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In Pennsylvania, infants and toddlers qualify for Early Intervention services if they exhibit a 25% or greater developmental delay in one or more key areas of development. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

PA Early Intervention programs vital for child development

A new study highlights the importance of Pennsylvania's Early Intervention program and its services for infants and toddlers at risk of developmental …

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is seeking $112 million in new funding to produce more graduates in six high-growth jobs, including social services. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

'Empowering Social Workers,' in March and beyond

Social workers are in the spotlight in March for National Professional Social Work Month. They play a crucial role in addressing society's most …

Black children are more than six times more likely to re-enter foster care than white children.<br />(Jade M/peopleimages.com)<br />

Report: Strengthening PA child-welfare system for kids, families

The 14th annual "State of Child Welfare in Pennsylvania" report is out. It shows some progress but also highlights ongoing areas of concern. Reports …

The report reveals that Pennsylvania is ranked 46th in the nation for public health funding, with $136 state dollars allocated to public health per person, less than the $183 per person national average. (Chinnapong/AdobeSTock)

Report: PA needs work on managing, preventing chronic conditions

Pennsylvania ranks 23rd among states for the overall health of Pennsylvanians in a new America's Health Rankings report by the United Health Foundatio…

New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act requires a physician to determine whether the patient is a New Jersey resident before writing a prescription for the medication. (Jon Anders Wiken/Adobe Stock)

Some Terminally Ill PA Patients Seek Medical Aid Across State Lines

Some Pennsylvania patients with long-term chronic illnesses are hoping to make legal headway, allowing them to seek medical aid in dying across state …

N-A-M-I recently developed a mental health college guide for Gen Zer's that covers topics from self-care to getting mental health care support, to legal rights and self-advocacy. (Alessandro Biascioli/AdobeStock)

Groups Address Mental Health Challenges Facing 'Gen Z'

Mental health has emerged as a pressing issue for young Pennsylvanians in "Generation Z," born after 1996. Research shows they are also more willing …

According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, about one in three Black Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in his or her lifetime, and studies show that Black men and women have the higher rate of death from cancer than any racial or ethnic group in the United States. (AdobeStock)

Our HAIR Project Empowers Mental Health, Well Being in Communities of Color

In Pennsylvania, the Our HAIR initiative program will provide mental health support for Medicaid members at local Black salons and barbershops…

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book noted Pennsylvania's average annual cost of center-based child care for a toddler was $11,346, or 10% of the median income for a married couple and 35% of a single mother's income in the state. (DenisProduction.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Ranks 22nd Among States in Child Well-Being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children. It is 22nd overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Pennsylvania adults with disabilities represent 11% of the population, in terms of mobility<br />and/or cognitive challenges. (Jesse B/peopleimages.com)<br /><br />

PA Starts on New 'Master Plan for Older Adults'

A new Master Plan for Older Adults is being developed in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order Thursday, directing the …

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alberto/AdobeStock)

Report: Black Girls Speak Out About Public Schools in Pennsylvania

A new report found Black girls across the Keystone State are subjected to "daunting educational barriers" in K-12 public schools and offers recommenda…

Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program covers dental and vision care, as well as medical care. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania DHS Now Oversees Children's Health Insurance Program

As families enrolled in Medicaid transition to the Children's Health Insurance Program, it is important for them to know Pennsylvania has changed how …

Parents are concerned about their child experiencing violence at school has increased since last school year. Hispanic parents are significantly more worried than Black and White parents, according to a new survey by the National Parent Teacher Association. (Vasyl/AdobeStock)

Survey Explores Parents’ Mindsets During School Year 2022-2023

A new survey finds that parents are concerned about their children's emotional and mental health and want schools to provide resources services to sup…

According to a mental health workforce study, Pennsylvania is one of many states struggling with a shortage of mental-health practitioners, especially in rural communities. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

PA Needs More Mental, Behavioral Healthcare Workers

A Pennsylvania children's advocacy group said the state should be doing more to help end a critical staffing shortage of mental and behavioral health …

In Pennsylvania, one out of 12 high schoolers has attempted suicide. The report suggests students of color need more support, as one in eight Black students and more than one in seven Hispanic students tried to take their own life. (MonkeyBusiness/Adobe Stock)

Report: Pennsylvania Ranks 21st in Nation for Child Well-Being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children. The latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation …

The America's Health Rankings report found an 11.5% increase in the number of Pennsylvanians over age 60 experiencing food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Sees Drug Overdose Spike in Older Adults

Older people in Pennsylvania are dying from drug overdoses at much higher rates now compared to a decade ago, according to the latest America's …

In a 2020 survey conducted during the pandemic, 52% of military veterans and service members said their mental health had worsened since socially distancing. (Adobe Stock)

