Join Us on Facebook and Keep Up to Date Throughout the Week

Our E-Update, Calendar of Events and E-Update ResourcesTM, along with many
supplemental updates of information during the week, now are available at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni
You do not have to be a Facebook user to access the Page but do need to be a user
to access other than basic features.
Like our Page and then click on Get Notifications in the dropdown menu next
to Like to obtain the latest updates. Otherwise, Facebook picks and chooses
what information you receive on your News Feed and Timeline based on
algorithms it chooses.

PRIMARILY FREE EVENTS AND TRAININGS

IMPACTING AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
Week of August 9, 2015
Helping to Bridge the Gap Between the Wealth of Available Resources
and the Poverty Associated With People Not Knowing About Them
_________________________________________________________________
In an attempt to aid reader searches, new items added each week are highlighting in
yellow. As always, we are interested in receiving feedback in regard to how we might
improve our publications, content and convenience of use.
E-Update periodically reports ways in which subscribers use our publications to aid their
families or organizations. If you have a short description that might be helpful to others
and their uses, we would like to hear about them. Please forward two or three sentences
that provide specific uses of benefit to bps461@msn.com.
_________________________________________________________________
Activities are subject to change without notice; participants are encouraged
to use contact information to confirm times and dates.
To unsubscribe, please send a message to bps461@msn.com
with the word Unsubcribe in the Subject line.

-2-

2009-2015 Casey Jones, Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities

Through Healthy Families. Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or noncommercial uses only.
Sections Available in the attached Calendar of Events:
UPDATED THIS WEEK: Special Activities: Upcoming primarily free activities
listed by day over the next several months.
Ongoing Scheduled Activities: Primarily free activities held regularly each week
or month.
Area Ministries for Those Who are Struggling. GriefShare, DivorceCare,
Celebrate Recovery, Mending Hearts.
Day Trip Destination Sites: Free admission sites for individual and family outings.
E-Update ResourcesTM: Accompanying Information About Services, Including
Employment Resources, for Individuals and Families.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Calendar of Events - Please Submit Additions Today

Upcoming Activities The following items are detailed in the accompanying Calendar of
Events and are in addition to those described within this E-Update. They will be occurring
during 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.

Updated: This Weeks Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.
Delaware County Summer Music Festival Media.
Kindergarten Readiness Classes Pottstown.
Family Summer Fun for Everyone Series West Grove.
Photography and Paintings Exhibits Collegeville.
American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.
Summer Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.
Look Good Feel Better for Women Multiple Locations.
Chester County 4-H Fair Honey Brook.
Depression and Dementia Support New Holland.
Journey Off the Map Vacation Bible School Paoli.
State Rep. Truitt Legislative Breakfasts West Chester.
Concert on the Square Exton (Eagleview).
Interviewing with a Criminal Record Job-Seeker Workshop West Chester.
Candle Making for Kids Glenmoore.
Summer Concert Series Kennett Square.
Carillon and Pipes and Drum Concert King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
Understanding Medications Presentation Phoenixville.
Macular Degeneration Presentation New Holland.
Family Connections Picnic Pottstown.
Healthy Childhood Milestones Presentation Pottstown.
Historical West Grove Borough Town Tour and Village Walk West Grove.
e-Bird Website Use Presentation Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).
Oudoor Survival for Kids Presentation Nottingham.
Mission Aviation Fair Smoketown.
Dog Days of Summer Festival Boyertown.
Bicentennial Community Day Pottstown.

-3-

Outdoor Family Movie Glenmoore.

Updated: Next Weeks Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.
Kindergarten Readiness Classes Pottstown.
Family Summer Fun for Everyone Series West Grove.
Photography and Paintings Exhibits Collegeville.
American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.
Summer Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.
Look Good Feel Better for Women Multiple Locations.
Starting a Business Workshop Exton.
Congressman Lunch with Veterans Coatesville.
Medicare 101 Workshop Exton.
Payday Loans Presentation Coatesville.
Lyme Disease Presentation Kennett Square.
Community Dialogue with Chester County Commissioners Exton.
Japan 70 Years Later Presentation Phoenixville.
Concert on the Square Exton (Eagleview).
State Rep. Truitt Constituent Breakfasts West Chester.
Veterans Family Picnic Coatesville.
Movie Night Exton (Eagleview).
Concerts Schwenksville.
Carillon Concert King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
History by Trolley Town Tour and Village Walk Exton.
West Nile Virus Presentation Exton.
Family Movie Manheim.
Lawn Chair Movie Thorndale.
Outdoor Movie Oxford.
Hecklerfest Harleysville.
Community Day Downingtown (East Brandywine Township).
Community Day and Business Expo (Pottstown).
Marine Corps Band Concert Phoenixville.
Night in the Park Hike for Kids Nottingham.
Songs of Insects Hike Pottstown (Warwick).
New:

Future Weeks Events and Activities (View in Calendar of Events)

Kids Cookie Break Fest Manheim.
State Sen. Rafferty Job Fair Pottstown.
Pet Fair Pottstown.
Advocacy, Relationships & Building Community Conference on Autism Lancaster.
Recovery Celebration Coatesville.
State Rep. Lewis Senior Expo Coatesville.

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.
Formats for submission should be similar to and include all information as that shown on the
current, accompanying Calendar of Events. Further information about submissions appears

-4-

at the end of this E-Update and the Calendar. Information should be submitted to
bps461@msn.com. Don't let your important activity be left unknown.

NEW THIS WEEK: Long-time Lanco Nonprofits Hit by Funding Focus Shift; Will the
New Paradigm Expand?
Will more nonprofit organizations be cut by funders focusing on broad-based collaborative
impacts versus current narrowly-focused programs?
A Lancaster Online report says that several long-time agencies in Lancaster County are
struggling after the United Way of Lancaster County moved to collective capacity awards
this year, cutting all or much of its prior funding to those organizations and re-allocating to
others based on specific community focuses and required broad-based collaborations to
meet identified needs and vision.
The story appears at www.lancasteronline.com/news/local/charities-cut-loose-by-unitedway-are-trimming-staff-squeezing/article_d8d89054-3c64-11e5-947497f07ab3606c.html#.VceniDCVWDs.facebook.
Additional information on "Why the United Way is reinventing itself and shaking up the
nonprofit world" is available at www.lancasteronline.com/news/local/why-the-united-way-isreinventing-itself-and-shaking-up/article_cd2ed490-a3fb-11e4-9898-1704adbd4b24.html
with our own prior report about a Pequea Valley School District collaboration in Eastern
Lancaster County being granted $297,500 in each of the next three years in a first-time
award at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/872618769470042.

