurance for millions of unemployed this holiday season.

From our friends at the Center for Hunger Free Communities at Drexel University Please join Children's HealthWatch and the Center for Hunger-Free Communities for a webinar featuring the release of a new report: "Punishing Hard Work: The Unintended Consequences of Cutting SNAP Benefits." The report details research findings on a phenomenon known as the "cliff effect." The cliff effect is an unintended consequence of the way SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) benefits are calculated - modest increases in household income trigger significant reductions in nutrition assistance benefits leaving young children in poor health and without enough food to eat. Please RSVP for the webinar here .

Paid leave champions Senator Gillibrand and Representative DeLauro are set to introduce the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave. The legislation will be introduced this Thursday, December 12 on Capitol Hill. Please take a moment and ask your member of Congress to be a cosponsor the FAMILY Act bill .