They will be
occurringduring the current two-week period or are newly listed as part of the longer term
Calendar.
These activities are provided for both personal use and printing out and sharing with others
through suggested posting on public and employee bulletin boards, hard copies or e-mail.
New:
Activities Submission - Organizations are encouraged to submit information about ongoing services and activities, along with special events, as soon as possible after establishing a
date to maximize publicity and to help individuals and other organizations with planning
processes for their own events.
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current, accompanying Calendar of Events. Further information about submissions appears
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NEW THIS WEEK: School Boards Association Says Most of State Education
Department Budget Increase Going to Retirement Costs, Not School Aid
Pennsylvania lawmakers have completed work on a state budget that provides an additional
$673 million to the Department of Education, but only $200 million, or 29%, will be going to
school districts for basic education fund, according to the Pennsylvania School Boards
Association (PSBA). Over half, or $345 million, will be allocated to school employees'
retirement.
In a budget analysis, PSBA says there also were gains of $20 million for special education,
to $1.096 billion; $345 million more for pension obligations ($2.064 billion total); $30
million for early childhood programs: Pre-K Counts (to $147 million) and Head Start
Supplemental Assistance (to $49 million); and $5.66 million for Community Colleges ($232
million total).
Wide variations in aid to school districts also were approved under a new formula adopted
for last year's budget that didn't receive legislative authorization until a few months ago.
The greatest increase in basic education funding in our five-county reporting area is Reading
with a $7,633,548, or 6.18 percent increase, along with a 11.21 percent increase to
neighboring Wyomissing Valley, the highest percentage in the region, although only
$153,906.
Avon Grove School District in Southern Chester County has the lowest percentage increase
at 1.99%, or $290,804, other than Bryn Athyn in Montgomery County that doesn't actually
have a school in its district due to contracting out education services to boarding schools
and other facililties. Three other districts in Montgomery County will receive less than a
$100,000 increase in basic education funding.
The PSBA public education analysis is available at www.psba.org/issue/budget-2015, the
new Pennsylvania Department of Education budget at www.psba.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/02/2016-17-Ed-Budget-Breakdown-6-30.pdf, and basic education aid
numbers for all state school districts at www.psba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/201617-BEF-Breakdown-6-29.pdf.
NEW THIS WEEK: Free Zika Virus Prevention Kits Being Distributed in Area
Zika Prevention Kits for pregnant women are being distributed by the Pennsylvania
Department Health through 10 locations in our reporting area, included in the region of the
state identified as the most susceptible for transmissions of the virus.
In announcing the initiative, state Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said that while Zika
is spread primarily by mosquitoes that are infected with the virus, it also can spread
through sexual contact with individuals who have the disease.
Because Zika poses serious health risks for babies born to women who contracted the virus
during pregnancy, the kits include health education materials and prevention tools to avoid
mosquito bites and sexual transmission of the disease to pregnant women. Using the
products in the Zika Prevention Kit can help protect you and your loved ones from the
virus," she said.
Additional information is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21007&typeid=1, with a list of
distribution centers at www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and
%20Conditions/U-Z/Zikavirus/Pages/ZikaPreventionKits.aspx#.V4fq-6JYxLM.
An earlier report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that
shows counties in Pennsylvania that are most susceptible to having mosquitoes carrying the
disease, along with other Zika information, is available at
www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/resources/vector-control.html.
NEW THIS WEEK: Community Services Delivery Funding Focus Change Takes
Financial Hit
Changing community services delivery focus from individual organizations to collective
impact has taken an initial financial hit in Lancaster County, according to LancasterOnline.
It reports that donations to the United Way of Lancaster County, which changed is funding
paradigm, have fallen by 11 percent for various reasons, although the organization says it
will maintain its change in funding focus.
Under the initiative adopted for the past fiscal year, many long-time individual organization
funds recipients were dropped, replaced by community collaboratives focused on four
impact areas: getting every child ready for kindergarten, having every worker obtain a
post-secondary credential, connecting everyone to a doctor, and cutting the poverty rate in
half by 2025.
Further information on the activity is available at
www.lancasteronline.com/insider/donations-fall-percent-but-united-way-sticks-with-boldstrategy/article_7e15f91c-4ab5-11e6-a42b-c75ee84ec6d5.html.
