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PRIMARILY FREE EVENTS AND TRAININGS

IMPACTING AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Week of June 28, 2015

Helping to Bridge the Gap Between the Wealth of Available Resources

and the Poverty Associated With People Not Knowing About Them

_________________________________________________________________

In an attempt to aid reader searches, new items added each week are highlighting in yellow. As always, we are interested in receiving feedback in regard to how we might

improve our publications, content and convenience of use.

E-Update periodically reports ways in which subscribers use our publications to aid their

families or organizations. If you have a short description that might be helpful to others and their uses, we would like to hear about them. Please forward two or three sentences that provide specific uses of benefit to bps461@msn.com. _________________________________________________________________

Activities are subject to change without notice; participants are encouraged

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

Through Healthy Families. Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or non-

commercial uses only.

Sections Available in the attached Calendar of Events: UPDATED THIS WEEK: Special Activities: Upcoming primarily free activities

listed by day over the next several months. Ongoing Scheduled Activities: Primarily free activities held regularly each week

or month. Area Ministries for Those Who are Struggling. GriefShare, DivorceCare,

Celebrate Recovery, Mending Hearts. Day Trip Destination Sites: Free admission sites for individual and family outings. E-Update ResourcesTM: Accompanying Information About Services, Including

Employment Resources, for Individuals and Families. UPDATED THIS WEEK: Calendar of Events - Please Submit Additions Today

Upcoming Activities The following items are detailed in the accompanying Calendar of Events and are in addition to those described within this E-Update. They will be occurring during the current two-week period or are newly listed as part of the longer term Calendar.

These activities are provided for both personal use and printing out and sharing with others through suggested posting on public and employee bulletin boards, hard copies or e-mail.

Updated: This Weeks Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events) Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown. Our Town Art Exhibit Pottstown. GSK Science in the Summer for Kids Various Libraries.

Delaware County Summer Music Festival Media. Family Summer Fun for Everyone Series West Grove. American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).

PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties. Summer Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries. Look Good Feel Better for Women Multiple Locations. Look Good Feel Better for Women Multiple Locations.

Kids Soccer Camp Downingtown. Job Fair Washington Crossing. Naturalization Presentation Phoenixville.

Memory Skills for Cognitively Impaired Series West Chester. Taking Control of Red Tape: Legal Documents for Seniors Presentation Berwyn. Summer Concert Series Kennett Square. Sounds Under the Stars Summer Music Series West Chester.

4th of July Extravaganza Pottstown. Independence Celebration Conshohocken. Kids Patriotic Bike Decorating Contest Oxford. Patriotic Parade Lititz.

Fireworks Pottstown. Fish-for-Free Pennsylvania Waterways. Good Neighbor Day Downingtown.

4th of July Celebration Norristown. Decorated Bike Parade West Chester (West Goshen Township). Independence Day Community Picnic King of Prussia (Valley Forge). Freedom Fest Nottingham.

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4th of July Celebration Chesterbrook. Fireworks Phoenixville and Limerick.

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

Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown. Our Town Art Exhibit Pottstown.

GSK Science in the Summer for Kids Various Libraries. Delaware County Summer Music Festival Media. Family Summer Fun for Everyone Series West Grove. American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).

PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties. Summer Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries. Summer Music Series Lancaster.

Enhancing Golden Social Opportunities Seniors Presentation Berwyn. Concert on the Square Exton (Eagleview). American Revolution and Lunch Author Presentation King of Prussia (Valley Forge). eatFresh Coatesville Cooking Classes and Fresh Produce Coatesville.

Search and Rescue Dogs Demonstration Nottingham. Summer Concert Series Kennett Square. Movie Night Exton (Eagleview).

Family Connections Playdate Pottstown. Under the Ground at Yellow Springs Town Tour and Village Walk Chester Springs. Kids Night Concert West Chester (West Bradford Township). Summer Concert Chesterbrook.

Sounds Under the Stars Summer Music Series West Chester. An Ode to Ireland Concer4t West Chester (East Goshen Township). The Tempest by Shakespeare Play in the Park West Chester and Green Lane. Fireworks Malvern.

Personal Hazardous Waste Disposal Royersford. Outback Rock Day Camp Vacation Bible School Glenmoore. Community Unity Explosion Centennial Celebration Coatesville.

