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PRIMARILY FREE EVENTS AND TRAININGS

IMPACTING AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Week of May 8, 2016

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
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E-Update periodically reports ways in which subscribers use our publications to aid their
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and their uses, we would like to hear about them. Please forward two or three sentences
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-2-

2009-2016 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)

Camps Cadet Various Pennsylvania Locations.
Walking Girls to Success Series Honey Brook.
Bird Walks Audubon.
Parenting and Children Time Pottstown.
Art Classes Kennett Square.
Longs Park Summer Concert Series Lancaster.
Parent Cafes Pottstown.
Gospel Roller Coaster Upper Darby.
Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.
American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.
Spring Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.
Look Good, Feel Better for Women Various Locations.
Singles Clinic Phoenixville.
Health Fair Boyertown.
Caregiver Workshop Series Kennett Square.
Pennsylvania Rep. Kampf Town Hall Meeting Phoenxville (Upper Providence
Township).
History Hike Coatesville (Wagontown).
Family Law Workshop Coatesville.
Schools and Discipline Parents Chat-n-Chew West Chester.
Checking Account Workshop Coatesville.
Pizza and Puppets Family Fun Malvern.
Hearing Loss Presentation West Chester.
Philly TV History Presentation Malvern.
Help Grieving Children Workshop for Parents and Professionals Exton/Lionville.
Riverwalk Opening Pottstown.
Double Concert Lititz.

-3-

Canvas Film Screening Lititz.

Commissioners Conversation Pennsburg.
Frightening Friday Campfire Nottingham.
Fireworks Limerick.
Paws on the Path Hike Nottingham.
Paper Shredding Pottstown.
Youth Fishing Pottstown (Warwick).
Emergency Services Fair and Shredding Stowe.
Township Yard Sale Coatesville (West Brandywine Township).
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Ambler.
Document Shredding Malvern.
Prescribe-a-Trail Walk Phoenixville.
Special Education Advocacy Forum Coatesville.
Community Day Lansdale.

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

Camps Cadet Various Pennsylvania Locations.
Walking Girls to Success Series Honey Brook.
Bird Walks Audubon.
Parenting and Children Time Pottstown.
Art Classes Kennett Square.
Longs Park Summer Concert Series Lancaster.
Parent Cafes Pottstown.
Gospel Roller Coaster Upper Darby.
Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.
American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).
PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.
Spring Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.
Look Good, Feel Better for Women Various Locations.
Beginning Nature Photography Class Glenmoore.
Backpacking 101 Presentation and Hike Coatesville (Wagontown).
Medicare 101 Workshop Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner)
Fathers Parental Rights Forum Norristown.
Dogwood and Community Service Festivals Phoenixville.
Family Caregiver Workshops (2) Kennett Square.
Student Technology Expo Pottstown.
County Commissioners Conversation Glenside.
Orienteering Presentation Exton.
50Plus Expo East Earl.
Prescribe-a-Trail Walk Phoenixville.
Pennsylvania Rep. Quigley Healthy Lifestyles Expo Pottstown.
Pennsylvania Rep. Truitt Town Hall Meeting West Chester.
Underwater Bugs Presentation Nottingham.
Gospel Hour Performance New Holland.
Mental Health First Aid Training Exton.
Pennsylvania Rep. Lewis Veterans Breakfast Parkesburg.
Family Come Out and Play Day Newtown Square.
Good Works Portrait West Chester.
The Martian Movie Oxford.
New: Future Weeks Events and Activities (View in Calendar of Events)
Minimize Your Risk of Stroke Presentation Pottstown.
Prescribe-A-Trail Walks Phoenixville.

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Acoustic Guitar Concert Phoenixville.

Aging University of Health and Wellness West Chester.
Memorial Parade Malvern.
50Plus Expo Exton.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Sharon Hill (Darby Towship), Abington,
Coatesville and Broomall.
Tractor Night and Pig Roast West Chester.
Elder Justice Day West Chester.
Car Show and Concert Coatesville (West Brandywine Township).

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
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.

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NEW THIS WEEK: Free Income Tax Service Nets $9.6 Million in Lanco Refunds
United Way of Lancaster County is reporting that its free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) initiative garnered a major jump in help to individuals this year, assisting over 7,300
individuals in obtaining $9.6 million in refunds.
More than 200 community members, students, and retirees volunteered more than 15,000
hours at 15 VITA tax sites across the county during the tax season to prepare free tax
returns for income eligible families.
The result was 7,369 no-cost tax returns, up 21 percent from 2015, with filings resulting in
$9.6 million in refunds to local residents, $1.9 million or 24 percent more, than last year.
The agency estimates it saved clients approximately $1.5 million in taxpayer fees.
Further information on the results is available at www.uwlanc.org/united-way-lancastercounty%E2%80%99s-vita-program-brings-96-million-tax-refunds-local-taxpayers.

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NEW THIS WEEK: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Forum Scheduled

Wednesday, June 8
Home of the Sparrow will host a Chester County Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
breakfast forum from 9 a.m. to noon June 8 at the West Chester University Graduate
Center, 1160 McDermitt Drive, West Chester, to gauge interest in developing a coalition to
address negative affects of adverse childhood experiences.
Presentations in regard to the subject will include Alyson Ferguson, director of grantmaking
at Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, and Jason Alexander of Capacity for
Change.
Further information and reservations are available with Milena Lanz at
MLanz@homeofthesparrow.org or (610) 647-4940.