NEW THIS WEEK: Some Medicare Part B Enrollees Face 52 Percent Premium Hike
About 30 percent of Medicare Part B enrollees may be facing a 52 percent increase in
premiums next year if the federal Department of Health and Human Services doesn't
determine ways to lower it.
The estimate is contained within the 2015 Annual Report to Congress of the Boards of
Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary
Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
A hold-harmless provision in the law, which affects
about 70 percent of Medicare enrollees, limits the
current monthly dollar increase in the Part B premium
of $104.90 to the dollar increase in an individuals
Social Security benefit, according to the report.
Without the hold-harmless provision, beneficiaries
would face a premium of $120.70 for 2016. However,
due to no anticipated cost-of-living adjustment for
Social Security benefits next year, premiums would
remain at the current level for those beneficiaries.
As a result, the needed difference is transferred to the remaining 30 percent of beneficiaries
which include new enrollees during the year, those who do not receive a Social Security
benefit check, and enrollees with high incomes, along with state Medicaid programs that pay
the full premium for dual Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries.

-5-

The result is a $159.30 estimated payment for those 30 percent, according to the report,
available at www.cms.gov//Statis/ReportsTrustFunds/Downloads/TR2015.pdf, with the
analysis at Page 33.

NEW THIS WEEK: Depression Isnt a Normal Part of Aging According to National
Institute of Mental Health
Although depression is a common problem among older adults, it isnt a normal part of
aging, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
In a new publication, Older Adults and Depression, the
NIMH outlines the different forms of depression, its signs
and symptoms, its causes and treatments, how to talk with a loved one who may be
depressed, and how to help oneself if depressed.
An online version is available at www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/older-adults-anddepression/index.shtml.

NEW THIS WEEK: Kennett Neighborhood is Cited for Its Transformation

The Philadelphia Inquirer has cited the Historic East Linden Project (HELP) as an example of
community and neighborhood transformation.
The report cites how neighbors came together a dozen years ago to clean out the drug
dealers, clean up the streets and make sure that kids and families are cared for, with solid
police-community relations being a contributing factor.
The story is available at http://articles.philly.com/2015-08-04/news/65169574_1_drugdealers-police-officers-good-neighbors#disqus_thread.

NEW THIS WEEK: Penn Medicine Cited for Transformative Actions in Health Care
Penn Medicine, the parent of Lancaster General Health and Chester County Hospital, is
seeking to transform health care, using rapid, low-cost experiments to explore new
approaches to improving care.
Commonwealth Fund, a private Washington, D.C. foundation that seeks to promote a highperforming health care system, reports on these initiatives in an "Enabling Change in Health
Care" case study, available at www.medium.com/@CommonwealthFund/penn-medicinecenter-for-health-care-innovation-enabling-change-612703a8f53b.

NEW THIS WEEK: VA Expanding Disability

Allowances for Former Camp Lejeune Residents
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is amending its
regulations to establish presumptions of service connection
disability for certain conditions resulting from exposure to
contaminated drinking water at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
This process is in addition to the healthcare that VA already provides for 15 conditions to
eligible veterans and their families who were stationed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days
between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

-6-

Further information is available at www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2720.

NEW LAST WEEK: Study Says Wage Earners Are Losing Millions Weekly Due to
Employer Wage Theft
A group of Temple University Law students estimate that Pennsylvania workers are losing
$19 million to $32 million in wages every workweek, or an average of 15% of what many
should be paid, due to employer wage theft.
Shortchanged: How Wage Theft Harms Pennsylvania's Workers and Economy is a report
prepared and written by the Social Justice Lawyering Clinic of students at the Stephen and
Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law.
They estimate that over 400,000 individuals experience a minimum wage violation and over
300,000 experience overtime violations in any workweek.
Minimum wage, overtime and tip violations, illegal deductions, shorting of hours, and
delayed or missed payment of wages are among areas in which workers are shortchanged,
the report says.
It attributes the losses to employers using a variety of tactics to avoid paying their workers,
many workers being unaware of their rights or afraid of seeking wages owed, and
enforcement of wage theft being "problematic" because of insufficient governmental
oversight of employers.
Common categories of workers identified as being shortchanged, primarily in lower income
occupations, include beauty, dry cleaning and general repair; building services and grounds
workers; car wash, parking lot, and drivers; cashiers; childcare workers; cooks,
dishwashers and food preparers; factory and packaging; general construction; home health
care; retail salesperson and tellers; sewing and garment workers; stock/office clerks and
couriers; and waiters, cafeteria workers, and bartenders.
Estimates of violations in Berks and Lancaster counties, along with the Philadelphia suburbs,
including Chester, Delaware and Montgomery for each category are included in the report.
Students recommend the following actions to overcome shortchanging:
Creating stronger penalties for employers who commit wage theft;
Increasing funding to DLI for enforcement of the wage and hour laws;
Working more closely with community groups to identify enforcement priorities for
DLI; and
Strengthening enforcement with wage liens and revocation of licenses.
The report is available at www2.law.temple.edu/csj/files/wagetheft-report.pdf.
Recent actions by the federal Department of Labor in regard to wages nationally under the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as we previously reported, are available at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/898751336856785/?type=1.

-7-

NEW LAST WEEK: Free Schuylkill River Trail Maps

Available
Schuylkill River Trail maps are being made available at several
area locations while supplies last.
The Trail recently won the USA Today Best Urban Trail
designation: www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-urban-trail.
The final link in the Schuylkill River Trail connecting
Philadelphia to Phoenixville, a one and three-quarter-mile
segment along the border of Upper Providence Township, also has opened.
Further information about the trail is available at www.schuylkillrivertrail.com, with map
locations at www.schuylkillrivertrail.com/events/schuylkill-river-trail-maps-now-available.

Chesco Rejects Changing Public Emergency Alert System

Chester County's Director of Emergency Services says he "will not change the system" of
emergency alerts to the public that the editor of this E-Update has continued to term
"erratic, sporadic and unreliable".
The declaration from Robert Kagel came last month after a new presentation by Casey
Jones at a meeting of Chester County Commissioners at which Jones said the County
continues to promote its new Ready ChesCo alerting system without advising the public that
it has flaws.
Jones cited a week-before situation in which posts were made to the Ready ChesCo
Facebook page about flooding in the County but the information wasn't received via the
primary alerting system for an additional 15 minutes and the secondary level for an
additional 13 minutes, or nearly half an hour later:
www.facebook.com/CCDES/posts/10155807872710534.
He also noted the County failed to post any information to its Facebook page about the
recent weekend Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisory until a general comment
appeared on the page Monday morning, the second day of the event. Jones actually had
published a notice through the Comment section to the County page on Saturday as to
three alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) due to the County not reporting them
on its own page: www.facebook.com/CCDES/posts/10155818476585534.
In addition, the County failed to follow up on initial alerts that went out in regard to heat
conditions being extended for a second day or providing any information at all under the
recent alerts list on the Ready ChesCo website, Jones said. He previously had reported the
lack of cross-platform public information consistency.
Commissioners Chair Terence Farrell requested that Jones meet with Kagel after the
meeting.
Kagel declared during that session that the system is working as we anticipated and
alleged the public is being advised via website instructions as to system limitations.
During the same session, however, he admitted that a new alerting system that went into
operation in June has problems, such as not reporting flooding alerts that Jones had pointed
out. He said the County will continue to rely upon automatic electronic alerts, without