Uwchlan Township Community Day Exton (Lionville). Painful Experiences Presentation Glenmoore. Bats in the Night Sky Walk Pottstown (Warwick). Friendly Fireflies Hike Atglen.

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

Summer Concert Series West Chester (West Goshen Township).

Everest: Conquering Challenges with Gods Might Power Vacation Bible School West Grove.

The Tempest by Shakespeare Play in the Park Production Villanova, West Chester (West Goshen Township and East Goshen Township)

All About Birds Walk Oaks. Summer Music Series West Chester. Kimberton Fair Phoenixville. Healthy Childhood Milestones - Building Stronger Families Speaker Series

Pottstown and Havertown. Family Fun Nights and Movies Downingtown (West Bradford Township). Healthy Families Block Party Coatesville.

Super Cool Undersea Bible Venture Vacation Bible School Coatesville (Gum Tree)

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Activities Submission - Organizations are encouraged to submit information about ongo-ing 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.

NEW THIS WEEK: Free Summer Breakfasts and Lunches for Kids Available at Community Sites

Sites in several area communities have opened to serve breakfasts and/or lunches to children 18 years of age and younger.

The Summer Food Service Program, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is providing meals at some 1,800 sites in Pennsylvania.

Further information, including a searchable sites locator listing types of meals and dates, is available at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-meals-toolkit-summer-

meal-sites. An additional breakfast and lunch site not yet on the map is located at Lincoln University, 351 Kersey Street, Coatesville, with further information available at (484) 784-5945.

NEW THIS WEEK: Summer Fireworks Have Legal and Safety Considerations Thinking about fireworks for the 4th? Better have the facts in regard to purchase and use.

Pennsylvania State Police reviews Frequently Asked Questions at www.psp.pa.gov/public-safety/Pages/fireworks-safety.aspx#.VY9DdEa9BP3.

Safety is another important issue. The National Fire Protection Association says that "each July Fourth, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks".

Get more information on impacts and prevention from the NFPA at www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/fireworks and the federal Consumer Product Safety Commissions at www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks.

NEW THIS WEEK: Food Disposal Tips Resulting from Power Outages Are Available Federal Department of Health and Human Services publishes a list of items which should be

discarded or can be saved as a result of a power outage. Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out is available

online at www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html.

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NEW LAST WEEK: Chester County Pops Up First in Southeastern Pennsylvania for West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) season has started, with the Chester County Health Department recording its first2015 positive mosquito sample for WNV in Phoenixville Borough, the most recent reporting for four Pennsylvania counties.

The total number varies annually, depending on weather. Last year, the county recorded 52 positives for the season, with 146 in 2012. Totals for adjoining counties last year were 148 in Delaware, 61 in Lancaster, 42 in Montgomery and 30 in Berks.

Further information on WNV and mitigation is available at www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=868, with updating state-wide impact and totals for the current and previous years at www.westnile.state.pa.us.

NEW LAST WEEK: Montco Receives Public Comment on $42 Million of Human Services Funding

Montgomery County has received public comment in Pottstown and Norristown on how it should spend some $42 million in Human Services Block Grant (HSBG) funds it expects to receive over the next state fiscal year, starting July 1.

Barbara O'Malley, acting director of Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services and

coordinator of the County's Human Services Cabinet explained the county's focus on housing, employment and health and

wellness and how Human Services Block Grant (HSBG) funds were able to be shifted during the past year to areas in which there were unanticipated needs. This included the extended cold weather during this past winter in which funds were able to be

re-allocated to meet additional services demands.

She said the county is re-thinking all it does in regard to services delivery, working each

year on a zero-based budgeting approach and making caseworkers mobile at different county sites, such as Pottstown, versus being based in an office. The Aging and Adult Services office on High Street in Pottstown, for examples, has been

closed and all department employees in the area, including the Community Connections navicate, work out of flexible space, used when needed, at County Health Department offices at 364 King Street.

As a result, employees are able to be in the field, making twice as many connections, because they aren't having to commute between the office and various homes. Savings in travel costs also are being realized.

The County is looking at all issues related to homelessness, the Cabinet coordinator said, developing a higher level of planning and implementation in regard to its No Way Home initiative to end homelessness through rapid re-housing and other unmet needs.