NEW THIS WEEK: Poor Children Gain Financial Advantage Growing Up in This Area
It pays for a child to grow up in Chester and adjoining counties, according to a new study,
although Bucks County is the tops in the region.
The New York Times reports through an interactive map of work by Harvard University
researchers Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren, that a poor child spending his or her first 20
years in Chester County will add $2,240 in average adult income over national levels of
earnings. This is followed by Montgomery County at $2,050, Lancaster at $1,690, Berks at
$1,230, and Delaware at $550.
Over the border, in Cecil County, Md., the number is $560, with children in New Castle,
Del., at $2,290 less. Bucks County is at $3,470 more.
NEW THIS WEEK: Pokeman Go Users Need to Include Police and Dangers in
Virutual Game Focus
Royersford Borough Police in Montgomery County already have cited an individual for
playing the new Pokmon Go virtual game while driving last week, with the Monroe County
Sheriff's Department in Stroudsburg taking to expressway signs to warn drivers.
Royersford also is providing cautions to Borough residents about using the game within
municipal boundaries and elsewhere at
www.facebook.com/RoyersfordBoroughPoliceDepartment/posts/1033270653417957, with
Pennsylvania State Police issuing a Community Awareness Bulletin in regard to safe use:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/1090475764351007/?type=3&theater.
UPDATED LAST WEEK: Chesco Moves to Most-in-Need Focus First for Homeless
Chester County has changed its first-come, first-served system of addressing homeless
needs to one designed to assist those with the greatest need first.
The new initiative, which follows those already in place in Montgomery and Bucks counties
and other locations throughout the country, still uses the ConnectPoints single point of
entry. However, personnel now will assesses each individual through VI-SPDAT, which
includes a Vulnerability Index and a Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool and then
provide housing intervention and other supports based first on those with the most critical
needs.
Homeless will continue to contact ConnectPoints at (610) 696-1999, which will be followed
by the needs assessment of each case. Those requiring shelter will be prioritized and an
appropriate facility then will contact the most vulnerable, based on the priority list.
Further information on the system is available at www.connectpoints.org.
rhorst@familyservice.us or (610) 696-1999 x142.
NEW LAST WEEK: Nearly 250 Percent More Money Goes to Pennsylvania Prisons
Than To Education
Pennsylvania spends 247 percent more on state and local prisons that it does on Pre-K to
12th grade education, says a U.S. Department of Education report, with the gap listed as
being the highest among neighboring states and the 21st highest in the nation.
Delaware is 24th nationally at 239 percent, Maryland 38th at 150 percent, New Jersey 40th
at 148 percent and New York, 48th at 88 percent or less for prisons than for education.
The full federal report is available at www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/other/expenditurescorrections-education/brief.pdf.
NEW LAST WEEK: Women More Likely Than Men to be Impoverished in Retirement
Women are 80 percent more likely than men to be impoverished at retirement age.
NEW LAST WEEK: Incomes Growing, But Top One Percent at Nearly Twice the Rest
The bottom 99 percent of income earners registered the best real income growth, after
factoring in inflation, in 17 years in 2015, but the top one percent did nearly twice as good.
Washington Center for Equitable Growth says that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data
shows that incomes for the bottom 99 percent of families grew last year by 3.9 percent over
2014 levels, the best annual growth rate since 1998, but incomes for the top one percent of
earners grew at 7.7 percent.
The analysis is available at www.equitablegrowth.org/research-analysis/u-s-top-onepercent-of-income-earners-hit-new-high-in-2015-amid-strong-economic-growth.
NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania Establishes Credit Pool to Aid Business Diversity
Pennsylvania has established a new low-interest loans and lines of credit pool for small
diverse businesses that commit to creating or retaining jobs.
The Small Diverse Business Capital Access (SDBCA) Program, to be administered by the
Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), can provide loans and credit lines for
small diverse businesses defined as a minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or
service-disabled veteran-owned business that has 100 or fewer full-time employees
worldwide and is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS).
Further information is available at www.newpa.com/programs/small-diverse-businesscapital-access-program-sdbca/#.V35OTaJYxLP.