-8-

human oversight, despite Jones having noted that these systems have not worked several
times already this year.
During the discussion Kagel also revealed:
-- County residents now will receive alerts based only on where they live, even if they are
just across the geographic divide of the National Weather Service north-south County
forecast line and travel to other parts of the County for work or other activities.
Jones previously had pointed out that just over 80,000 people are reported to leave and
nearly 80,000 more enter the county for employment, according to a County Planning
Commission report, with others traveling daily for shopping, recreation and other activities.
-- No additional alerts will be issued if the time for an original event is extended beyond the
initial alert period.
-- The preparedness component of the Countys emergency management system will refer
residents to the federal Ready.gov website for response information.
Kagel said the public needs to take responsibility for its own preparedness. He also
maintained he is confident the system is adequate to alert the public in event of a tornado
or flood, although he didnt address the inconsistency between this statement and what has
been happening.
Jones said he will continue to pursue nearly five years of effort with the Department of
Emergency Services and three years with the Board of Commissioners to have a viable and
reliable public disaster preparedness alerting system to help protect County residents and
visitors.

Chester County Launches Platform to Employment Program for Long-Term

Unemployed
Chester County has provided additional information on a program we first reported on
earlier to help long-term unemployed get back to work in the County.
County Commissioners and the Workforce Development Board said $175,000 in federal
funding, received through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, is being
awarded to Platform to Employment (P2E) of Bridgeport, Conn., to undertake a pilot project
to assist 25 long-term unemployed.
Applications currently are being accepted by the organization, which already has undertaken
13 projects in other parts of the country, with the local pilot to start September 1.
County residents who have been unemployed for 27 or more weeks are eligible to apply.
Those chosen will undergo an intensive five-week preparatory course that includes skills
assessment, career readiness, employee assistance programs and coaching.
Those graduating will be linked to participating county employers seeking similar skill sets
for trial employment, with P2E reimbursing the employer full wages for the first four weeks
and one-half of wages during the second four weeks. The organization is said to have a
90% success rate in companies continuing employment after the trial period.

-9-

In addition to the career readiness workshop, unemployed and their families will be
connected with other county organizations for assistance in related areas such as stress,
emotional and financial issues.
Officials said that although the County's unemployment rate is only four percent and many
employers are unable to find employees with needed skills, there are thousands of talented
individuals, many of them over 50 years of age, who aren't being reflected in employment
statistics.
P2E is designed to develop career-related support services to strengthen skills of the longterm unemployed and to recruit employers seeking workers with similar skills.
County officials were unable to address future direction of the $7,000 average cost per
individual initiative as it relates to the significant long-term unemployed population, saying
the current project is a pilot at this point.
Further information and the online application to participate in the pilot are available at
www.platformtoemployment.com, info@platformtoemployment.com or (203) 610-8492.

Chester County Sending $3 Million to Seven Communities

Chester County Commissioners have approved nearly $3 million in Community Revitalization
Program funds for capital improvements in seven communities.
The Borough of Elverson will receive the largest award, $590,000 for a
wastewater project, followed by Oxford with $575,000 for infrastructure,
and $500,000 each to the City of Coatesville toward a downtown
parking structure, and to Phoenixville to replace a water main.
Also, $400,000 to West Grove for Hillside Avenue reconstruction;
$250,000 to Honey Brook for White Birch Street reconstruction; and
$180,000 to Downingtown for a Bradford Avenue relief sanitary sewer line.
Further information on the projects and the funding source are available in our Facebook
page report at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/897960780269174/?type=1.

Chesco Introduces Multi-Model Circulation Planning Handbook

Chester County Planning Commission has completed a Multi-Model Circulation Handbook on
how to incorporate all transportation modes into contemporary land development site
design.
The 246-page publication is intended to assist municipal officials, planners, traffic
consultants, designers, land owners and developers in how to accommodate all modes of
transportation into land use and land development design.
It is available at www.chesco.org/documentcenter/view/26940, with additional planning
publications at www.landscapes2.org/publications/PubTrans.cfm.

- 10 -

PENNVEST Awards over $38 Million to Area Counties

Over $38 million in loans and grants have been
awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure
Investment Authority (PENNVEST) for wastewater
treatment projects in Chester, Delaware, Berks and
Lancaster counties.
The City of Reading will receive the largest award, a $37,214,485 loan to upgrade its
sewage treatment plant and related facilities to eliminate the threat of wet weather
discharges of untreated sewage into the Schuylkill River. In April, it had received an $84
million loan for a separate phase of the project.
Further information on the awards is available at www.media.pa.gov/Pages/PennvestDetails.aspx?newsid=30 and www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Pennvest-Details.aspx?newsid=28.

How Do Area Hospitals Stack Up?

U.S. News and World Report magazine has published its ratings for hospitals nationally, with
information on area facilities available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/pa.
A separate news story on how ratings also can be confusing is available at
www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/pa_hospital_quality_report_pin.html.

State Focuses on Long-Term Care at Home

Pennsylvania Departments of Aging and Human Services have introduced new steps to
improve care coordination and move to Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and
Supports (MLTSS) to assist individuals in remaining in their own homes versus care
facilities.
Further information is available at
http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/scripts/wa.exe?A3=ind15&L=NEWS-RELEASES&E=quotedprintable&P=1878038&B=-_000_3d73970ff16a432794d7dc8af152f53fENCTCEXCH022PALCL_&T=text%2Fhtml;%20ch
arset=Windows-1252&XSS=3&header=1, with additional information on MLTSS at
http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/scripts/wa.exe?A3=ind15&L=NEWS-RELEASES&E=quotedprintable&P=1878038&B=-_000_3d73970ff16a432794d7dc8af152f53fENCTCEXCH022PALCL_&T=text%2Fhtml;%20ch
arset=Windows-1252&XSS=3&header=1.

Chester County Expands Lead and Healthy Homes Program

Chester County Health Department has expanded its Lead and Healthy Homes Program,
increasing the children and youth qualification age for services.
Under the initiative, pregnant women and families with a child under 18 years of age that
suffers from asthma, resides in a home constructed before 1978, has pests or other risks, is

- 11 -

at 300% of poverty or participates in assistance programs such as food stamps or childrens

health insurance are eligible for a free home visit.
The activity is designed to identify asthma triggers, lead-based paint, pest activity and code
violations that pose safety and health hazards. Health Department representatives also
provide educational materials, Healthy Homes supplies to assist in making a home safer and
healthier, and referrals to other housing and community health agencies for additional
assistance.
Further information is available at http://chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=2680 or (610) 3446225.