NEW THIS WEEK: Acme Markets to Offer NARCAN for Opioid Overdose Mitigation
Acme Markets has moved to broaden availability of NARCAN, a nasal spray to counteract
overdoses from opioids, including heroin, that have led to a significant increase in deaths
throughout both Pennsylvania and the United States.
The supermarket chain, in cooperation with the Delaware County District Attorneys Office
has rolled out availability of the drug in its in-store pharmacies in that county under a
Pennsylvania Physician General standing order that allows dissemination to the general
public without an individual prescription and will be expanding availability to all its
Pennsylvania stores. Some other drug stores have made it available since last fall.
Further information is available at www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delaware-countyand-acme-work-together-to-improve-community-access-to-naloxone-300261854.html.

NEW THIS WEEK: Some Addicts Now Using Diarrhea Drug for Legal High That Can be Fatal
A new study says that some addicts now are turning to the diarrhea drug Imodium for a high, with it
becoming a growing problem in the United States.
There has been a 71 percent increase between 2011 and 2014 in calls to poison control centers in
regard to abuse and misuse of loperamide, the key ingredient, in the drug.
Further information is available at www.healthfinder.gov/News/Article.aspx?id=710652.

NEW THIS WEEK: FDA Extends Regulations to All Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes
Effective Monday, August 8
Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized
a rule, effective August 8, that extends the agencys
authority to include regulation of electronic nicotine
delivery systems such as e-cigarettes and vape pens, all
cigars, hookah (waterpipe) tobacco, pipe tobacco and
nicotine gels, among others.
Under the rule, FDA says it will review new tobacco
products not yet on the market, evaluate ingredients of products and how they are made, help
prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers, and communicate potential risks of
tobacco products.

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Further information is available at

www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/RulesRegulationsGuidance/ucm388395.htm.

NEW THIS WEEK: Misdiagnosis May Be Biggest Patient Safety Issue

Researchers at John Hopkins University School of Medicine say that 25 years of data is showing that
diagnostic errors, versus surgical mistakes or medication overdoses, have accounted for the largest
fraction of claims, the most severe patient harm, and the highest total of penalty payouts.
The study reports that diagnostic errors could easily be the biggest patient and medical malpractice
problem in the United States, accounting for more than $38 billion in payouts in the past quarter
century.
Further information is available at
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/diagnostic_errors_more_common_costly_and_harmfu
l_than_treatment_mistakes.

NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania Auditor General Warns of Back Door Tax Hike
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is warning that if a state budget structural
deficit isnt resolved this year it will result in a back-door tax increase.
With his pronouncement, the official said his office already is preparing to audit all state and
federal funds spent during the current fiscal year and that he will immediately start tracking
extra costs if the 2016-17 budget is not finalized by June 30.
I anticipate that the nine-month delay in the 2015-16 spending plan will present some
unique circumstances when we start our next audits, DePasquale said. I have instructed
my team to prepare now to audit the 2015-16 spending.
He said another budget impasse will result in financial rating agencies to again downgrade
Pennsylvanias bond rating, essentially resulting in a back-door tax increase on residents
because it will increase the borrowing costs for schools and governments.
Every road project and every school construction project will cost more, the auditor
general said, resulting in the back door result.
Last month, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf allowed a state General Assembly fiscal bill to
become law without his signature, effectively ending the more than nine-month budget
dispute. He earlier had allowed the final piece of the 2015-16 budget, without the fiscal bill,
to become law, also without his signature.
The Governor had said, after allowing final remnants of a long-delayed state budget to take
effect without the bill allocating school aid, that he would distribute funds based on a
formula to help restore prior budget cuts to poorer school districts. Republican Senate and
House leaders, however, called for use of a bipartisan commission standard funding
formula, with both houses approving the plan in a new fiscal bill by margins that would
withstand a gubernatorial veto.
Many districts won and lost with the change in funding allocations, with an earlier review by
the Pennsylvania School Boards Association as to the differences each school district will
receive in basic, Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and total funding available at
www.psba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2015-16-Funding-Comparison.pdf.
A statement by the governor on his budget decision is at www.governor.pa.gov/governorwolf-statement-on-fiscal-code.

-7-

The auditor generals statement is at www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-generaldepasquale-continues-to-audit-all-state-spending-preparing-to-track-extra-costs-if-budgetdelayed-beyond-june-30.

NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania is Second Worst State to Finance College

Pennsylvania is the second "worst places for a
family to pay for college" in the United States and
"home to the most expensive public research
institutions in the country," according to a new
report.
The Institute for Research on Higher Education at
the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of
Education (Penn GSE) made the assessment,
saying that a family would have to spend, on average, 47 percent of its income to pay for
full-time attendance at Penn State, Pittsburgh or Temple University.
"For the 20 percent of Pennsylvania families making $30,000 a year or less, that rises to
105 percent of annual income, on average," it reports.
"Even community colleges," it says, "long considered an entry point to higher education, are
not really affordable," adding that a student would "have to work, on average, 29 hours a
week to pay for full-time attendance."
New Hampshire was the highest cost state, with Alaska being the least. Maryland was sixth
best, New Jersey at 10th, Delaware 16th, New York 39th and Ohio 45th.
"Even in the best-performing states," the report says, "college is less affordable than it was
in 2008," adding that "(e)ven though more aid is available, it hasnt kept pace with rising
educational expenses.
"Every state is projected to fall short of having enough college graduates to meet their
workforce needs by 2020," it claims.
The report, including individual state analyses, is at
http://www2.gse.upenn.edu/irhe/affordability-diagnosis.