NEW LAST WEEK: Millions in State Grants and Loans Coming to Area
Millions of dollars in grants and loans for economic development and infrastructure projects
will be flowing into Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster and Montgomery counties as a
result of more than $152 million approved statewide by the Commonwealth Financing
Authority.
The funds, for dozens of area projects among the 418 approved throughout Pennsylvania,
are included in packages involving Alternative and Clean Energy (ACE), Building PA,
Business in Our Sites, Local Share Account, and Multimodal Transportation Fund allocations.
Lists of approved projects are available at www.newpa.com/library/?
wpdmc=approved_projects.
NEW THIS WEEK: State PUC to Use Smart Hearing Process for 717 Area Code
Tuesday, August 9
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will use a "Smart Hearing" process to solicit
public comment on how to overcome an upcoming issue of the 717 area code for Lancaster
County west running out of telephone numbers.
Hearings will be held at both 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, in Hearing Room 1 at
the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg.
They will be broadcast live, however, on the PUC website, allowing residents throughout the
717 area code geographic region, which covers all or part of 16 counties in Central
Pennsylvania, to see and hear testimony being offered without the need to attend the
hearings in person.
Witnesses will be able to offer their comments by telephone from their homes or other
locations.
The telecommunications industry is recommending the PUC allow an overlay of a new area
code throughout the existing 717 area code which would require all customers to dial 10
digits for every call. An alternative would be to geographically split the current 717 area
code, which would require some half of region residents and businesses to receive a new
area code.
Further information, including testimony requirements, is available at
www.puc.pa.gov/about_puc/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=3722.
Sparrow on the Twomey House in Coatesville and the ACE's Coalition, and Orion
Communities on support services available in the Coatesville area. Further information is
available from Kathryn Spurlock at ccch@comcast.net or at (610) 380-7111 x16.
Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Counties LINK to Aging and Disability Resources meets
from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at various Lancaster area
locations, and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesdays of the month at various
locations in Berks County for services cross-trainings and exchange of information on
creating a one-stop, no-wrong-door resources for older adults and adults with disabilities,
including consumers, family members and others, seeking information about local
resources. Further information is available at http://berkslancasterlebanonlink.org, or from
Brian Long, coordinator, at blllink@mail.com or (717) 380-9714.
On July 21, a live demonstration of Project Lifesaver, a system designed to quickly locate
the elderly or disabled who wander, will be provided at Ironville Park, 711-725 Prospect
Road, Columbia, by the Pilot Club of Lancaster and the West Hempfield Township Police.
Bucks-Chester-Montgomery Counties LINK to Aging and Disability Resources
meets at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at various dates and locations in the three counties. Further
information and suggested registration is available at
www.buckschestermontgomerylink.weebly.com, buckschestermontgomerylink@aim.com or
(484) 364-6981.
On July 19, Kelly Tuturice from the Coatesville Veterans Health Administration will discuss
VA benefits in the Community Room of the Montgomery County Human Services Building,
1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown.
Phoenixville Area Resource Network (PARN) meets from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the
fourth Tuesday of the month, except December, at the First United Methodist Church (north
entrance), 865 South Main Street, Phoenixville. Representatives of community organizations
exchange information about current and upcoming activities and hProear presentations from
various services providers. Additional information about the group is available from Debbie
Dundon at Open Hearth, Spring City, at debbie.openhearth@verizon.net or (610) 792-9282
x201.
Chester County Family and Community Partnership meets from 10 a.m. to noon on
the first Friday of February, April, June, August, October and December at the Government
Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester. The group is a diverse partnership of
individuals, families, community organizations, service agencies, businesses and funders
committed to empowering individuals and families in living self-sufficient, productive and
fulfilling lives. Additional information is available from Kathy Brauner at
kbrauner@chesco.org or (610) 344-5262.
Chester County Faith Community Health Ministry Network meets from 4 p.m. to
5:15 p.m., on the first Thursday of each month, from September through June to exchange
information on promotion of holistic health within faith congregations and communities and
to develop additional faith community nurses, also known as parish nurses. Further
information is available from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180.
Kennett Area Bridging the Community meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesdays of
January, March, May, July, September and November at various community locations with
any interested individual or organization welcome to attend and share information on
resources and needs that can build "bridges" toward a more integrated Kennett area
West Chester CTC meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second Thursday of each
month of the school year at the West Chester Area School District Spellman
Administrative Building, 829 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Lunch is provided by reserving at
rsvp@wcctc.org or (610) 359-5817.