Labor Department Warns Employers About Contractor Classifications and Seeks

White Collar Minimum Wage Changes
U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued an administrative interpretation that is seen
as narrowing a company's ability to classify someone as an independent contractor, rather
than as an employee, and a proposed rule that would provide overtime to an estimated five
million white collar workers.
In the first situation, the Department is placing greater emphasis on what is termed the
"economic realities test", saying that under the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) "most
workers are employees under the FLSA" and not contractors.
Under the second action, the current FLSA salary threshold exemption of $455 per week, or
$23,660 annually, that allows an employer to avoid overtime pay for white collar workers,
would more than double to $921 per week, or $47,892 annually, and for the first time be
subject to annual increases.
Further information on the proposed rule, with public comment being accepted until Friday,
September 4, is available in our Facebook page report at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/898751336856785/?type=1.

CDC Says One in Six Children Experience Development Disabilities

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that developmental disabilities
are common in children, with one in six being affected in the United States in 20062008,
17% more than a decade earlier.
Unfortunately, it says, children identified with autism spectrum disorder, one disability
affecting one in 68 children, were not diagnosed on average until after age four, even
though children can be diagnosed as early as two years of age. It noted that research
demonstrates that early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a childs
development.
Developmental disabilities range from mild, such as speech and language impairments, to
serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and
autism.
Further information, including data, signs and symptoms at various ages, early intervention
and more is available in our Facebook Page report at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/898786863519899.

- 12 -

Chester County Child Death Triggers National Consumer Alert

IKEA is offering wall anchoring kits for its chests and dressers following deaths of two
children, including one in West Chester, due to tip-overs.
The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission says a "child dies every two weeks and a
child is injured every 24 minutes in the U.S. from furniture or televisions that tip over.
IKEA designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture. Further information is available at
www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2015/IKEA-Offers-Free-Wall-AnchoringRepair-Kit-for-Chests-and-Dressers.

Additional Reports from Our Facebook Posts

We post numerous stories related to individuals and families during the week on our
Facebook page. Here are some that may be of interest:
Over one in 10 Vietnam combat veterans still are suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder, with a new study finding that more of them are getting worse than
better: www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/898946316837287.
Researchers say "kids are choosing marijuana over cigarettes", and also are
waiting longer to have sex but, when having sex, have a increasing higher use of
emergency contraception:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/898954383503147.
Several stories related to dementia and Alzheimers disease:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/898963763502209 and
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.623
317604400161/899848596747059/?type=1.
Social Security Disability Fund to run dry next year:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/899017833496802.
How to talk with college-bound students about alcohol use:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/899175943480991.
Unauthorized immigrant population leveling off:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/899184280146824.
High chance of being in poverty at least once in lifetime:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/899185623480023.
Extra police patrols being assigned to Route 30 traffic:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/899197480145504.
Pennsylvania dips in standings related to overall child well-being:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.623
317604400161/899833976748521/?type=1
Terminal Medicare patients to receive hospice care and treatment blend:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/900133730051879.
The full report, including additional stories, is available at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni. Like the page and click on Get Notifications in
the dropdown menu next to Like for ongoing updates.

- 13 -

Free Summer Breakfasts and Lunches for Kids Available at Community Sites
Sites in several area communities have opened to serve
breakfasts and/or lunches to children 18 years of age
and younger.
The Summer Food Service Program, funded through the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, is providing meals at
some 1,800 sites in Pennsylvania.
Further information, including a searchable sites locator
listing types of meals and dates, is available at
www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-meals-toolkit-summermeal-sites. An additional breakfast and lunch site not
yet on the map is located at Lincoln University, 351 Kersey Street, Coatesville, with further
information available at (484) 784-5945.

Volunteer Fees for Most Child Abuse Clearances Eliminated

Pennsylvania volunteers working with children have
been relieved of fees for child abuse clearances and
criminal background checks required by the state Child
Protective Services Law starting July 25, but it won't
help those who have been or are being required to have
such clearances by July 1 or during the nearly month-long interim period.
Governor Tom Wolf announced the waivers today, also saying the cost of Department of
Human Services (DHS) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) child abuse and criminal history
record checks are being reduced from $10 to $8 for all other applicants, also effective on
the same date.
FBI clearances, required for all employees and for volunteers who have not been a
continuous resident of the Commonwealth for the last 10 years, will continue to apply.
Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary to Gov. Wolf, told Transformation Initiative that the gap in
time between the July 1 volunteer clearances requirements and the July 25 waiver effective
date is due to computer system updates that need to be performed to enable the new
actions to be undertaken.
Therefore, savings for individuals who must apply prior to July 25 won't be realized until a
volunteer's three-year clearance renewals.
In 2014, 23 pieces of legislation were enacted including Act 153 of 2014, changing how
Pennsylvania responds to child abuse, such changes significantly impacting the reporting,
investigation, assessment, prosecution and judicial handling of child abuse and neglect
cases. However, organizations using volunteers raised concern about future recruitment
due to the costs.
The list of persons required to obtain clearances, according to the Governor's Office, are:
-- Child care service employees;
-- Foster parents and adult household members;

- 14 -

-- Prospective adoptive parents and adult household members;

-- Individuals 14 year of age or older applying for a paid position as an employee
responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children;
-- Any individual seeking or provide child-care services under contract with a child-care
facility or program;
-- School employees governed by public school code and those not governed by the public
school code (colleges and universities).
From Jan 1, 2015 to April 30, 2015, 61,019 clearance applications were received for
volunteers, with the projected total number of volunteer clearances for FY 2015-2016,
starting July 1, being 296,836.
For DHS, the total number of clearances received was 512,583 from the time the electronic
system went live in late December 2014 through May 31, 2015. The PSP processed
828,579 Criminal History Record Checks from January through May of 2015.
More information about clearances required under the Child Protective Services Law is
available at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Individuals seeking clearances can go directly to
www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis to create an individual account and apply for their child
abuse clearance electronically.

Free Kindergarten Readiness Classes Monday-Friday, August 10-21.

Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness (PEAK) will host its annual readiness
classes for Pottstown School District children entering kindergarten in September.
Enrollment is open to children of families at 300 percent or less of federal poverty guidelines
-- $72,750 for a family of four with classes being held at KinderCare Learning Center,
Pottstown YMCA, YWCA Tri County Area, Montgomery Early Learning Centers and Pottstown
School District Pre-K Counts.
Classes are designed to provide a head start to incoming students as to kindergarten
routines and structure, acquainting them with the rhythms of school, and fostering
independence and responsibility.
Further information and required registration are available at www.peakblog.org or (610)
970-6655.

