Professional Documents
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UPDATED THIS WEEK: Zika Virus Now Draw Travel Advisory in U.S.; Free Zika
Virus Prevention Kits Being Distributed in Area
The Zika virus, that can result in birth deformities, has now drawn nine travel, testing and
other recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for
both men and women who traveled to or lived in parts of the Miami area since June 15.
The alert currently centers on a Miami neighborhood where several Zika infections were
recently confirmed, the first identified from mosquitoes in the United States. Previous U.S.
cases were identified as emanating from virus contacts outside the country.
As previously reported, Zika Prevention Kits for pregnant women are being distributed by
the Pennsylvania Department Health through 10 locations in our reporting area, included in
the region of the state identified as the most susceptible for transmissions of the virus.
In announcing the initiative, state Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said that while Zika
is spread primarily by mosquitoes that are infected with the virus, it also can spread
through sexual contact with individuals who have the disease.
Because Zika poses serious health risks for babies born to women who contracted the virus
during pregnancy, the kits include health education materials and prevention tools to avoid
mosquito bites and sexual transmission of the disease to pregnant women. Using the
products in the Zika Prevention Kit can help protect you and your loved ones from the
virus," she said.
Additional information is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21007&typeid=1, with a list of
distribution centers at www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and
%20Conditions/U-Z/Zikavirus/Pages/ZikaPreventionKits.aspx#.V4fq-6JYxLM.
An earlier report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that
shows counties in Pennsylvania that are most susceptible to having mosquitoes carrying the
disease, along with other Zika information, is available at
www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/resources/vector-control.html., with Pennsylvania's response
plan to the virus iat www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=307.
NEW THIS WEEK: Report Says Some Area For-Profit Hospitals Low on Charity Care
for the Poor
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that some area for-profit hospitals having been
doing even less charity care for the poor in recent years than Pennsylvania's already low
standing by percentage among the nation's hospitals.
The report is available at www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2016/07/31/Pennsylvaniahospitals-lag-other-states-in-share-of-care-for-the-poor/stories/201605040198?
utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-newsfrontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter, with an interactive map of results from all
hospitals in the state at http://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/hospital_data.
NEW THIS WEEK: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster County Closes Abruptly,
May Be Absorbed
LancasterOnline is reporting that Big Brothers Big Sisters (BB/BS) of Lancaster County has
run out of money and is closing abruptly, with operations possibly being picked up by Big
Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.
United Way of Lancaster County pulled BB/BS funding of $124,456 in 2014 to none in 2015
when United Way shifted focus to funding multi-agency approaches for solving community
needs. Although BB/BS reportedly was able to continue operations last year, it wasn't
envisioning being able to grow operations as a single entity.
NEW THIS WEEK: State Auditor General Slams Health Department on Nursing
Home Oversight
Pennsylvania Auditor General has slammed what he calls poor oversight by the Health
Department of the state's nursing homes but is commending it for asking for an audit and
taking immediate action to reverse the deficiencies.
Eugene DePasquale reported 13 findings and 23 recommendations in a 91-page special
performance audit, the largest since he took office.
Three issue areas drew the greatest scrutiny, including inadequate review of nurse staffing
levels, poor complaint handling, and insufficient sanctions against poor-performing facilities.
Further information, the report and an interactive self-reporting site for Pennsylvania
nursing homes is at www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-general-depasquale-saysdeficiencies-in-nursing-home-oversight-could-impact-quality-of-care-for-80-000pennsylvanians.
NEW LAST WEEK: Turnpike Tolls Could Jump 500 Percent by 2044
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will raise tolls six percent next year and could continue
that trend until 2044, resulting in a 500 percent total increase in fares and up to a $216
cost to travel across the state.
LancasterOnline made the projections after the Commission's action and report of future
financial impacts, including those associated with rebuilding and widening of 28 miles of
road from two to three lanes in each direction between Morgantown and Valley Forge by
2023.
Further information on the analysis is available at http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/tocross-pa-on-the-turnpike-it-s-possible-by/article_2d9be5d4-501c-11e6-81cc439e7e7ee217.html.