Downingtown Area CTC meets from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the
month from September through May. Further information and registration are available
at dtownctc@umly.org or (610) 458-9090 x2827.
Coatesville CTC Community Prevention Board, a body coterminous with the Coatesville
Youth Initiative Steering Committee, meets periodically in the fourth floor Community
Room, Brandywine Health Foundation, 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Further
information and requested lunch reservations are available from Jarvis Berry, CTC
community mobilizer, at Jarvis@coatesvilleyouthinitiative.org or (610) 380-0200.
UPDATED LAST WEEK: Support Groups for Unemployed and Underemployed Ongoing
Several networking/support groups (open to everyone) are available at area churches for
persons who are unemployed or unemployed, with each providing its own variety of specific
services in support of those who attend:
Malvern Penn State Great Valleys Alumni Association and My Career Transitions
(MCT), an all-volunteer job counseling group, meets from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
the second Saturday of the month, except August and December, in 130 Main
Building, Penn State Great Valley, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, preceded by a
new member orientation at 8:30 a.m. Further information and required registration
are available at http://mycareertransitions.com/new/?q=upcoming-meetings.
West Chester Unemployment support group meets bi-weekly from 5:45 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner Street, West Chester, to
learn tips and techniques related to job searches. Further information is available
West Chester BarnabasWC group meets from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mondays,
except holidays, in the Community Room, Providence Church, 430 Hannum Avenue,
West Chester. Further information is available at www.barnabaswc.org or
info@barnabaswc.org.
Job Creation for High School Graduates and Below Nearly Non Existent Since
Beginning of Decade
Less than one percent of the 11.6 million job created in the last six years have gone to high
school graduates and below, according to a new report.
The McCourt School of Public Policy at the Georgetown University Center on Education and
the Workforce, in America's Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots, reports that
almost all of the new jobs from January 2010 to January of this year have gone to those
with some college, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree.
It says the post-Great Recession economy has "divided the country along a fault line
demarcated by college education."
The non-college workforce also realized no growth among well-paying jobs with benefits.
The study says that occupational and industry shifts have been major drivers of change in
the labor market, with the recovery primarily adding managerial and professional jobs. As a
result, college graduates now make up a larger share of the overall workforce than workers
with a high school diploma or less.
Background in regard to the report is available at
www.bctv.org/special_reports/education/study-shows-college-essential-in-post-recoveryeconomy/article_ca1d4d58-3f8c-11e6-b65a-3360604108eb.html, with the study at
https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/americas-divided-recovery.
USDA says the program is important because children who miss school breakfast and lunch
are more likely to be sick, absent or tardy, disruptive in class, and inattentive. They also
score lower on achievement tests. Good nutrition is essential for learning in school. SFSP
provides an opportunity to continue a child's physical and social development while
providing nutritious meals during long vacation periods from school. It helps children return
to school ready to learn.
Information about SFSP is available at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/frequently-asked-questions?
utm_campaign=%2B+Benefits
%2C+Grants+and+Loans&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3102
9661&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_jAEIUFmYHexfM4lIOZ4sm709cajHR8hUUtcMI90G_YvfdYcQVX428rJPpcM4j6sMQE7FZWJbgeuqFwPeCu9FT433bA&_hsmi=31029661#6, with a
searchable database with arrows providing information on differing hours, meals and dates
at various sites at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks?utm_campaign=%2B+Benefits
%2C+Grants+and+Loans&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3102
9661&_hsenc=p2ANqtz_1QAn40daxuFbRWPWnVkDwRfaPHlN12d2nqvbWwSwq9LMRy8l0j21xBFrXjSWEeHVbBRKVV
dTv-vE_5kxX7qwl9XiJGw&_hsmi=31029661.
Every member in the household is at least 60 years old, has a disability, or both; and
For SNAP eligibility, a household includes only individuals who live under one roof
and who purchase and prepare meals together.
The phases range from the current situation of a moderate level of travel-associated cases
to potential widespread local transmission by mosquitos.
The agencies noted the only confirmed cases in Pennsylvania of Zika, which is identified as
being of danger to unborn children, are in individuals who contracted the virus while visiting
one of the areas where the virus is actively spreading.