NEW THIS WEEK: Free Hearing Voices Workshop Friday, August 14

A Simulation of Hearing Distressing Voices training will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
August 14 in Room224, Building 38, VA Medical Center, 1400 Blackhorse Hill Road,
Coatesville.
Veterans, family members, veteran service organizations, community mental health
providers, certified peer specialists, and advocacy group representatives, other than voice
hearers, will learn about hearing distressing voices, including a simulation experience.

- 15 -

Further information and required registration is available with Jenna Mercadante, Psy.D.,
local recovery coordinator, at jenna.mercadante@va.gov or (610) 384-7711 x2252.

Free Strength-Based Family Worker Credential Course Tuesday, September 8

Tuesday, May 10; Registration by Tuesday, August 25
Chester County is receiving registrations for the Strength-Based Family Worker (SFW)
Credential course, an 18-class training and test for frontline family workers.
The course, open to government, private and nonprofit agencies, includes seven
undergraduate college credits or continuing education units.
Training includes development of a variety of skills related to effective family engagement
through strength-based practices within agency and community systems and with families.
Further information and required registration are available from Valerie Griffiths at Chester
County Department of Children, Youth and Families at vgriffiths@chesco.org or (610) 3445885.

State Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended Now Thursday,

December 31
The deadline for eligible seniors and the disabled to
apply for up to $650 in Pennsylvania Property
Tax/Rent Rebates, which may be increased to
$975, again has been extended from June 30 to
December 31, with some 450,000 individuals
already having applied.
Rebate distribution will start Wednesday, July 1, for those who already have applied, with
applications after that date being processed as they are received.
The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age
50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, with
half of Social Security income being excluded from the limit. In addition, due to program
changes last year to ensure claimants arent disqualified from rebates solely because of
Social Security cost-of-living-adjustments, homeowners and renters may be eligible for
rebates even if their eligibility income is greater than these limits.
Therefore, any homeowner who collected Social Security, received a property tax rebate in
2013 for claim year 2012 and had annual income last year discounting half of Social
Security up to $36,129 ($15,484 for renters), is encouraged to apply for a rebate for
claim year 2014. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for
certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975, with the Pennsylvania
Department of Revenue automatically calculating supplemental rebates for qualifying
homeowners.
Further information and applications are available at
www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/PropertyTaxRentRebateProgram/Pages/default
.aspx#.VX_2pka9BP1, county Department of Aging and senior centers, and state legislator
offices. Application deadline and income limit information hadnt been updated on some

- 16 -

Department of Revenue web pages as of this writing but appears at

www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Revenue-Details.aspx?newsid=139.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Community Organization Networking Connection Meetings

(Regular Meeting Dates are Subject to Change)
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. On August 18, Berks County Veterans Affairs will present in the Community
Room at Boscovs Department Store, 4500 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading. On August 20,
Webb Medical Systems will present at Excentia, 617-C North Prince Street, Lancaster. On
September 15, United Disabilities Services will present at the Berks County Agricultural
Center auditorium at 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport. On September 17, Mental
Health America-Lancaster County will present at Long Community at Highland, 600 East
Roseville Road, Lancaster. Specific topic workshops also are scheduled in the counties.
Further information is available at http://berkslancasterlebanonlink.org, or from Brian Long,
coordinator, at blllink@mail.com or (717) 380-9714.
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 hear presentations from
various services providers. On August 25, Chester County Emergency Management and
Chestnut Hill College at the Montgomery County Community College Center will discuss
activities. Additional information about the group is available from Debbie Dundon at Open
Hearth, Spring City, at (610) 792-9282 x201 or debbie.openhearth@verizon.net.
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
community. On September 9, the group will meet at La Comunidad Hispana, 731 West
Cypress Street, Kennett Square. Additional information is available from Joan Holliday at
dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180. Minutes from prior meetings are available at
www.bridgingcommunity.com/bridging.php.
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.
COSECHA (Harvest) meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of the
month from September through June at the Head Start Center, 380 West Cedar Street,
Kennett Square. Further information is available from Elizabeth Garduno at
elizabethga@cciu.org or (610) 444-2880 x305.
Coatesville Area Resource Network (CARN) meets from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on the third
Wednesday of the month, except August and December, in the fourth floor conference room

- 17 -

at Brandywine Health Center at 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Representatives of

community organizations exchange information about current and upcoming activities and
hear presentations from various services providers. Further information is available from
Kathryn Spurlock at ccch@comcast.net or at (610) 380-7111 x16.
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 various locations.
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.
Communities That Care (CTC) groups in several Chester County school districts provide
networking opportunities for community organizations and individuals that use a planning
and mobilization model to promote healthy youth development and prevent and reduce
negative youth health and behavior issues that may include substance abuse, delinquency,
teen pregnancy, school drop-out, and violence.

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 2 p.m. the third Tuesday of the
month from September through May at the Lionville Community YMCA, 100 Devon
Drive, Exton (Lionville). Further information and registration 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 THIS 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:
Downingtown (Lionville/Exton) -- Barnabas Group, at Calvary Fellowship Church,
95 West Devon Drive (rear entrance) at Route 113 in Exton (Lionville) is named after
the Biblical disciple known as the Son of Encouragement. Weekly sessions are part
of the churchs Care Monday, that includes a prayer group that meets at the same
time in the Prayer Lobby (Portico Entrance), with intercession for those attending the
Barnabas Group and the churchs other Care Ministries, including DivorceCare for
those coping with separation or divorce, even years later; Mending Hearts for those
with prodigal children and other family members; and various offerings focused on
assistance in healing and coping. Further information for Barnabas Group activities
is available at barnabasgroup@cfdownington.com or (610) 363-7171.

- 18 -

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. In August, there is no meeting. Further
information and required registration are available at
http://mycareertransitions.com/new/?q=upcoming-meetings.

Wayne A one-on-one Employment Guidance Ministry, along with periodic special

employment related events to aid jobseekers is available at St. Davids Episcopal
Church, 763 South Valley Forge Road, Malvern. Further information is available from
George Vosburgh at gbvosburgh@aol.com or (610) 688-7947.

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
from Elisabeth Hartwell at ehartwell@firstpreswc.com, at (610) 696-0554.

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.