NEW LAST WEEK: Major Jobs Growth Forecast for Chester, Montgomery and Bucks
Counties To Levels Not Seen in Decade and Half
Moody's Analytics, in a report via Philly.com, says construction, health care, and
professional services employment should create major job growth in Chester, Montgomery
and Bucks counties this year.
The analysis suggests that pharmaceutical investment and more health-related,
pharmaceutical-related start-up activity will help generate the increase that would surpass a
jobs peak of 1.034 million in 2008, when the recession hit and wiped out nearly 50,000 jobs
in two years.
Last year's total was just slightly lower, at 1.033 million, Moody's is quoted as saying, with
Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, in contrast, surpassed their 2008 jobs peak in 2013.

-8-

The story is available at

www.philly.com/philly/business/20160501_Philly_suburbs_poised_for_big_job_growth.html
#XdIm7shqivwrucOs.01.

NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania Enrolls 625,000 More with Medicaid Extension
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)
says more than 625,000 adults ages 18 to 64 signed up
under the state's first year of Medicaid expansion, with
nearly half the additions under 35 years of age, 61
percent being white, one third being white females, and
over 47 percent being employed.
The health insurance program reports it also served
109,000 parents joining the system, and provided
services to nearly 63,000 individuals for addictionrelated conditions during a 15-month period starting January 1, 205, and 1,100 new
pregnant women.
DHS said the number of providers also increased, including nearly 8,000 new physicians,
2,000 dentists and nearly 1,500 therapists.
Further information is available at
www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=204, with an infographic at
www.dhs.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/c_226815.pdf.
The darker colors in the graphic signify the counties with the highest percentage of new
enrollments.

NEW LAST WEEK: Majority of Pennsylvanians Switched Obamacare Plans

Over half of enrolled Pennsylvanians chose a new Obamacare plan this year, resulting in
average savings of $28 per month or $336 annually, apparently
heeding government encouragement to check out plan and premium
changes annually under both the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and
Medicare.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in a report
on 2016 health coverage, said that 52% changed plans in
Pennsylvania, although the number was significantly less than the
67% plan changes nation-wide.
HHS says 439,238 Pennsylvanians now are enrolledunder ACA, 76 percent receiving a tax
credit averaging $251 a month, reducing premiums from $396 to $145, or 63 percent. With
five average insurers per county, 53% of individuals could have selected plans under $75
per month and 60 percent under $100 per month, although basic plan benefits are less.
Nationally, HHS reports, plan rates increased $30 per month or 8.4 percent -- from $356 to
$386 -- over 2015. The net cost to some 85% of consumers who received Advanced
Premium Tax Credits (APTC) is $4 per month, or approximately four percent, based on
reduced premiums of $102 per month in 2015 versus $106 monthly this year.

-9-

The report is at https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/198636/MarketplaceRate.pdf.

NEW LAST WEEK: Octorara School District Offering Homeland Security &
Protective Services Academy for Chester County High School Students
Octorara Area School District is accepting enrollment for Chester County high school
students to enter its fall Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy.
The Academy is said to prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills required to
perform entry-level duties in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, and
other safety services, with training being conducted as part of high school curriculum at the
Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville.
On focus of the program is training for students to be nationally certified fire service
personnel due to declining number of volunteers in the fire service agencies, along with
receiving other public safety certification opportunities.
Further information is at http://octorara.schoolwires.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1536 or
Cyndi Manning at (610) 593-8238 x3549.

NEW LAST WEEK: Caregivers May Obtain Medical Information Under New Law
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has approved a Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act
that is designed to require hospitals to let patients designate a lay caregiver to which care
information must be provided.
Under the law, to take effect next April, a hospital must request the written consent of the
patient or the patient's legal guardian to release medical information to the patient's
designated lay caregiver and obtain information to enable the caregiver to be contacted.
The legislation is available at
www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=20.

NEW LAST WEEK: Unused Prescription Drugs Disposal Available Year Around
Anyone missing out on National Prescription Drug Take
Back Day last month, doesnt need to wait until fall for
disposal.
Hundreds of police departments across Pennsylvania,
including over 130 in our primary reporting area, have
secure, no-questions-asked drop boxes available to help
keep unused prescription drugs out of the hands of
teenagers, children and adults, along with public water
supplies due to flushing.
Prescription drug abuse has been cited as a primary path for heroin addiction, particularly
among middle and upper income youth.
Further information about drop boxes use is available at
www.ddap.pa.gov/Prevention/Pages/Drug_Take_Back.aspx#.Vyc163oaJ0w, with a list of
locations and available collection times at

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https://apps.ddap.pa.gov/GetHelpNow/PillDrop.aspx or by calling identified police

departments.

NEW LAST WEEK: CHOP Joins Largest U.S. Autism Research Study
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is joining in the launch of what is said to be the
nation's largest autism research study.
CHOP's Center for Autism Research is becoming a clinical site partner for SPARK, an online
research initiative to collect information and DNA for genetic analysis from 50,000
individuals with autism, and their families, "to advance our understanding of the causes of
this condition and to hasten the discovery of supports and treatments."
The study is sponsored by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI).
Further information is available at www.chop.edu/news/children-s-hospital-philadelphia-scenter-autism-research-joins-launch-spark-nation-s-largest#.VydYk3oaJ0w, on SAFARI at
www.simonsfoundation.org/features/foundation-news/sfari-launches-spark-online-researchinitiative and SPARK at www.sparkforautism.org.
NEW LAST WEEK: Children Share Parent Prison Sentences Says Foundation
Parental incarceration is helping drain community
resources and creating a devastating toll on kids, families
and communities.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national foundation
seeking solutions to strengthening families, makes this
assessment in a new A Shared Sentence report that "if
incarceration rates hadnt increased during a 24-year
period, the U.S. poverty rate would have fallen by 20
percent, rather than remaining relatively steady."
It says that more than five million U.S. children have had
a parent in jail or prison at some point in their lives, which
can have "as much impact on a childs well-being as abuse
or domestic violence." The rate of parental incarceration
is said to vary from three percent in New Jersey to 13
percent in Kentucky.
The foundation reports that while states are spend heavily on corrections, few resources
exist to support those left behind.
It is recommending that:
-- Children are supported while parents are incarcerated and
after they return.
-- Parents who have returned to the community be connected with pathways to
employment. Without education, training and work experience, it says, parents who have
been incarcerated cant compete for todays family-supporting jobs.
-- Communities be strengthened, particularly those proportionately affected by
incarceration and reentry, to promote family stability and opportunity.