They say, however, that "once warmer temperatures arrive in the commonwealth and
remain in place throughout the summer months, the risk of limited local transmission of
Zika virus by the type of mosquitos that potentially carry it will increase."
Additional information, including the response plan, is available at
www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=307.
Zika Virus from Mosquitoes Drawing Increasing Concern for Both Women and Men
The Zika virus is drawing increasing focus, particularly for
women who could become pregnant and men who can
transmit the disease, from the federal Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), with new guidance and
information to prevent transmission and health effects.
The CDC says there is "mounting evidence" that supports a
link between Zika, transmitted initially by mosquitoes, and
microcephaly, a birth defect that is a sign of incomplete
brain development, and possibly other problems such as miscarriage and stillbirth.
The new guidance is available at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0325-zika-virusrecommendations.html, with further information on the disease at www.cdc.gov/zika.
Please Note: New and Updated tags refer only to the time of appearance of information
in these E- Updates. Some on-going activities may have been in existence for some time
and are being listed for awareness.
Letting People Know/Making a Difference - Ongoing
Feedback indicates that a lack of communications tools is a primary deficiency in bringing
community services providers and those needing information together.
If you know of an activity designed to have a real impact on families (this includes
individuals and youth) that we should be aware of or might be interested in reporting in
these periodic e-mail updates, please let me know, either with details or a web site link. In
order to maintain its value, this forum currently is a subjective, selective distribution so all
information submitted may not be used.
Also, if you know someone who might be helped by these periodic updates, please forward
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something similar in the Subject line.
Events listed are based on subject matter related to activities impacting families and is
based on information reported to us. No endorsement is made or implied.
Suggestions for improvements are encouraged. We currently are developing a more
advanced electronic communications method for this type of material that will have more
expansive yet less obtrusive characteristics. Please stay tuned.
To submit materials for publication, please refer to the guidelines that follow.
Blessings
Casey
Casey Jones
Transformation Initiative
Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families
(610) 707-1494 / bps461@msn.com
2009-2016 Casey Jones, Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or non-commercial uses only.
Information provided is designed to highlight activities within the broader community that can help
enhance Christian principles relative to development of healthy children, individual and family
relationships.
Recipients are encouraged to print and post this Calendar to employee and public bulletin boards
for benefit of others.
Activities included in this publication are gathered from various submissions and other sources. No
representation is made as to their accuracy or value.
Persons wishing to be included in future e-mailings of updates, should request inclusion by sending
an e-mail with Subscribe in the Subject line, along with your name, organization, community and
where you heard about the publications to bps461@msn.com.
General Guidelines for Information Submission:
Submission up to two to three months prior to the event is encouraged to increase exposure to new
subscribers, individuals who only may read the list periodically, and for other organizations that want
to avoid scheduling opposite an event or may want to collaborate with others in the area. For annual
events, even longer lead times may be appropriate. Our deadline generally is the Friday before the
week of publication.
A general idea of the information needed (many submit too little for the consumer to understand what
actually is occurring and why they should consider attending) can be obtained by perusing the
publications or using the following guide:
Please use full names followed, if appropriate, by acronyms in parenthesis.
Name of Event:
Date(s) - Include both day(s) of week and actual dates:
Times (Starting and ending):
Location (Including any applicable room number, particularly in a large facility, and a
MapQuest or Google Maps searchable address:
Sponsoring Organization(s), if not part of the location address:
Participant Eligibility (Ages, gender, etc.):
Description of Activities and, as applicable, the presenter and the purpose of the event (Two to
three descriptive sentences with the most appealing information; please avoid superfluous
words such as "wonderful", "great", etc.):
Any Fees, including free-will offerings:
Contact name, e-mail, telephone, along with any web page that is focused primarily on the
specific activity:
Any registration requirements.
We generally use only free activities of a non-commercial nature or those in which a very small,
optional materials fee is charged.
Fund-raising activities generally are not published unless there is a good mixture of free
activities also available, including free admission, with a participant having the choice of
purchasing incidental items such as food or crafts.
Church events generally are published only if they are separate from normal weekly worship
services.
Due to the wide variety of activities available, decisions on publication ultimately are determined on a
case-by-case basis in context with focus of the publications.