Six Area Affiliates of Joseph's People meet during the month:

Berwyn/Main Line - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays at the
Hagenbach Room, St. Monicas Church, 635 First Avenue. Further information is
available from Bob Schubert at bobschubertjr@aim.com or (610) 755-2398.
Central Delco Groups at three locations in Central Delaware County now
coordinate meetings in Media and Upper Darby at 7 p.m. on the first three Tuesdays
of the month. First Tuesday: St. Francis Room at St. Mary Magdalen Church,
2400 North Providence Road, Media, with further information at
smmemploy@gmail.com or (610) 873-7117. Second Tuesday: St. Laurence
Church, 8245 West Chester Pike-St. Laurence Road Entrance, Upper Darby, with
further information at smmemploy@gmail.com or (610) 873-7117. On August 11,
executive coach Skip Torresson will focus on Incorporating Spirituality to Enhance
Your Job Search. Third Tuesday: Hassler Chapel, Media Presbyterian Church, 30
East Baltimore Pike, Media, with further information at robinst37@gmail.com.
Downingtown -- 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays, in the
Parish Meeting Room Rear of the School Property, St. Joseph's Parish, 338 Manor
Avenue (Route 322). Information about the affiliate is available by leaving a
message at (610) 873-7117.
Upper Uwchlan Township 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at the School
Education Center, St. Elizabeths Catholic Church, 100 Fellowship Road, Chester
Springs. Further information is available at (610) 321-1200 or at
david.bolz@verizon.net.
Reading 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm. on the first and third Wednesdays at St Catharine's of
Siena Parish Center. 2427 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading. Further information is
available from John Senick, facilitator, at (610) 779-4005.

- 19 -

West Grove 6:45 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the new Parish
Life Center, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 300 State Road, West
Grove. Further information is available from John Colgan at johnfcolgan@gmail.com.
Additional information on all St. Josephs People chapters is available at
www.josephspeople.org.

NEW THIS WEEK: Free Job Assistance Workshops, Job Fairs and Job Openings
Report August
Unemployed and underemployed persons seeking education and training in career planning,
along with employment assistance for veterans, ex-offenders and persons with disabilities,
can take advantage of a broad series of services and monthly workshops offered by the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor CareerLink at its Exton offices in Suite 500, 479 Thomas
Jones Way in the Oaklands Corporate Center.
These trainings include an orientation presentation as to what PA CareerLink has to offer.
A calendar of PA CareerLink-Chester County workshops for the current month is available at
www.pacareerlinkchesco.org/calendar.
Monthly job openings list that provides several pages for the Chester County area is
available at http://chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/27142. Daily position openings
updates are available through www.cwds.state.pa.us.
Websites for additional county PA CareerLink offices in the area, at which many services are
available to out-of-county residents, include:
Berks: www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/CareerLink/Pages/default.aspx
Delaware: www.delcoworks.org
Lancaster: www.jobs4lancaster.com
Montgomery: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1024

Free Online Training Available for Health Care Professionals Aiding Veterans
Health care professionals now have a free online course developed by the federal
Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD) to help serve veterans and service
members.
The eight-hour Military Culture: Core Competencies for Health Care Professionals training
covers a variety of topics through interactive features, video vignettes, case examples and
treatment planning scenarios.
Each of the four modules within the course was developed using research, surveys and
extensive interviews with service members and veterans.
Information and registration for the training, along with other military culture-related
materials, are available at www.deploymentpsych.org/Military-Culture.

- 20 -

District Judges and Law Enforcement to Receive Required Mental Health and
Intellectual Disabilities Training
A new Pennsylvania law, to take effect in September, will require law enforcement officers
to obtain training in dealing with persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities or
autism and district judges in identifying diversion options for such individuals.
State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone of Berks County, sponsor of legislation signed by Gov. Tom
Wolf says that "all parties will be safer ... if a police officer can quickly identify a person
experiencing a mental breakdown and use proven crisis intervention techniques to deescalate a situation."
Municipal police officers would be required to receive training though the Municipal Police
Officers' Education and Training Commission. Training for magisterial district judges would
occur every six years through continuing education requirements.
Further information in regard to the legislation and impacts is available in our earlier
Facebook post at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/894508417281077/?type=1.

People Spending More Time Living with Disabilities

People across the United States are living longer but spending more time in ill health,
according to a global research center at the University of Washington.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) says diabetes, neck pain, and agerelated and other hearing loss were among the 10 leading causes of years lived with
disability (YLD) in the United States in 2013, with other leading causes including anxiety
disorders, migraine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Since 1990, diabetes and Alzheimers disease have replaced asthma and falls as leading
causes of YLDs for women, the Center reports, with diabetes now ranking higher for men.
Globally, back pain and depression are among the leading causes of YLD in every country,
with mental and substance abuse disorders causing one-fifth of disabling conditions,
according to the Institute.
Further information on U.S. data is available at www.healthdata.org/news-release/nonfataldiseases-including-depression-and-diabetes-pose-increasing-threat-health-us, with worldwide trends,including the United States, at www.healthdata.org/news-release/death-ratesdecline-nonfatal-diseases-and-injuries-take-bigger-toll-health-worldwide.

A Guide to Air Quality Index Alerts

What do the Air Quality Index alert colors mean?
The region has been under AirNow Code Yellow and Orange
air pollution alerts developed by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), National Park Service (NPS), and
tribal, state, and local agencies to provide the public with easy access to national air quality
information.

- 21 -

State and local agencies report the air quality index (AQI) for cities across the United States
and parts of Canada and Mexico.
The standards are reported for both ozone and particle pollution, including who is most
effected at various levels and precautions that should be taken. Colors range from green
(good) to purple (very unhealthy) with red and purple levels impacting everyone.
Information on the different levels and their impacts is available at
http://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=tvweather.ataglance.

Study Says Low Education Levels Impact Early Death Numbers

A new study says that the number of premature deaths could be changed by individuals
attaining a higher education level.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver, New York University, and the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimate that 145,243 deaths could have been saved in the
2010 population if adults who had not completed high school went on to earn a GED or high
school degree. They also said that 110,068 deaths could have been saved if adults who had
some college went on to complete their bachelors degree.
The study said that a higher level of education is a strong predictor of longevity due to
many factors, including higher income and social status, healthier behaviors, and improved
social and psychological well being.
They equated the death rate associated with the lack of education to that of smoking.
Further information is available at www.nyu.edu/about/newspublications/news/2015/07/08/study-estimates-number-of-deaths-attributed-to-low-levelsof-education.html.

Alarm Goes Out About Increased LightningRelated Deaths

National Weather Service (NWS) is sounding the
alarm in regard to lightning-related deaths, with
more than twice the average nationally so far this
year than during the past five.
NWS hasn't identified the cause but says it may be
due to convective activity across the country; an
improved economy resulting in more people taking
vacations this summer; the possibility of people
taking more risks than usual; and the element of
chance.
"But the most important issue is behavior: People must go indoors when they hear
thunder!" the agency says, adding these messages:
-- "There is no safe place outside. You must go inside a sturdy building with walls, closed
windows, electricity and plumbing, or get in a hard topped car with the windows rolled up.

