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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 …

The new survey revealed 15% of the state's congregate-care providers have programming and policies in place to serve transitioning, non-binary and/or transgender youth. (Daniel/Adobe Stock)

Report examines strengths, challenges of PA congregate-care settings for teens

For young people with serious behavioral health challenges, a new report showed Pennsylvania's congregate-care settings may be the best option…

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…

According to the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, compared to their peers, teens in foster care experience worse outcomes by age 21, and only 49% have full or part-time employment. (DrobotDean/Adobe Stock)

PA Teens in Foster Care Await Outcome of 'Permanency' Bill

Backers of legislation awaiting Gov. Tom Wolf's signature said it would improve the odds of success for teens transitioning out of foster care…

Backers of paid family leave say it would help working Pennsylvanians who face economic insecurity when they need to take off work for medical or family emergencies. (luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Paid Leave Called "Critical" to Economic Recovery

PITTSBURGH - The COVID pandemic has shown that the lack of a paid family-leave system has devastating consequences for families, public health and …

Women make up more than 60% of those who would see an increase in wages. (insta_photos/Adobe Stock)

Report: Raising Minimum Wage Good for All Pennsylvanians

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report showed raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 an hour would give workers an additional $6 billion and help the …

With kinship care, family members can support each other in difficult times, keeping the family intact and connected. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report Calls for Equity in Kinship Care

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report highlights the advantages of kinship care for children in contact with Pennsylvania's child-welfare system, and the …

Nationwide one-third of adults with children are likely to have to leave their homes due to eviction or foreclosure. (Thomas/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Leaves PA Children, Families Struggling

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report shows the COVID pandemic is having a big impact on the health and well-being of children and families in Pennsylvania …

Pandemic relief advocates are calling for an extension of the eviction moratorium and federal emergency rental assistance. (steheap/Adobe Stock)

PA Organizations Call for Action on COVID Relief

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than fifty advocacy organizations have sent a letter to Pennsylvania's congressional delegation urging immediate action on a …

The group New Moral Majority says it believes voting with love and compassion can begin to heal a divided nation. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Faith Leaders Launch Initiatives to Vote for Justice, Reconcile Families

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A national organization of religious leaders is encouraging people of faith to reject the politics of fear, heal family divisions …

Research shows children with health insurance are likely to grow up to be healthier, more productive adults. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Fewer Children Have Health Insurance; Report Predicts Trouble Ahead

PITTSBURGH -- The number of children without health insurance was rising nationwide and here in Pennsylvania before the COVID pandemic, and a new …

Because of the COVID pandemic, one of every four children in the United States could face hunger this year. (Carlos David/Adobe Stock)

An Unusual Partnership Works to Feed Hungry Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A group battling childhood hunger has enlisted a major media company to help get meals to kids while schools are closed by the …

More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvania children lives in a high-poverty area. (kmiragaya/Adobe Stock)

Report Shows PA Needs to Do More for Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- There has been some improvement in the well-being of Pennsylvania's children over the past year, but many still lack health …

One priority parents mentioned in the education poll is the need to close the digital divide, to ensure students have access to computers and the internet. (shangarey/Adobe Stock)

Teachers Get High Marks from Parents

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- This is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and a new poll shows overwhelming approval of the way teachers, principals and school …

Keeping in touch with loved ones through text or video chats can help fight feelings of isolation. (ulza/Adobe Stock)

Helping Family Caregivers Cope with Social Distancing

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With social distancing taking hold across Pennsylvania, family caregivers and those they care for can find help to stay safe and …

Early childhood education is critical to children's future learning potential. (Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock)

PA Kids Can Keep Learning, Even While Schools are Closed

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With schools closing around the country to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, millions of children could lose critical …

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia in its next session. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court to Hear PA “Right to Discriminate” Case

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a lawsuit by a taxpayer-funded foster care agency that claims a constitutional …

Family caregivers help aging family members remain in their homes, where most prefer to be. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

PA Family Caregivers Providing Billions in Services

HARRISBURG, Pa. — One-point-three-billion-hours - that's how much unpaid time family caregivers in Pennsylvania devoted to helping aging family …

AARP Pennsylvania State President Joanne Grossi joined state legislators in calling for passage of the Family Care Act. (PA Senate Republican Communications)

PA Family Care Act Gaining Support

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Advocates for seniors are urging state lawmakers to help more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians who take care of family members…

With a high out-of-home placement rate, Philadelphia needs more qualified foster parents. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

Appeals Court Rejects PA Religion-Based Discrimination

PHILADELPHIA - Religious beliefs don't give government contractors a license to discriminate, according to a ruling by a federal appeals court…

New research confirms that placing foster children with people they already know and trust improves outcomes. (WenPhotos/Pixabay)

Report: More Work Needed to Ensure Kinship Care in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A new report shows that a record increase in referrals for child abuse and neglect has led to more foster-care placements in …

About 33 percent of Pennsylvania's foster-care population is age 14 or older. (pxhere)

Older Youth in PA Foster Care Struggle to Succeed

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania could do more to prepare young people in foster care for adulthood - but Allegheny County is making real progress…

In Pennsylvania, there are now 76,000 grandparents caring for 84,000 grandchildren. (Pixabay)

New PA Laws Support Kinship Caregivers

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania has two new laws that will help keep children in kinship care and out of the foster care system. Due primarily …

HB 2133 would create a 24/7 toll-free hotline and statewide website to help kinship caregivers. (janeb13/Pixabay)