- 11 -

The high-poverty neighborhoods that are home to many kids and families dealing with
incarceration lack quality affordable housing, access to jobs, good schools and key
resources, the foundation finds.
The report is available at www.aecf.org.

NEW LAST WEEK: Flashing Yellow Left Turn Arrows Now in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's first flashing yellow left turn arrow is being
activated in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County,
and it may be the wave of the future in the state.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
says that research funded by the Federal Highway
Administration found that left turn crashes can be reduced
by as much as 20 percent after installation of the Flashing
Yellow Arrow signal, which also can be adjusted for time
of day, reducing delays and improving mobility.
Further information and a video as to what to do if you
see one, now in place in other states, is at
www.penndot.gov/Pages/all-newsdetails.aspx?newsid=220#.VySYmXoaJ0x and
www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/TrafficSignalsManagement/Pages/default.aspx#.VySYg3oaJ0
w.

National Weather Service to Stop Shouting Wednesday, May 11

The National Weather Service (NWS), after decades of use, will stop "shouting" its alerts in
all capital letters and use upper and lower case.
Starting Wednesday, May 11, NWS will change its practice of using all capital letters, which
started when weather alerts were sent over teleprinters, basically typewriters hooked up to
telephone lines, that only allowed use of capital letters.
Although NWS first proposed changes in the 1990s to overcome what Internet speak refers
to as "shouting", it has taken years to phase out all the old equipment. Thus, the automatic
weather alerts that are posted to our Transformation Initiative Emergency Preparedness
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TransformationInitiative.EmergencyPreparedness will
take on a new look.
Further information on the change is available at www.noaa.gov/national-weather-servicewill-stop-using-all-caps-its-forecasts.

NEW THIS WEEK: Free Help Grieving Children Seminar for Child Workers
Scheduled Thursday, May 12
A Help Grieving Children seminar to assist parents, caregivers and
those working with children in understanding more about how
children grieve various losses, including death, and how to come
alongside them to help mitigate future potential behavioral issues,
will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 12, in Seminar 2 of the

- 12 -

rear entrance education wing at Calvary Fellowship, 95 West Devon Drive at Route 113,
Exton/Lionville.
The single session is an extension of the churchs 13 week Monday night GriefShare series
for adults struggling with the death of a loved one, even years later. A new full series will
start May 16.
Further information and requested registration for the seminar is available at
www.facebook.com/CFDowningtown/photos/a.445025908921853.1073741829.2350595999
18486/1061073547317083/?type=3&theater or care@cfdowningtown.com and the regular
series at www.griefshare.org or from Casey Jones, church GriefShare facilitator, at
bps461@msn.com or (610) 7071494.

Community Health Choices Planning Conversation Monday, May 16

Several organizations will host a planning conversation on managed long term supports and
services (MLTSS) for Chester County from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 16 in the
Government Services Center cafeteria, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester.
Discussion by long term care representatives, consumer advocates and other key
stakeholders will focus on how the system, to be implemented by January 2018, will work,
who will be impacted and in what ways as the County partners with the new MLTSS
Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
Further information and registration for limited seating is available at
https://chescodhstrainings.schedulemeappointments.com/?b2ZmZXJpbmdpZD0xODUx,
DHSTrainings@chesco.org or (610) 344-6640.

WIC Public Hearing Wednesday, May 18

Pennsylvania Department of Health will hold a public hearing in regard to the
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18
in Room 149, Goverment Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West
Chester.
The sessions are related to development of the 2017 State Plan of Program Operation and
Administration for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC.
Further information, including pre-registration for persons wishing to comment, is available
at
https://snt148.mail.live.com/mail/ViewOfficePreview.aspx?messageid=mgUqaTH3T65RGAk
QAhWtgBzg2&folderid=fl_4JWu82tNkiTlETUMO0XIQ2&attindex=3&cp=1&attdepth=3&n=6472903 or Bonnie Mellott at (717-783-1289. Written comments also
may be submitted.

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Great American Cleanup of PA Underway Through Tuesday, May 31

Annual Great American Cleanup of PA, in which 128,000 volunteers collected six million
pounds of litter last year from Pennsylvanias roads, trails and shorelines, is in effect
through May 31.
During this period registered events can obtain free cleanup supplies, such as bags, gloves
and vests, from the Pennsylvania Department of Transporation (PennDOT) and Keep
America Beautiful. In addition, during Pick It Up PA Days, from April 16 to May 9,
registered events have access to reduced or free disposal.
Further information on Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is available at
www.keeppabeautiful.org, with details on the cleanup event at www.gacofpa.org.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Community Organization Networking Connection Meetings