NEW LAST WEEK: Lancaster City to Receive Lead Based Paint Mitigation Funds;
Additional Monies to be Allocated to Chester and Montgomery Counties
City of Lancaster has been awarded $1,180,295 by the federal Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to mitigate lead based paint hazard conditions in 100 homes in a
community target area. It also will receive $150,000 in supplemental Healthy Homes
funding.
In addition, Pennsylvania has been awarded $2.5 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control
funds, along with $400,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funds, part of which is being
allocated to the Chester and Montgomery Counties Health Departments.
Further information is available at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?
src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2016/HUDNo_16-112.
UPDATED LAST WEEK: Free Zika Virus Prevention Kits Being Distributed in Area
Zika Prevention Kits for pregnant women are being distributed by the Pennsylvania
Department Health through 10 locations in our reporting area, included in the region of the
state identified as the most susceptible for transmissions of the virus.
In announcing the initiative, state Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said that while Zika
is spread primarily by mosquitoes that are infected with the virus, it also can spread
through sexual contact with individuals who have the disease.
Because Zika poses serious health risks for babies born to women who contracted the virus
during pregnancy, the kits include health education materials and prevention tools to avoid
mosquito bites and sexual transmission of the disease to pregnant women. Using the
products in the Zika Prevention Kit can help protect you and your loved ones from the
virus," she said.
Additional information is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21007&typeid=1, with a list of
distribution centers at www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and
%20Conditions/U-Z/Zikavirus/Pages/ZikaPreventionKits.aspx#.V4fq-6JYxLM.
An earlier report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that
shows counties in Pennsylvania that are most susceptible to having mosquitoes carrying the
disease, along with other Zika information, is available at
State PUC to Use Smart Hearing Process for 717 Area Code Tuesday, August 9
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will use a "Smart Hearing" process to solicit
public comment on how to overcome an upcoming issue of the 717 area code for Lancaster
County west running out of telephone numbers.
Hearings will be held at both 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, in Hearing Room 1 at
the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg.
They will be broadcast live, however, on the PUC website, allowing residents throughout the
717 area code geographic region, which covers all or part of 16 counties in Central
Pennsylvania, to see and hear testimony being offered without the need to attend the
hearings in person.
Witnesses will be able to offer their comments by telephone from their homes or other
locations.
The telecommunications industry is recommending the PUC allow an overlay of a new area
code throughout the existing 717 area code which would require all customers to dial 10
digits for every call. An alternative would be to geographically split the current 717 area
code, which would require some half of region residents and businesses to receive a new
area code.
Further information, including testimony requirements, is available at
www.puc.pa.gov/about_puc/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=3722.
NEW THIS WEEK: Church Schedules Free Regional Care Ministries Summit and
Help Grieving Children Seminar -Saturday, August 13, and Monday, August 15
Calvary Fellowship of Downingtown will host a non-denominational Regional Care Ministries
Summit for church leaders and lay people from 9 a.m. to noon August 13, and a Help
Grieving Children seminar from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 15.
The events will be held in the church education wing, rear parking lot, at 95 West Devon
Drive at Route 113 in Exton/Lionville.
The Summit will acquaint church communities with a broad range of care ministries,
including Celebrate Victory/Celebrate Recovery, DivorceCare, GriefShare, Single& Parenting
and others, along with accessing community services to help people in need and making
available services known to the public.
The grief seminar, for parents, grandparents, family members, Sunday School and other
educators, caregivers and others, will explore how children grieve the loss of a loved one,
and other losses such as parent divorce, loss of a friend, moving, differently than adults and
how it is different at different age levels. The GriefShare DVD/discussion is designed to
assist participants in helping children process grief so negative impacts aren't carried into
teen and adult years.
The single session workshop will precede a full 13-week GriefShare series for adults who
have lost a loved one due to death, even years later, that the church hosts three times a
year and a similar Fall and Spring DivorceCare series, both of which will start Monday,
September 12, as part of its Care Mondays outreach.
Further information and required registration for materials and limited seating for each
event are available at care@cfdowningtown or Casey Jones, a care ministries facilitator, at
bps461@msn.com or (610) 707-1494.
The federal Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition program, Summer Food
Rocks, funds free meals and snacks for ages 18 and under and persons with disabilities over
18 who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled.