Advocates: Supporting Kinship Care Good for Kids, PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A bill in the General Assembly could help thousands of Pennsylvania grandparents who are raising their children's children…

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 …

Nationwide, the bill would cut federal health care funding $124 billion by 2026. (AlarconBenthos/Pixabay)

Advocates: New ACA Repeal Bill Would Cost PA Millions

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Two Republican senators are working on a new bill to "repeal and replace" Obamacare, but analysts say it would have the same …

NARAL says the draft rule threatens access to affordable birth control for 55 million women. (BruceBlaus/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Say Draft Rule Threatens Contraceptive Coverage

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Reproductive-rights advocates say a leaked Trump administration draft regulation threatens birth control insurance coverage for …

An estimated 82 percent of those who would lose health coverage if the ACA is repealed are in working families. (James Gathany, Judy Schmidt, USCDCP/pixnio.com)

Report Shows Big Losses for PA if Affordable Care Act Is Repealed

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Almost a million Pennsylvanians would lose their health insurance with even a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act…

Asking questions and suggesting alternatives helps older relatives maintain independence. (freestockphotos.biz)

Having that “Difficult Conversation” with Aging Parents

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Family gatherings over the holidays are a chance to relax and share, but they can also be an important opportunity to start …

Supporting foster parents can help ensure quality caregiving for children. (Eric Ward/Wikimedia Commons)

Helping Foster Parents Help Children

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Child welfare agencies need to focus on helping foster parents meet the needs of the children in their care, according to a …

Jailing and fining students or parents for truancy can trap families in a cycle of debt. (pexels.com)

New Truancy Law: 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back?

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania's new truancy law makes some major improvements, but puts poor families at risk of increased penalties that …

Children with health insurance are more likely to do well in school. (U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons)

More PA Kids Have Health Insurance

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania has reduced the number of uninsured children by almost 25 percent in two years, but advocates say there's more …

Two thirds of Pennsylvania voters support national paid family leave or paid sick days. (Sanjasy/pixabay.com)

PA Gets Poor Grades in Workplace Support for Families

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is in the bottom half of a new state-by-state analysis of family-friendly workplace policies. The National …

Pennsylvania�s prison population grew 12 percent and crime decreased 23 percent, according to a new national report, between 2006 and 2014. (Marduk/Wikimedia Commons)

National Study Shows Crime and Prison Populations Declining

HARRISBURG, Pa.- A new analysis shows Pennsylvania is out of step with most states that are reducing their crime rates. Between 2006 and 2014…

Pennsylvania has been named one of the �Terrible Ten� worst states for tax fairness. (Jason/Flickr)

Senators Propose Solution to PA Budget Deficit

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A state senator says he's found a way to help balance the Commonwealth's budget and spend more on education without raising taxes …

Children in family-based foster care have better short and long-term outcomes. (Catherine ScottFamily/Wikimedia Commons)

Expanding Family-Based Foster Care in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Children in family-based foster care do much better than those placed in group settings, according to a new report. The report…

A parent's incarceration can trigger anxiety and depression in their children. (Unsplash/Pixabay)

Helping Kids Cope After a Parent is Jailed

HARRISBURG, Pa. – When a parent goes to prison, the effects on his or her children can be devastating, but a new report by the Annie E…

Immigrants and supporters from Philadelphia attend Monday�s rally. (New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia)

PA Immigrants Joined Supreme Court Rally

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - About 2,000 immigrants and their supporters rallied outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. A closely divided court heard oral …

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can draw election districts based on total population. (Ken Chan/Flickr)

'One Person, One Vote’ Survives Challenge in Supreme Court

HARRISBURG, Pa. - In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld the principle of 'one person, one vote,' by ruling that states may …

Guns were found in fewer than one percent of frisks by Philadelphia Police, a new report says. (George Donnelly/flickr.com)

Report Says Stop and Frisk Abuses Continue Despite Settlement

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police continue to stop and frisk pedestrians without suspicion and disproportionately target minorities, according to a …

Governor Wolf is calling on lawmakers to raise the minimum wage for all workers. (Governor Tom Wolf/flickr.com)

Governor Wolf Raises Minimum Wage for State, Contract Workers

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Minimum-wage state workers and those working for companies with state contracts will be getting a raise. Governor Tom Wolf signed …

Governor Wolf is calling for a $377 million increase in K-12 funding for this year. (Gov. Tom Wolf/flickr.com)

Teachers Back Wolf's Education Budget

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Teachers are praising Gov. Tom Wolf's stand on education funding. In December the governor line-item vetoed all but six months of …

Family assets, including college savings, correlate to indicators of children�s well-being. (Mando vzl/Wikimedia Commons)

Helping Families Save to Help Children Succeed

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A new brief recommends changes in federal policies that would help low-income families save for their children's futures. …

A new report says about 120,000 low-income children in Pennsylvania don't have access to pre-kindergarten programs. (Lochoaymca/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Investing in Pre-K Has Benefits for All

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania needs to increase its commitment to making high-quality pre-kindergarten available to at-risk children, according to a …

Hispanic children are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, and yet are less likely to be insured than other children. (ryse5/pixabay.com)

Pennsylvania Faces Coverage Gap for Hispanic Children

PHILADELPHIA - During the first year of the Affordable Care Act, Pennsylvania made little progress getting more Hispanic children covered with health …

Gov. Tom Wolf will release six months of school funding. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

Wolf Releases Emergency Funds to PA Schools

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Schools and social-service agencies finally are going to get some state funds, but the budget battles aren't over yet. Gov…

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…

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