(Regular Meeting Dates are Subject to Change)
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 May 11, the meeting will be at First Baptist Church, 415 West State
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.
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
at Brandywine Health Center at 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Representatives of
community organizations hear presentations from various services providers, discuss ways
to develop effective systems of care, help identify solutions to specific issues, and exchange
information about current and upcoming activities. On May 18, the group will hear about
early childhood issues. 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. On May 19, at Long Community at Highlands, 600 East Roseville Road,
Lancaster, the group will view a film, What You Are Now is What You Were When, an
evaluation by Morris Massey of three major life periods in which values are developed.
Further information is available at http://berkslancasterlebanonlink.org, or from Brian Long,
coordinator, at blllink@mail.com or (717) 380-9714.
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 May 12, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Room 170 at the Government
Services, Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, Jodi Roth-Sachs Director, servicelearning and volunteer programs at West Chester University, will explain the institutions

- 14 -

volunteer programs and how they can be used by an organization, with Link coordinator
Elizabeth Doan providing information on a new state online information and referral tool.
On May 19, at the same times in Conference Room A-B at the Montogomery County
Human Services Building, 1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown, Margaret Rybinski of the
Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County, a Funding Assistance Center for The
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) will discuss low or no interest loans to
purchase assistive technology, with Link coordinator Elizabeth Doan providing information
on a new state online information and referral tool.
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 May 24, representatives of Health Care Access, ResCare
Home Care and Abilatools will speak. 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 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. On June 2, at
the Neighborhood Health Agencies, Casey Jones will discuss the System of Care aspects of a
Fathers Matter coalition initiative. Further information is available from Joan Holliday at
dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180.
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. On June 3, it will learn about Faith-Based Collaborations and Success
Stories. 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. On May 12, the group will
discuss its action plan and mental health awareness. 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

- 15 -

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) Job-Seeker 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
with intercession for those attending the Barnabas Group and the churchs other
Care Ministries, including GriefShare for those struggling with the death of a loved
one, 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
on Job-Seeker Group activities is available at barnabasgroup@cfdownington.com or
(610) 363-7171.

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. On May 14, Matt Levy, Executive Vice
President at Velocity Advisory Group, will discuss Put Your Mind to Finding Your
Dream Job, NOW! 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.

- 16 -

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 May 10,
Ernie Russom, chapter co-chair and executive director of The Westview Associates
executive search firm, will discuss Ace That Interview. Third Tuesday: Hassler
Chapel, Media Presbyterian Church, 30 East Baltimore Pike, Media, with further
information at robinst37@gmail.com. On May 17, attendees will participate in mock
interviews.
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. Further information and required registration for
limited seating are available at www.josephspeople.org/retreat.
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.
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. On May 25, career coach Ed Samuel will discuss references and never giving
up in a job search. 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.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Free Job Assistance Workshops - May

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 services offered by the office.
A calendar of PA CareerLink-Chester County workshops for the current month, including onsite job recruitment opportunities, is available at
http://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/33278.
Daily job opening updates are available through www.cwds.state.pa.us.

- 17 -

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

Mobile Job Lab Available

A new monthly Mobile Job Lab will be held from
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. the first Monday of each month in
Room 114 at the University Center, 95 South
Hanover Street, Pottstown.
Montgomery County Community Colleges University
Center, its Career Services and TriCounty
Community Network (TCN) will host the activity the first Monday of each month, with
attendees being able to search for jobs and obtain resume writing and other job-seeker and
career support services. Representatives of the University Centers college and university
partners also will be available to discuss admission processes.
Further information is available at
http://calendar.mc3.edu/EventList.aspx?fromdate=2%2F1%2F2016&todate=2%2F29%2F2
016&display=Month&type=public&eventidn=12720&view=EventDetails&information_id=195
32 or (610) 850-0181, with additional information on the University Center at
www.mc3.edu/universitycenter.

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.

Over 500 Continuing Education Courses Now Available Online

Pottstown Regional Public Library now is offering over 500 online continuing education
courses for the price of a free library card.
A wide variety of offerings for professionals and others, including job-seekers, business
owners and housewives, including topics such as business, office skills, web development,
arts and photography, alternative medicine, crafts, pet and animal care, home and garden,
teacher tools, writing help, self-help, and homeschooling, according to reports.

- 18 -

Further information is available at www.sanatogapost.com/2015/11/21/library-offerscontinuing-education-courses or the library at 500 East High Street, Pottstown, or (610)
970-6551.

Area Hospital Ratings for Patient Safety Range from A to C

Area hospitals have ratings from A to C in new rankings for patient safety, with none
receiving a D or F.
The list was released by Leapfrog, a national nonprofit founded in 2000 by large employers
and other purchasers for the purpose of "driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the
quality and safety of American health care."
The rankings include more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals that were assessed for medical errors,
accidents, injuries and infections that are said to reflect 50 percent increased risks of
avoidable deaths between bottom and top rated hospitals.
The report says that findings point to a nine percent higher risk of avoidable death in B
hospitals, 35 percent higher in C facilities and 50 percent higher in D and F hospitals than
those rated as A.
Pennsylvania was 33rd overall in the United States for A-rated hospitals, with only one
quarter of 132 receiving that designation. Delaware was 18th place, with two out of five
listed and New Jersey 22nd, with 23 out of 67 receiving an A rating. New York was 44th,
with only 14 out of 143 hospitals receiving top grades. Maryland hospitals aren't listed
because of no requirement to report safety information.
Further information on the report is available at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/aboutus/newsroom/display/442022, with a searchable database of hospitals and other
information, including score components, at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.