During Mental Health Awareness Month, 'Be There' for Military Vets

May marks both Mental Health Awareness Month and Military Appreciation Month. In Pennsylvania, officials want to ensure that veterans know mental-…

The Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Family Services says a $94.7 million one-time funding increase would break down to about $5,000 for each filled and vacant position in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Child and Family Providers Request $94M to Address Staff Shortage

Advocates for juvenile-justice and child-welfare providers in Pennsylvania want the General Assembly to approve one-time funding to boost staff recrui…

Participants in the Little Scandinavia program at SCI Chester will be chosen through a lottery system with the goal of creating a population that reflects the greater prison population. (Commonwealth Media Services)

PA's 'Little Scandinavia' Prison Unit to Focus on Rehabilitation

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has officially launched "Little Scandinavia," a unit in a state prison to focus on rehabilitation and reint…

Close to half of the students who responded to <a href=

the Pennsylvania Youth Survey in 2021 said during the pandemic, they "played more online games with others" than they usually do. (Adobe Stock)">

Parents, Advocates Voice Concerns about Social-Media Impact on Youth

It's no secret that the last two years of the pandemic have taken a toll on young people's mental health. During this Mental Health Awareness Month…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends employees wear a face mask while at work. (Adobe Stock)

Anxious About Returning to the Office? Experts Offer Tips on How to Cope

With COVID cases waning, more employers are asking workers to return to the office for the first time since the pandemic began, and mental health …

Gov. Tom Wolf's budget proposal includes a statewide minimum wage to $12 an hour on July 1, 2022, with ongoing annual increases until it reaches $15 an hour in 2027. The average wage for a social worker in Pennsylvania is $17 an hour. (Adobe Stock)

Behavioral Health Orgs: $12 Wage a Challenge without Funding Boost

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering Gov. Tom Wolf's final budget proposal, which includes raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour by July…

Mindfulness also can help health-care workers maintain compassion for patients as the pandemic has led many to report feeling burnt out. (Adobe Stock)

Teaching Mindfulness for Reducing Stress in Health-Care Workers

Ongoing research studies at a Philadelphia medical school are focusing on stress-reduction interventions for health care workers experiencing burnout …

Twenty-five percent of students said they sometimes feel

Youth Mental-Health Needs Linger in PA Provider Shortage

Pennsylvania faces a shortage of psychiatrists that children's advocates call "alarming," and they're concerned about the impact it might have on youn…

The report suggests student loan forgiveness, for human services employees in the state who work at a<br />behavioral health provider for a minimum of two years, could help with the worker shortage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Child Behavioral Health Providers Chronically Understaffed

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Pennsylvania's child welfare and behavioral health services are in crisis, with a worker shortage exacerbated by the pandemic…

Gov. Tom Wolf's administration does not plan to reinstate a face-mask mandate for public schools in Pennsylvania, leaving it up to school districts' discretion. (Adobe Stock)

PA Educators: Use ARP Funds to Support Student Mental Health

HARRISBURG, Pa. - For many young people, the social isolation of the pandemic has had negative effects, and as Commonwealth students prepare to …

American Rescue Plan funds can be used to facilitate social distancing, upgrade ventilation and modernize HVAC systems in schools. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Rescue Plan's Funds Can Help Students Catch Up

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania schools will have some major federal help as they reopen their doors, and teachers want districts to use those …

In-person visits will help seniors suffering the effects of isolation brought on by the COVID pandemic lockdown. (Grustock/Adobe Stock)

Visits Bring Relief to Nursing Home Residents

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Families are returning to visit relatives in Pennsylvania nursing homes, bringing a year of painful isolation to an end for many …

School reopening guidance includes best practices for social distancing, face masks and cleaning classrooms. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Choices and Concerns as Schools Plan to Reopen

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania schools will begin reopening soon and advocates for children say there's a lot to consider for the quality of …

The grant money will be used for a variety of programs, including more attention to maternal anxiety and depression. (Anneke/Adobe Stock)

PA Receives Major Grant for Children’s Services

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Efforts to increase the number of children and families receiving high-quality services in Pennsylvania are getting a big boost …

Without expanded Medicaid, women may get insurance only when pregnant and lose it 60 days after delivery. (PixieMe/Adobe Stock)

Report Calls Medicaid Expansion Good for PA Mothers, Infants

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A new study says states that have expanded Medicaid have healthier mothers and much lower rates of infant mortality. The …

House Bill 1401 would require Pennsylvania public schools to have one school nurse for every 750 students. (ronnarong/Adobe Stock)

PA Lawmakers Consider Staffing of School Nurses, Counselors

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A bill introduced in the General Assembly would bring more nurses into Pennsylvania public schools. The legislation would cut …

Despite masters� degrees and thousands of hours of training, social workers are paid less than similarly licensed professionals. (pxhere)