USDA says the program is important because children who miss school breakfast and lunch
are more likely to be sick, absent or tardy, disruptive in class, and inattentive. They also
score lower on achievement tests. Good nutrition is essential for learning in school. SFSP
provides an opportunity to continue a child's physical and social development while
providing nutritious meals during long vacation periods from school. It helps children return
to school ready to learn.
Information about SFSP is available at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/frequently-asked-questions?
utm_campaign=%2B+Benefits
%2C+Grants+and+Loans&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3102
9661&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_jAEIUFmYHexfM4lIOZ4sm709cajHR8hUUtcMI90G_YvfdYcQVX428rJPpcM4j6sMQE7FZWJbgeuqFwPeCu9FT433bA&_hsmi=31029661#6, with a
searchable database with arrows providing information on differing hours, meals and dates
at various sites at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks?utm_campaign=%2B+Benefits
%2C+Grants+and+Loans&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3102
9661&_hsenc=p2ANqtz_1QAn40daxuFbRWPWnVkDwRfaPHlN12d2nqvbWwSwq9LMRy8l0j21xBFrXjSWEeHVbBRKVV
dTv-vE_5kxX7qwl9XiJGw&_hsmi=31029661.
West Chester CTC meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second Thursday of each
month of the school year at the West Chester Area School District Spellman
Administrative Building, 829 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Lunch is provided by reserving at
rsvp@wcctc.org or (610) 359-5817.
Downingtown Area CTC meets from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the
month from September through May. Further information and registration are available
at dtownctc@umly.org or (610) 458-9090 x2827.
Coatesville CTC Community Prevention Board, a body coterminous with the Coatesville
Youth Initiative Steering Committee, meets periodically in the fourth floor Community
Room, Brandywine Health Foundation, 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Further
information and requested lunch reservations are available from Jarvis Berry, CTC
community mobilizer, at Jarvis@coatesvilleyouthinitiative.org or (610) 380-0200.
Malvern Penn State Great Valleys Alumni Association and My Career Transitions
(MCT), an all-volunteer job counseling group, meets from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
the second Saturday of the month, except August and December, in 130 Main
Building, Penn State Great Valley, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, preceded by a
new member orientation at 8:30 a.m. Further information and required registration
are available at http://mycareertransitions.com/new/?q=upcoming-meetings.
West Chester Unemployment support group meets bi-weekly from 5:45 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner Street, West Chester, to
learn tips and techniques related to job searches. Further information is available
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.
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. 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 from September to
June 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.
The law also requires check cashing facilities to post fees in plain sight and will provide for
triple reimbursement to check cashers by those engaging in fraudulent cashing.
The legislation is available at www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?
txtType=HTM&sessYr=2015&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=489&pn=1847.
impact areas: getting every child ready for kindergarten, having every worker obtain a
post-secondary credential, connecting everyone to a doctor, and cutting the poverty rate in
half by 2025.
Further information on the activity is available at
www.lancasteronline.com/insider/donations-fall-percent-but-united-way-sticks-with-boldstrategy/article_7e15f91c-4ab5-11e6-a42b-c75ee84ec6d5.html.
Pokeman Go Users Need to Include Police and Dangers in Virutual Game Focus
Royersford Borough Police in Montgomery County already have cited an individual for
playing the new Pokmon Go virtual game while driving last week, with the Monroe County
Sheriff's Department in Stroudsburg taking to expressway signs to warn drivers.
Royersford also is providing cautions to Borough residents about using the game within
municipal boundaries and elsewhere at
www.facebook.com/RoyersfordBoroughPoliceDepartment/posts/1033270653417957, with
Pennsylvania State Police issuing a Community Awareness Bulletin in regard to safe use:
www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.62331760
4400161/1090475764351007/?type=3&theater.
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
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Also, if you know someone who might be helped by these periodic updates, please forward
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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.
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
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Activities included in this publication are gathered from various submissions and other sources. No
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We generally use only free activities of a non-commercial nature or those in which a very small,
optional materials fee is charged.
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Due to the wide variety of activities available, decisions on publication ultimately are determined on a
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