Funding Being Made Available to Study Nonprofit Mergers

discusses the organization's focus on helping to improve capacity, effectiveness and
financial health of the nonprofit sector in the Greater Philadelphia area at the Chester
County Library in Exton.
Dozens of nonprofit leaders have been advised of a new Philadelphia-based fund that is
designed to assist nonprofits in merging, acquisition, consolidating back office operations,
and developing programmatic joint ventures.
Nadya Shmavonian, director the Nonprofit Repositioning Fund, that serves Chester,
Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, described the process at a workshop at
Chester County Library in Exton, hosted by the library, the Brandywine Health Foundation,
Chester County Community Foundation, Chester County Fund for Women & Girls,
Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, and the United Way of Chester County.
The new Fund, established by seven area and one national foundation, along with the
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, seeks to impact greater
capacity, effectiveness, and financial health of the region's nonprofit sector in Bucks,.

- 19 -

It was noted that although the nonprofit sector is a major economic driver of the region's
economy, with over $11 billion in annual wages, some individual organizations struggle with
issues of insufficient scale, duplication of efforts, undefined leadership succession, limited
sources of revenue and high back-office costs, thereby finding it difficult to achieve missions
"in meaningful and measurable ways".
Further information on the Fund is available at www.repositioningfund.org,
nadya@repositioningfund.org or (215) 790700 x16.

Area Has Some of Most Polluted Air in United States Says New National Report
Chester and adjoining counties have some of the most polluted air in the United States,
according to the American Lung Association.
In its annual State of the Air report, the organization gives an "F" for high ozone days
exposure to Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties and lists the
area among the top 18 in the U.S. for various types of pollution categories.
The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD, population center scored 12th worst for
year-around particle pollution and 18th for short-term, with Lancaster County, rated
separately, at 16th for year-around and 11th for short-term. The New York-Newark, NY-NJCT-PA population area was 14th worst for ozone, with Lancaster not in the top 25.
For particle pollution, only Delaware received an annual failing grade, with Berks and
Lancaster rated a single grade of F, but were listed as passing on an annual basis, with
Delaware and Montgomery a C and Chester a B.
The association says that although gains are being made in air quality in many areas, "more
than half of all Americans - 166 million people - live in counties where they are exposed to
unhealthful levels of pollutants."
It claims that despite a "continued need and the nation's progress, some people seek to
weaken the Clean Air Act, the public health law that has driven the cuts in pollution since
1970, and to undermine the ability of the nation to fight for healthy air."
The full report, including definitions, comparison charting, and highest impacted
populations, is available at www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota, with specific
information on Pennsylvania counties at www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/cityrankings/states/pennsylvania.

Suicide Rates for Most Ages Rise to Highest Levels in 30 Years

National suicide levels are the highest since 1986, with nearly all age
categories impacted, according to the National Center for Health
Statistics.
In a new release the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) says suicide is an important public health issue involving
psychological, biological, and societal factors, noting that:

From 1999 through 2014, the age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States
increased 24%, from 10.5 to 13.0 per 100,000 population, with the pace of increase
greater after 2006.

- 20 -

Suicide rates increased from 1999 through 2014 for both males and females and for
all ages 1074.

The percent increase in suicide rates for females was greatest for those aged 1014,
and for males, those aged 4564.

The most frequent suicide method in 2014 for males involved the use of firearms
(55.4%), while poisoning was the most frequent method for females (34.1%).

Further information is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm.

Pennsylvania In Bottom 20% of States in Public Health Funding

A new report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) says that Pennsylvania is 43rd
among the states in public health funding.
The organization, describing itself as non-profit and non-partisan dedicated to saving lives
by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a
national priority, said the state spent $14.40 per capita on public health services in fiscal
year 2014-15, less than half the median state appropriation of $33.50 per capita.
Pennsylvania was said to rank 32nd in poverty in 2014, at 13.5 percent of the population;
36th in uninsured of all ages at 8.5 percent; and 26th in uninsured under 18 at 5.2 percent.
It was within the top ten for AIDS, tuberculosis, and Alzheimers cases and new cancer
cases, along with drug overdose deaths.
The report, including categories of health expenditures, is available at
www.healthyamericans.org/report/126.

New Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Savings Accounts to be Available for Qualified

Disabled
State legislation has been approved to allow creation of tax-exempt savings accounts for
individuals with qualified disabilities and their families.
The Pennsylvania Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (PA ABLE) enables families to set
aside up to $14,000 annually under a state Treasury administered 529-ABLE Plan, similar to
PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plans for college education.
The accounts, which follow federal law, can be used for a wide-range of disability-related
expenses including health care, housing, and transportation without jeopardizing eligibility
for programs on which individuals with disabilities often depend, including Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) benefits (savings up to $100,000), other means-tested federal
programs, Medical Assistance, and other state means-tested disability and health benefits.
It also is exempt from Pennsylvania inheritance taxes.
Further information is available at www.pa529.com/able.html, with a copy of the legislation
at
www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2015&ses
sInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=879&pn=1618.

- 21 -

Lancaster Rated Highly in Walking to Work

City of Lancaster has been ranked fourth in the nation for attractiveness of being able to
walk to work.
Livability.com, a site of Journal Communications media and marketing company, that noted
that Americans, on average, spend 42 hours a year community to work, gave the
community a to-work walkability rating of 80.37, behind Hoboken, N.J., in first place at
94.83, West Hollywood, Calif., at 88.7, and Cambridge, Mass., at 86.91.
The site said that (g)etting around on foot in Lancaster is certainly an efficient means of
commuting at two miles across, the city can be traversed in less than 40 minutes with
plenty of shops, restaurants and galleries along the way.
Further information is available at www.livability.com/topics/health-and-wellness/the-8best-cities-for-walking-to-work.