She also reported the County will be bringing employment-related programming to the Pottstown Regional Public Library due to high unemployment rates in the community, and

will be piloting a Community Center concept in Lansdale with classrooms able to be used by all departments, an area resident computer center and more.

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The health department also is seeking to develop more community partnerships to help it implement better health outcomes.

Casey Jones of Transformation Initiative, developer of a 12 Steps Toward EmploymentTM job-seeker assistance workshop, encouraged the County to maximize use of libraries due to the vast amount of primarily unknown free resources they have available to aid the

unemployed and underemployed. He also said that instead of government being the primary provider of services, for which it will never have enough money, that first line community resources should be identified and

trained in a community-wide, community-based Systems of Care approach that assists individuals and families in need to identify and access available services. This would enable government to concentrate on providing more specialized services.

Jones cited churches and other faith-based organizations, active in many disasters long after government has left impacted areas, as being entities that already serve as initial contact points for people in need within their immediate communities.

He said this extensive first line intake resource needs training, however, to develop effective Communities of Care versus spot programs and services that are more costly and have less

impact than a planned approach. The County's 2015-2016 fiscal year plan is scheduled to be submitted to the state by Friday, July 10, and will be posted on its website.

NEW LAST WEEK: Coatesville Seeks 100 Free Pop-Up Lending Libraries Several community organizations are joining together to promote development of 100 pop-

up lending libraries at sites throughout the community as part of the Citys centennial celebration.

Pull Together Coatesville, being coordinated by Arts Holding Hands and Hearts (AH-HAH), Coatesville Area Public Library, Priority Education Consulting and Lincoln University Coatesville Campus, seeks to establish take a book, return a book locations where one can stop to read, pick up a book or two and drop others off to share.

Sites can be at any gathering place, including offices, restaurants, laundromats, barber and beauty shops, and more.

Further information on this free sharing initiative is available at http://www.artsholdinghandsandhearts.com/#!WHY-WE-NEED-POP-UP-LENDING-LIBRARIES-IN-COATESVILLE/c4v5/557efa810cf298dc5b99a98f, jan.michener@ah-hah.us or

(484) 883-2367. NEW LAST WEEK: Chesco Placing 15 mph Speed Limit Markers on Trails

Chester County is placing 15 mph speed limit markers on Chester Valley and Struble trails to improve safety for its thousands of users, many of whom have been complaining about cyclists exceeding the speed

limit. Markers will appear on the Chester Valley Trail by next week, followed by the Struble Trail, with the speed limit

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also applying to the Schuylkill River Trail. Three cycling-related accidents already have been reported on the Chester Valley Trail this year.

North Regional Park Superintendent Owen Prusack suggests the issue involves a lack of knowledge about trail safety, with current speed notices appearing on Trail Rules and Trail Etiquette signs.

The speed markers will be placed each mile and include arrow signs signaling what direction users should be traveling.

The major rules of the trail are keep right, provide audible warning when passing, travel under 15 mph, and be courteous to other users, according to North Regional Park Superintendent Owen Prusack.

The Chester Valley Trail has 30,000 users per month from April through October, the County says, with the 14-mile route extending from Commerce Drive in West Whiteland to County Line Road in Tredyffrin.

The Struble Trail averages 11,000 users per month during the same time period and extends 2.5 miles from Norwood Road to Dorlan Mill Road.

NEW LAST WEEK: Check out Delaware and Pennsylvania If Retiring If you want the best place for retirement, you have to move across the border to Delaware,

according to Kiplinger magazine, although Pennsylvania is listed as fourth in line. In a June report, the publication called Delaware one of Kiplinger's 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees, levying no sales tax and modest income taxes, from which Social

Security benefits are exempt. Florida was second and West Virginia third. Of Pennsylvania, Kiplinger says: "Economic stability holds the poverty rate of older

residents of the Keystone State down to 8.3%, compared with 9.4% for the U.S. And crime rates are safely below average. Though the overall cost of living is above average, housing for people 65+ is reasonably priced."

Rounding out the top ten are South Dakota, Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. Additional information is available at www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/retirement/T037-S001-

best-states-for-retirement-2015/index.html#8Lc4wImDODdOjEo9.99. Volunteer Fees for Most Child Abuse Clearances Eliminated Effective Thursday,

July 25 Pennsylvania volunteers working with children will be relieved of fees for child abuse clearances and criminal background checks required by the state Child

Protective Services Law starting July 25, but it won't help those who have been or are being required to have

such clearances by July 1 or during the nearly month-long interim period.