- 22 -

-- "As soon as you can hear thunder or see lightning you are in danger. Don't WAIT...
When thunder roars, go indoors!
-- "Do NOT seek shelter under a tree! Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the
storm.
-- "Plan your activities so you don't get caught outside in a thunderstorm. If there are
thunderstorms in the forecast, make sure you can quickly get to a safe shelter or reschedule
the outdoor activity."
Further information is available at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/science/scienceintro.htm.
Pennsylvania is 22nd on States List for Serving Medicaid Recipients with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
A new report says that Pennsylvania only ranks 22 out of
50 states in how well State Medicaid programs serve Americans
with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD),
including the young and the elderly, and their families.
The United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), in its annual The Case for
Inclusion report, also ranked Maryland as second and Delaware
35th.

as

In its key aspects of a "high functioning Medicaid program", UCP rated Pennsylvania near
the bottom, at 43, in regard to reaching those in need, 33rd in promoting independence,
28th in promoting productivity, 22 in keeping families together, and seventh in tracking
health, safety and qualify of life.
The full report is available at http://cfi.ucp.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/07/UCP_2015_CaseforInclusion_FINAL.pdf.

Middle Class Feeling Pinch of Rising Rents Throughout Area

A new report finds the middle class to be feeling the strain of rising rents as homeowner
rates drop to historic lows,
with the Philadelphia area
experiencing one of the
largest pinches nationally,
with Lancaster and Reading
somewhat less.
The 2015 State of the
Nations Housing study by the
Joint Center for Housing
Studies of Harvard University
says the U.S. is seeing record
numbers of cost-burdened
renters, including more renter
households higher up on the
income scale.
The study explains that:

- 23 -

"The U.S. housing recovery lost momentum in 2014 as homeownership rates continued to
fall, single-family construction remained near historic lows, and existing home sales cooled.
In contrast, the rental market remained a bright spot, fueled by strong growth in renter
households.
"With rents rising and incomes well below pre-recession levels, though, the number of
housing cost burdened renters set another
record, far surpassing public efforts to provide affordable housing. And despite the rebound
in much of the nation, a number of minority and low income neighborhoods remain
severely distressed.
Further information, including renter statistical impacts in the Philadelphia and suburbs,
Reading and Lancaster markets, is available through our earlier Facebook post at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/893677574030828.

Report Details Technologies Harmful Effects on Children

A PublicSource report, analyzing technologies harmful effects on children, says that
although screen addiction is not diagnosable, the average teenager spends more than 11
hours per day engaged with various electronic media.
Citing a variety of sources, the Pennsylvania investigative news organization says that
(t)elevision is not a babysitter, so parents should enforce rules about media use, noting
the American Academy of Pediatrics only recommends a maximum of two hours per day for
teenagers and older children.
Other citations include texting, violent video games, ability to focus and possible future
physical health issues.
The report is available at www.publicsource.org/from-the-source/technology-s-harmfuleffects-children?utm_source=PublicSource+newsletter&utm_campaign=b73a8cf8f2bikeSafety&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b58fd7b533-b73a8cf8f2309183425#.VaP5yfm9ASK.

Transportation and Home and Community-Based Services are Top Eldercare

Focuses
A new federal agency Snapshot of Older Adult Issues & Needs in America finds that
transportation is highest on the list for immediate or future needs, followed close behind by
home and community-based services.
The 2014 Eldercare Locator Data Report from the Administration for Community Living
found that 19% of elderly, caregivers and others contacting its national Eldercare Locator
call center were seeking answers to questions about transportation, followed by 18% for
home and community-base services. Housing at 15%, medical services and supplies at
11% and health insurance at nine percent rounded out the top five.
Legal and tax assistance, elder abuse, long term care, caregiver resources and employment
services were other areas of interest.
The report stresses, however, that even though individuals may contact the call center for
one purpose, other interconnected needs often become apparent.

- 24 -

Examples given include someone inquiring about home-delivered meals also may be lacking
transportation to the grocery store, or an individual exploring housing options actually
needing to move because they are unable to afford home modifications that would allow
them to stay in their home.
A copy of the report is available at www.n4a.org/files/EldercareLocatorDataReport.pdf. The
Eldercare Locator is available at www.eldercare.gov or (800) 677-1116.

Study Says More Follow-up Care Needed for Stroke Survivors

A new study suggests a need for better long-term follow-up care for stroke survivors,
including therapy to retain or even regain cognitive ability.
University of Michigan researchers have found over six years that stroke is associated with
accelerated and persistent declines in thinking ability.
Although stroke is common, costly, and disabling, and cognitive decline is a major cause of
disability in stroke survivors, the study author says that cognitive decline after stroke has
not received enough attention.
We hope these findings will shine a spotlight on stroke survivors long-term cognitive
needs.
Further information is available at www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201507/memory-andthinking-ability-keep-getting-worse-years-after.

Non-Elderly Health Uninsured Drops to Eight to 13 Percent

Up to five percent of the population in our E-Update
primary reporting area is enrolled in marketplace
health coverage under the federal Affordable Care
Act, with the number of non-elderly uninsured now
estimated at eight to 13 percent, depending on county.
The data, gleaned from the federal Department of Health and Human Services and Enroll
America, a national healthcare enrollment coalition, is through February 22 of this year,
following closure of the annual open enrollment period. Individuals with changing
circumstances can enroll at additional times.
Based on the data, Delaware County had the highest percentage of enrollment in relation to
population at five percent, with Lancaster County the least at 3.26 percent.
Berks at 13 percent, Lancaster at 12 and Delaware at 11 had the highest estimated
uninsured rates, although they each dropped a percentage point from the year before, with
Montgomery County at nine percent and Chester at eight, unchanged from 2014.
Further information in regard to numbers enrolled in relationship to populations in the fivecounty area, and uninsured rates is available in our earlier Facebook post at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/893710330694219/?type=1.

- 25 -

Counselors of Sexually Violent Predators Required to Notify District Attorney and

Police
Counselors of sexually violent predators now must notify annually the district attorney and
law enforcement officials of the jurisdiction in which they are conducting business of such
activity.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has signed legislation authored by Bucks County Rep. Frank
Farry who says it is designed to close a loophole in reporting requirements of individuals
who have been deemed sexually violent predators.
Designees are required to undergo counseling sessions at least monthly, Farry said, but law
enforcement often doesnt know they are in their jurisdictions on a regular basis.
Affected counselors must report their businesses by January 15 of each year. A copy of the
new law, H.B. 73, is available at
www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2015&s
essInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0073&pn=0064.

Chester County Pops Up First in Southeastern Pennsylvania for West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus (WNV) season has started, with the Chester County Health Department
recording its first2015 positive mosquito sample for WNV in Phoenixville Borough, the most
recent reporting for four Pennsylvania counties.
The total number varies annually, depending on weather. Last year, the county recorded 52
positives for the season, with 146 in 2012. Totals for adjoining counties last year were 148
in Delaware, 61 in Lancaster, 42 in Montgomery and 30 in Berks.
Further information on WNV and mitigation is available at
www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=868, with updating state-wide impact and totals for the
current and previous years at www.westnile.state.pa.us.