Gnat Spraying Starts in Area Counties

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has started aerial spraying on
more than 1,600 stream miles in 39 Pennsylvania counties, including Chester, Berks and
Montgomery, to control black flies, also known as gnats.
The first aerial spraying took place April 11 on the Juniata, Schuylkill and Delaware rivers
and several of their smaller tributaries, with other waterways being treated as stream flows
and weather conditions allow, the agency reports.
The annual initiative is designed to reduce nuisance of black flies so Pennsylvanians can
enjoy the states waterways, officials said.
The said the department uses Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium, to treat the larval stage
of four specific human pest black fly species, saying it degrades quickly in the environment
and does not harm the aquatic ecosystem, birds, or other insects.
Further information is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=20965&typeid=1, with a story
from Lancaster Online on how Lancaster County is benefitting without having to share in the
cost at www.lancasteronline.com/news/local/enjoy-a-gnat-reduced-summer-thanks-toyork-and-other/article_3054c664-0347-11e6-b986-4b6cc082ada1.html.

Reading Cited for Perfect Safer Streets Transportation Policy

City of Reading has received the first perfect score nation-wide for development of its Best
Complete Streets Policy.
The Smart Growth Americas National Complete Streets Coalition made the designation as a
result of the citys approval last year of a formal policy designed to help create safer streets
related to transportation.
Further information is available at www.bctv.org/special_reports/community/reading-scomplete-streets-policy-named-best-in-nation-from/article_0db286ce-00d0-11e6-bb1b6b732b8965c4.html#.VxGZEf6uC7E.facebook or (610) 374-3065.

- 22 -

Medical Marijuana Bill Becomes Pennsylvania Law; Implementation Still in the

Future
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a medical marijuana bill but officials say it will take
about a year-and-a-half to implement.
The law allows dispensing of medical marijuana only as a pill, oil, tincture or liquid; in a
topical form, such as a gel, cream or ointment; or in a form medically appropriate for
vaporization or nebulization for 17 conditions.
Further information as to particulars is available at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/1036214346443816.

How Long One Lives if Poor Depends on Where You Live

The New York Times is reporting The Rich Live Longer Everywhere. For the Poor,
Geography Matters.
An interactive, searchable map for our reporting area provides life expectancy of 40-yearolds with household incomes below $28,000, adjusted for race, at 79.6 years in
Montgomery County, 79.5 in Chester, 79 in Lancaster, 78.8 in Berks, 78.6 in Delaware, with
78.4 in Cecil, New Castle County, Del., and 77.3 in Cecil County, Md.
Further information is available at
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/1033606193371298, with the interactive map
at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/11/upshot/where-the-poor-live-longer-how-yourarea-compares.html.

Action Sought to Help Mitigate Drug-Addicted Newborns

A group of child welfare advocates, organized by The Center for Childrens Justice, is asking
Pennsylvania government leaders to establish a state task force to help overcome the
number of drug-addicted newborns that have nearly doubled in four years.
PennLive is reporting that dozens of organizations want to see action to mitigate more than
7,500 Pennsylvania infants said to be covered by Medicaid that were diagnosed with
neonatal abstinence syndrome between 2010 and 2014 and to address other issues such as
ensuring proper care for babies born addicted to drugs including heroin and protecting
children being raised by addicted parents.
Further information is available at www.pennlive.com/news/2016/04/advocates_heroinaddicted_babi.html.

Area Providers Chosen for Planning Initiative to Improve Community-Based

Behavioral Health Services
Organizations in Berks, Delaware and
Montgomery counties have been chosen by the
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
(DHS) to participate in a federal planning grant
for adoption of innovative approaches to
community-based behavioral health services.

- 23 -

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) initiative will include Berks
Counseling Center, NHS Delaware County and Creative Health Services in Pottstown among
16 participating entities through the state.
The activity is designed to develop ways to serve more individuals in their communities and
ensure access to high-quality care, according to the Department.
Officials said that during the next four months the clinics will complete a needs assessment
and readiness review guided by the Department to determine additional services, staffing
and training to meet behavioral health needs of the community.
The readiness review will determine if each clinic meets standards required by federal
regulations to become a Certified Community Behavioral Clinic. Areas included in the
readiness review are staffing, accessibility of services, care coordination, scope of services,
quality measurement and reporting and governance of the clinic.
DHS will certify those clinics that have meet the standards by August 1, with an application
then being submitted in October to enable them to participate in the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstration grant.
Successful CCBHCs are expected to provide crisis services, targeted case management,
outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, patient-centered treatment
planning, screening, assessment, and diagnosis, psychiatric rehabilitation services, peer and
family support, care for veterans and members of the military, and outpatient primary care
screening and monitoring.
Further information is available at
www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=200.

Multiple Rabies Incidents Reported in Lancaster County

Rabid animals have been confirmed in nine
March incidents in Central Pennsylvania, with
four of them in Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says three raccoons, one with human exposure, and
one bat were carriers.
It advises that people should avoid contact with wild animals and take precautions to limit
contact of their domestic animals with wild animals, and in particular avoid wild animals
acting abnormally including feral cats, with symptoms including unusual aggression,
daytime activity by nocturnal species, lethargy, drooling and paralysis
Not all animals show every sign, the department notes, but "most neurological or behavioral
abnormalities could potentially be rabies."
Further information is at www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=408.

- 24 -

Lancaster Reported to Be Among Top U.S. Fastest Growing Economies

Lancaster is being reported by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics to have the seventh
fastest-growing mid-size metro areas economies in the
nation for both a one and five-year period.
An analysis by PennLive, showing the County growing at a
rate 165% above the average of other economies in
populations of 500,000 and one million people, is available
at www.pennlive.com/news/2016/04/10_fastgrowing_metro_economie.html?ath=335debdf0a8e069581597e2f04c38237#0.