Elevating Awareness of PA Social Workers

HARRISBURG, Pa. — March is National Professional Social Work Month, when social workers around the country raise awareness of the important …

Land and Water Conservation Fund money helped create the Flight 93 National Memorial. (NPS/Brenda Schwartz)

Veterans Call for Reauthorization of Conservation Fund

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Veterans are raising concerns that a fund supporting U.S. public lands, recreational areas and monuments may be in jeopardy…

After 1978, the number of women in prison nationwide increased at twice the rate of men. (bbran19/Pixabay)

Reduction of Women's Prison Population Slower the Men's

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Prison populations are dropping in most states, but a new study finds that the number of incarcerated women is not falling as …

Permanent connections with caring adults are important for adolescent development. (Sammie/Pixabay)

Report: Adolescents in Foster Care Have Real Developmental Needs

PHILADELPHIA — The child welfare system needs to do more to meet the developmental needs of adolescents, according to a recent study. A …

More than 90,000 Pennsylvanians participate in Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services. (agilemktg1/Flickr)

Report Says AHCA Would Force Seniors into Nursing Homes

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The GOP health bill now in the U.S. Senate would be especially harmful to seniors and people with disabilities, according to …

Children should be screened for developmental delays at nine months, 18 months, and 24 to 30 months of age. (Kasman/Pixabay)

Developmental Screenings Ensure Healthy Start

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Half of Pennsylvania's children in publicly funded health care are not getting simple screenings to detect developmental …

The use of solitary confinement on youth can cause trauma, mental distress, and increase risk of suicide and self-harm. (@RichardRoss, juvenile-in-justice.com)

A View from Solitary During the DNC

PHILADELPHIA – A time out, protective custody and segregation are all terms used to describe solitary confinement – a practice …

Pennsylvania is one of 19 states that terminates Medicaid coverage for people who are incarcerated. (George Hodan/publicdomainpictures.net)

Bill Helps People Maintain Health Care After Jail

HARRISBURG, Pa. - In Pennsylvania, the end of a jail sentence often means the end of health care too, but a change in the state's Human Services Code …

Some defendants have waited more than a year in jail for court ordered treatment. (Jumilla/flickr.com)

DHS Settles Lawsuit Over Delayed Treatment of Mentally Ill Defendants

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania has agreed to make sweeping changes in the delivery of mental health services to mentally ill persons facing …

One-point-six million Pennsylvanians serve as unpaid family caregivers. (Jonathan Banks/flickr.com)

"Unsung Heroes" Need Senate Vote on Caregiver Bill - AARP

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Advocates are asking the State Senate to pass a bill that would give those caring for family members at home some needed help…

Anti-psychotic medications can have very serious side effects. Credit: Fuse809/Wikimedia Commons

Report Finds High Rate of Psych Meds Use for PA Juvenile Offenders

PITTSBURGH – A report by the investigative news organization PublicSource found that young people held in Pennsylvania’s juvenile correcti…

Without a state budget, nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels for Pennsylvania seniors are running out of money. Credit: U.S. Aair Force.

Pennsylvania Budget Impasse Hurting Seniors

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The four-month budget impasse in Harrisburg is hitting services for seniors particularly hard. In some counties, state funds …

The mentally ill may wait years in jail for court-ordered competency restoration treatment. Credit: TryJimmy/pixabay.com

Lawsuit Challenges Prolonged Detention of Mentally Ill

PHILADELPHIA - The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of mentally-ill prisoners held in Pennsylvania jails while awaiting treatment. …

The Pennsylvania Health Care Plan would cover every resident of the state. Credit: Healthcare4ALL PA<br />

Single-Payer Health-Care Bill to be Introduced in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A bill to create a single-payer health-care system in Pennsylvania will be introduced in the state Legislature by the end of the …

PHOTO: A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds that about one in five kids in the Pennsylvania child-welfare system doesn't live with a family, but in a group or institutional setting. It says more should be done to change that. Photo courtesy Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

Report: PA Should Do More to Find Families for Foster Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania needs to do more to find families for children in the child-welfare system, according to a new report by the Annie E…

$PHOTO: Randy Moyer's tongue is just one of many spots where he says he experiences unexplained pain and swelling after his exposure to fracking waste, made up of a mixture of water and toxic chemicals. Photo courtesy of Moyer.$

Not All Pennsylvanians Agree with Gov. Wolf's Support of Fracking

HARRISBURG, Pa. - An organization calling itself "Stop Poisoning Pennsylvania" is demonstrating Tuesday at Governor Tom Wolf's inauguration, calling …

PHOTO: Programs and services that work in tandem to help both children and parents in low-income households are the most effective at building strong families, according to a new report. Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

New Report Promotes "Two Generation" Approach to Family Well-Being

HARRISBURG, Pa. - New research shows the best way to help lower-income families become stronger is to provide programs that focus on both children …

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