Governor Tom Wolf announced the waivers today, also saying the cost of Department of Human Services (DHS) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) child abuse and criminal history

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record checks are being reduced from $10 to $8 for all other applicants, also effective on the same date.

FBI clearances, required for all employees and for volunteers who have not been a continuous resident of the Commonwealth for the last 10 years, will continue to apply.

Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary to Gov. Wolf, told Transformation Initiative that the gap in time between the July 1 volunteer clearances requirements and the July 25 waiver effective date is due to computer system updates that need to be performed to enable the new actions to be undertaken.

Therefore, savings for individuals who must apply prior to July 25 won't be realized until a volunteer's three-year clearance renewals.

In 2014, 23 pieces of legislation were enacted including Act 153 of 2014, changing how Pennsylvania responds to child abuse, such changes significantly impacting the reporting, investigation, assessment, prosecution and judicial handling of child abuse and neglect

cases. However, organizations using volunteers raised concern about future recruitment due to the costs.

The list of persons required to obtain clearances, according to the Governor's Office, are: -- Child care service employees;

-- Foster parents and adult household members; -- Prospective adoptive parents and adult household members;

-- Individuals 14 year of age or older applying for a paid position as an employee responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children;

-- Any individual seeking or provide child-care services under contract with a child-care facility or program; -- School employees governed by public school code and those not governed by the public

school code (colleges and universities). From Jan 1, 2015 to April 30, 2015, 61,019 clearance applications were received for

volunteers, with the projected total number of volunteer clearances for FY 2015-2016, starting July 1, being 296,836. For DHS, the total number of clearances received was 512,583 from the time the electronic

system went live in late December 2014 through May 31, 2015. The PSP processed 828,579 Criminal History Record Checks from January through May of 2015. More information about clearances required under the Child Protective Services Law is

available at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Individuals seeking clearances can go directly to www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis to create an individual account and apply for their child abuse clearance electronically.

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State Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended Now December 31

The deadline for eligible seniors and the disabled to apply for up to $650 in Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebates, which may be increased to $975, again has been extended from June 30 to

December 31, with some 450,000 individuals already having applied.

Rebate distribution will start Wednesday, July 1, for those who already have applied, with

applications after that date being processed as they are received. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age

50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, with half of Social Security income being excluded from the limit. In addition, due to program

changes last year to ensure claimants arent disqualified from rebates solely because of Social Security cost-of-living-adjustments, homeowners and renters may be eligible for rebates even if their eligibility income is greater than these limits.

Therefore, any homeowner who collected Social Security, received a property tax rebate in 2013 for claim year 2012 and had annual income last year discounting half of Social Security up to $36,129 ($15,484 for renters), is encouraged to apply for a rebate for

claim year 2014. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975, with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue automatically calculating supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

Further information and applications are available at www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/PropertyTaxRentRebateProgram/Pages/default

.aspx#.VX_2pka9BP1, county Department of Aging and senior centers, and state legislator offices. Application deadline and income limit information hadnt been updated on some Department of Revenue web pages as of this writing but appears at www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Revenue-Details.aspx?newsid=139.

Researcher Says Trauma Informed Communities Are Needed

A pediatrics instructor and researcher at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says that entire communities need trauma informed education to understand the impact that childhood trauma has on lives if it isnt addressed, including mental and

physical health issues that can reduce life expectancy by as much as 20 years. Dr. Roy Wade, Jr., talked about identifying,

understanding and mitigating adverse impacts of childhood stresses at the annual meeting of Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness

(PEAK) held last week at the Montgomery County Community College satellite campus in Pottstown. The gathering also heard that silos created by

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organizations focused primarily on their own interests versus those of the community need to be broken down as PEAK has accomplished with its initiative, and building systems of

care for families, neighborhoods and communities need to be a focus. Dr. Wade told some 100 representatives of community organizations that what often is diagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children actually may be

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by community violence, family dysfunction including alcohol and drug abuse, community stressors, personal victimization, peer retaliation, general poverty and more.

The greater the number of stressors, the greater the impact that needs to be addressed early in life to avoid ramifications that carry into adolescence and adulthood, including the reduced life span potential, he said.