Area Counties Now in Range for Zika Virus

Chester and adjoining counties are on new maps for
range of potential Zika virus spread, although risk or
likelihood, or exact locations or numbers of mosquitoes
living in these areas aren't shown.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
says that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are more likely to
spread viruses like Zika that is being linked to birth
deformities with pregnant mothers.
The new report is available at www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/resources/vector-control.html.

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.

Free Motorcycle Safety Training Available

The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program is offering free training to all state residents
and active duty military with a class M permit or motorcycle license.
The course focuses on training motorcyclists of all levels, from beginning riders to
intermediate, three-wheeled and advanced riders.
Further information on the year-around program is available at www.pamsp.com or (800)
845-9533.

- 25 -

State Creates New Human Services Information System, To Be Further Upgraded

This Summer
Pennsylvania Departments of Aging and Human Services
have rolled out new public information and human services
assistance systems that are scheduled to be further
upgraded and consolidated this summer under a re-branded
Link to Community Care.
The changeover, from the Link to Aging and Disability
Resources, will affect 15 multi-county Links of services
providers, along with new information systems and a current toll-free information line.
Current Link service areas include Bucks, Chester and Montgomery; Berks, Lancaster and
Lebanon; and Delaware and Philadelphia counties.
A new Human Services COMPASS website for information and online applications for various
types of public assistance now is available at www.compass.state.pa.us. A new information
referral tool (IRT) for state services is available at www.humanservices.state.pa.us/IRT, and
toll-free telephone assistance is available at (800) 753-8827.
COMPASS is an online application where individuals can apply for many health and human
service programs such as Medicaid, cash assistance, or Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With COMPASS improvements, Pennsylvanians can submit
applications for long-term living services and supports or request services for intellectual
disability services, autism services, and early intervention services.
Pennsylvanians can use the IRT anonymously to input information about themselves, a
loved one, or client. The online program will guide individuals through a series of questions,
then provide a list of resources that are based on the clients specific needs in areas such as
intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, aging, addiction, mental illness, veteran
needs and help paying for prescriptions.
Further information on the changeover is available at
www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=196, with information about current
Link service areas available at www.adrc-tae.acl.gov/tikiindex.php?page=PAProfile&stabrev=PA.

New State Legislative District Resource Guide Published

Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Ross has published a new Resource Guide for his 158th District in
Chester County.
The 52-page document includes a wide variety of information on organizations and services
in and serving the District that includes East Bradford, East Marlborough, London Britain,
New Garden, Newlin, West Bradford, West Goshen Middle and South Precincts, and West
Marlborough Townships, along with Avondale Borough.
The guide is available online at
www.repross.com/Display/Display/SiteFiles/86/OtherDocuments/2016ResidentsGuide2-316.pdf with a few hardcopies available for those without online access through his district
office at 692 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, or (610) 925-0555.

- 26 -

FTC Unveils New Website for Reporting and Recovery from Identity Theft
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has debuted a new website that is said to make it
easier to report and recover from identify theft.
The initiative, at www.IdentityTheft.gov provides a personal recovery plan that walks one
through each recovery step, tracks progress and adapts to changing situations and pre-fills
letters and forms for easier reporting.

Free AlertBerks Crime Tips App is Introduced

Crime Alert Berks County has introduced a new smart phone application that allows county
residents to provide anonymous tips about crimes or suspicious activity, including
anonymous two-way conversations.
AlertBerks, developed by tip411, can be downloaded at no charge via the Google Play Store,
iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Crime Alert Berks County Web site at
www.alertberks.org.
Further information is available at www.bctv.org/special_reports/safety/crime-alertberkscounty-launches-tip/article_51ee8ace-b55b-11e5-baa823552383f307.html#.VpeOrMTuKmg.facebook or (877) 373-9913.

Pennsylvania Establishes New State Veterans Benefits Portal

Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs(DVMA) has established a new
online application that allows veterans to obtain
information about state benefits, programs and services.
Registrant information will be shared with County
Directors for Veterans Affairs and other Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania agencies to help facilitate local connections.
Officials say the PA Veterans Registry is the departments first step of a long-term strategy
to achieve a higher level of communication with veterans and partner providers supporting
them.
Further information and registration is available at www.register.dmva.pa.gov.

New Consumer Rating System for Hospitals Unveiled

Capital Blue Cross, which services Lancaster and Berks County west, along with the Lehigh
Valley, and LeapFrog are starting a consumer rating system for hospitals, designed to help
employers and consumers make informed health care decisions.
The Leapfrog Hospital Survey is said to be the only nationally standardized and endorsed set
of measures that captures hospital performance in patient safety, quality and resource
utilization. Rating results will be made available online.
Further information is available at www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capitalbluecrossnew-hospital-recognition-program-improves-quality-of-care-for-customers300200235.html.

- 27 -

Several from Region on State Police Megan Law Absconder List

Pennsylvania State Police is seeking the publics help in locating over 140 absconded, or
wanted, sexual offenders throughout the Commonwealth.
The states Megans Law requires individuals convicted of a sexually violent offense to
register with the Pennsylvania State Police and to update and verify their information
periodically at an approved registration site, authorities say.
They said that offenders who have failed to register, update their information, or verify their
information as required are considered to be non-compliant with the statute, a felony
offense. Once a warrant is issued for their arrest, they are considered absconded.
A list of absconded offenders is available at http://ow.ly/VroNM. Persons with information
can tip the Megans Law Section at (866) 771-3170.

National Institute on Aging Issues Guidelines for What to Take to Hospital

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Aging has issued
some safety tips for before, during and after trips to the hospital, including some guidance
for family and caregivers.
The information, which also includes a patients rights, is available at
www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/hospital-hints.

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
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.

- 28 -

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.

- 29 -

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.