Lyme Disease Up in Pennsylvania; Chester County Remains the Leader in

Southeast
Lyme disease is up 25% in reported cases in Pennsylvania last year, although area counties
other than Delaware showed a decrease.
Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy
reported last week the Commonwealth
recorded 7,400 cases of Lyme disease in
2014, compared with 5,900 cases in
2013, with the increase, in part,
attributable to heightened awareness
about Lyme disease, better reporting, and enhanced monitoring efforts, particularly in
Allegheny County.
"Lyme disease is present in every county in Pennsylvania," the Secretary reported, saying
that residents need to better protect themselves from tick bites and know the signs and
symptoms of Lyme disease
"For those with the disease it is important to seek early treatment to avoid any potential
long-term health complications," she said.

- 26 -

Chester County continues to lead the number of cases in our reporting area, with 2,022 last
year, or 134 per 100,000 average annual rate, versus 2,395 cases the year before, or a
159.5 average annual rate.
Delaware County, in the meantime, skyrocketed from 62 cases, or a 3.7 average annual
rate in 2013, to 320 cases, a 19.1 average annual rate, last year.
Other area county rates, all showing declines between years, are:
-- Berks: 142 cases in 2013 (11.5 average annual rate) / 79 in 2014 (6.4 average annual
rate).
-- Bucks: 1,977 (105.3) / 1,400 (74.5)
-- Lancaster: 36 (2.3) / 35 (2.2)
-- Montgomery: 1,262 (52.9) / 1,052 (43.6)
-- Philadelphia: 549 (11.9) / 435 (9.4)
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and eight colleagues recently introduced the federal Lyme and TickBorne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2015 to increase public
awareness and strengthen efforts to combat tick-borne diseases. A text of the bill is at
www.blumenthal.senate.gov/download/lyme-and-tick-borne-illness-prevention-act.
A Department of Health Lyme Disease Fact Sheet is at
www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/IL/Documents/Lyme%20Disease.pdf.
The 2014 County Health Profiles are available at
www.statistics.health.pa.gov/MyHealthStatistics/VitalStatistics/CountyHealthProfiles/Pages/
CountyHealthProfiles.aspx#.VXkgyUa9BP0.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Counties Unveil New Emergency Alert Systems

Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks counties
have unveiled a new emergency alert notification
system via telephone, text and e-mail to replace the
current Cooper Industries ReadyNotifyPA brand.
Citizen signups for ReadyChesCo, ReadyMontco, Delco
Alert and ReadyBucks have started. Those enrolled in
the current alerting system will need to re-enroll in the
EverBridge system by the end of the month to continue
to receive emergency alerts.
The new system allows residents to choose the alerts
they receive and the order of notification, along with other types of information.
Enrollment is available at:
Chester County: www.readychesco.org
Montgomery County: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=595
Delaware County: www.co.delaware.pa.us/delcoready/delcoalert.html
Bucks County: www.buckscounty.org/ReadyBucks

- 27 -

Alerts for South Central Pennsylvania counties, including Lancaster, also are available
through Everbridge at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/658/Emergency-Services.
Alert information in Berks County -- Berks Alert -- is accessible through the Cooper
Industries system at https://berks.alertpa.org/index.php?CCheck=1.
Pennsylvanias alert system -- Alert PA -- for any county, also through Cooper Industries, is
available at https://alert.pa.gov.
More comprehensive weather information for the region is available through our Facebook
page. To receive updates for this and other family-related information during the week,
"Like" our page at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni and "Get Notifications" in the
dropdown menu next to "Like" to avoid Facebook filtering posts to individual Timelines and
News Feeds based on its own algorithms.
Although we also provide alerts, Facebook should not be considered a primary alerting
source for emergency broadcasts if emergency alert systems are working.

Study Says Some Area Hospitals Among Top 50 Nationwide for Highest Uninsured
Patient Charges
A new study, reported on by Lancaster Online, says that six of seven Pennsylvania hospitals
with the highest charges nationally to uninsured patients are in Southeastern Pennsylvania,
including Crozer Chester Medical Center in Delaware County, Brandywine Hospital at
Coatesville, and Phoenixville and Pottstown Hospitals.
Five of the seven top chargers, among 50 nationally, are identified as part of the for-profit
Community Health Systems, with costs as much as 10 times over Medicare-allowable costs.
Hospital spokespersons argued that their facilities "provide significant discounts to
uninsured and underinsured patients to help cover out-of-pocket costs".
Further information on the report is available through
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/880257112039541.

FTC Creates Resource to Help Recover From Identity Theft

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has developed a new website to help consumers identify
steps and follow a process to recover from identity theft.
Identity theft has been the top consumer complaint reported to the FTC for the past
15 years, it says, with the Commission receiving more than 330,000 complaints in 2014
from consumers who were identity theft victims.
The online guide and checklist are available at www.identitytheft.gov, with a Spanish
version at www.robodeidentidad.gov.

Pennsylvania Launches Mobile Child Support Website

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a mobile version of its
Pennsylvania Child Support website to simplify screen navigation and case details for people
accessing child support program information with a smartphone or tablet.

- 28 -

The website provides access to child support program information and case details,
including the status of their cases, making payments, viewing upcoming appointments,
requesting materials, calculating estimated child support payments, and locating local
domestic relations sections.
More than 18,000 people visit the child support website daily, according to the department,
with 67 percent using mobile devices as their primary means of accessing online content.
Further information is available at www.childsupport.state.pa.us.

New Consumer Hospital Discharge Planning Checklist

Available
Medicare has published a six-page checklist to help individuals
avoid being re-admitted after a hospital stay.
It is suggested by Medicare that Your Discharge Planning
Checklist be used early and often during your stay and that a
patient talk to their doctor and hospital staff, such as a discharge
planner, social worker or nurse, about items on the list.
The publication, including a list of additional resources, is
available at
www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11376.pdfm with the The Joint Commission, an
independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health
care organizations and programs in the United States, providing additional information at
www.jointcommission.org/toc.aspx.

Free Child Abuse Prevention Resource Guide Published

A new 2015 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections, along with other
publications to aid in combating child abuse are available at
www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/?utm_source=Gateway&utm_me
dium=homepage&utm_campaign=NCAPM15.

Free Motorcycle Safety Courses Scheduled

Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program (PAMSP) is offering all riders from novice to
experienced -- safety training for the riding season.
In addition, anyone under 18 years of age must take and successfully complete a
Pennsylvania motorcycle safety program basic rider course before he or she can receive a
motorcycle license. To be eligible to test, youth must have a motorcycles learners permit
for at least six months and have 65 hours of supervised riding.
Further information about new motorcycling laws effective last year is available at
http://dmv.state.pa.us/centers/motorcycleCenter.shtml, with information on PAMSP at
www.pamsp.com.

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.

- 29 -

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
all or selected portions as you feel appropriate. If you would like to be added to or removed
from this list, please hit reply and advise by typing "Subscribe" or "Unsubscribe" or
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
2009-2015 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.

- 30 -

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.