Pottstown School Superintendent Jeffrey Sparagana, Ed.D., traced the history of the PEAK, saying it has overcome being seen when it started as a "business competitor" to some organizations to one of community partners now providing "unconditional commitment to

children and families, putting competition in the background". The PEAK initiative was created to improve the readiness of children entering kindergarten

and to engage and impact families of young children. It recently received a $2.5 million grant over three years from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to focus on five inter-related strategies of community outreach, family engagement, quality

improvement, health/wellness and kindergarten transition, and working with a variety of community partners to achieve positive change in the community. Becoming a trauma informed community is part of the strategy implementation.

Dr. Wade gave several examples of focuses that communities need to maintain if they are going to be effective in combating these types of issues, including, it's all about mentoring and family supports within and among neighborhoods, interventions with children at risk to

determine whether they are suffering from trauma versus assuming they simply are being disruptive and acting out, and developing a two generation approach to addressing issues, that provides natural support for children, their parents, and children and parents together.

Additional information on the session is available at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.623317604400161/880802661984986/?type=1 and

www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/photos/a.635705349828053.1073741828.623317604400161/880821165316469/?type=1. Further information on Dr. Wade's work is available in a March To Head Off Trauma's

Legacy, Start Young report at www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/09/377569414/to-head-off-traumas-legacy-start-young.

Study Says Some Area Hospitals Among Top 50 Nationwide for Highest Uninsured Patient Charges A new study, reported on by Lancaster Online, says that six of seven Pennsylvania hospitals

with the highest charges nationally to uninsured patients are in Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Crozer Chester Medical Center in Delaware County, Brandywine Hospital at Coatesville, and Phoenixville and Pottstown Hospitals.

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Five of the seven top chargers, among 50 nationally, are identified as part of the for-profit Community Health Systems, with costs as much as 10 times over Medicare-allowable costs.

Hospital spokespersons argued that their facilities "provide significant discounts to uninsured and underinsured patients to help cover out-of-pocket costs".

Further information on the report is available through www.facebook.com/TransformationIni/posts/880257112039541.

Lyme Disease Up in Pennsylvania; Chester County Remains the Leader in Southeast Lyme disease is up 25% in reported cases in Pennsylvania last year, although area counties

other than Delaware showed a decrease. Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy reported last week the Commonwealth

recorded 7,400 cases of Lyme disease in 2014, compared with 5,900 cases in 2013, with the increase, in part,

attributable to heightened awareness about Lyme disease, better reporting, and enhanced monitoring efforts, particularly in Allegheny County.

"Lyme disease is present in every county in Pennsylvania," the Secretary reported, saying that residents need to better protect themselves from tick bites and know the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease

"For those with the disease it is important to seek early treatment to avoid any potential long-term health complications," she said.

Chester County continues to lead the number of cases in our reporting area, with 2,022 last year, or 134 per 100,000 average annual rate, versus 2,395 cases the year before, or a 159.5 average annual rate.

Delaware County, in the meantime, skyrocketed from 62 cases, or a 3.7 average annual rate in 2013, to 320 cases, a 19.1 average annual rate, last year.

Other area county rates, all showing declines between years, are: -- Berks: 142 cases in 2013 (11.5 average annual rate) / 79 in 2014 (6.4 average annual rate).

-- Bucks: 1,977 (105.3) / 1,400 (74.5) -- Lancaster: 36 (2.3) / 35 (2.2) -- Montgomery: 1,262 (52.9) / 1,052 (43.6) -- Philadelphia: 549 (11.9) / 435 (9.4)

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and eight colleagues introduced the federal Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2015 to increase public

awareness and strengthen efforts to combat tick-borne diseases. A text of the bill is at www.blumenthal.senate.gov/download/lyme-and-tick-borne-illness-prevention-act.

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A Department of Health Lyme Disease Fact Sheet is at www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/I-

L/Documents/Lyme%20Disease.pdf. The 2014 County Health Profiles are available at www.statistics.health.pa.gov/MyHealthStatistics/VitalStatistics/CountyHealthProfiles/Pages/

CountyHealthProfiles.aspx#.VXkgyUa9BP0. Southeastern Pennsylvania Counties Unveil New Emergency Alert Systems

Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks counties have unveiled a new emergency alert notification system via telephone, text and e-mail to replace the

current Cooper Industries ReadyNotifyPA brand. Citizen signups for ReadyChesCo, ReadyMontco, Delco Alert and ReadyBucks have started. Those enrolled in

the current alerting system will need to re-enroll in the EverBridge system by the end of the month to continue to receive emergency alerts.

The new system allows residents to choose the alerts

they receive and the order of notification, along with other types of information.

Enrollment is available at: Chester County: www.readychesco.org Montgomery County: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=595 Delaware County: www.co.delaware.pa.us/delcoready/delcoalert.html

Bucks County: www.buckscounty.org/ReadyBucks Alerts for South Central Pennsylvania counties, including Lancaster, also are available

through Everbridge at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/658/Emergency-Services. Alert information in Berks County -- Berks Alert -- is accessible through the Cooper Industries system at https://berks.alertpa.org/index.php?CCheck=1.

Pennsylvanias alert system -- Alert PA -- for any county, also through Cooper Industries, is available at https://alert.pa.gov.

More comprehensive weather information for the region is available through our Facebook page. To receive updates for this and other family-related information during the week, "Like" our page at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni and "Get Notifications" in the

dropdown menu next to "Like" to avoid Facebook filtering posts to individual Timelines and News Feeds based on its own algorithms. Although we also provide alerts, Facebook should not be considered a primary alerting

source for emergency broadcasts if emergency alert systems are working.

FTC Creates Resource to Help Recover From Identity Theft Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has developed a new website to help consumers identify steps and follow a process to recover from identity theft.

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Identity theft has been the top consumer complaint reported to the FTC for the past 15 years, it says, with the Commission receiving more than 330,000 complaints in 2014

from consumers who were identity theft victims. The online guide and checklist are available at www.identitytheft.gov, with a Spanish version at www.robodeidentidad.gov.

Pennsylvania Launches Mobile Child Support Website Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a mobile version of its

Pennsylvania Child Support website to simplify screen navigation and case details for people accessing child support program information with a smartphone or tablet.

The website provides access to child support program information and case details, including the status of their cases, making payments, viewing upcoming appointments, requesting materials, calculating estimated child support payments, and locating local domestic relations sections.

More than 18,000 people visit the child support website daily, according to the department, with 67 percent using mobile devices as their primary means of accessing online content.

Further information is available at www.childsupport.state.pa.us.

Eastern Lancaster Community of Care Initiative Rated Tops by United Way A Lancaster County Pequea Valley School District collaboration is being granted $297,500 in each of the next three years to further its community-wide, community-based System of Care approach for services delivery to those in need.

United Way of Lancaster County made the award, under a new grant focus to a Together Community Center in Paradise that includes The Factory Ministries as the lead. The

coalition also includes Amish View Resorts, Grace Point Church of Paradise, Hildebrandt Learning Centers, Pequea Valley School District, Safe Families and Safe Families Plus, Urban Outfitters, and Welsh Mountain Medical & Dental Centers.

The initiative will offer a breadth of services including transportation to and from the Paradise site, located in the former Pequea Valley Elementary School along Route 30, Pre-K Counts childcare, adult education and mentoring and medical, dental, and behavior health

services. The award, one of the two top among 16 to receive $2,483,706.85 in funding, reflects a new county United Way focus to achieve four goals by 2025: 100% of Lancaster County

children will enter kindergarten ready to learn; 100% of students and adults will have post-secondary credentials; individuals and families living in poverty will be decreased by 50%; and 100% of individuals, children, and families will have a medical home.

The new grant focus requires development of true collaborations among nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, faith-based groups, volunteers, and government to achieve results unable to be accomplished by individual entities.

As reported previously in our Facebook postings, some long-time funded organizations won't be receiving awards under the new initiative criteria, leaving significant gaps in their budgets.

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Further information on the new initiative, described as "bold, new impact Partnerships", is

available at www.lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-reinvented-united-way-aiming-for-bold-social-change-awards/article_7d9cf166-0173-11e5-a74d-5f9f84819d2c.html. A list of award recipients and collaborative initiatives is available at

http://www.uwlanc.org/News/ID/56/UNITED-WAY-OF-LANCASTER-COUNTY-INVESTORS-TO-HELP-UNDERWRITE-WORK-OF-16-IMPACT-PARTNERSHIPS.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Community Organization Networking Connection Meetings (Regular Meeting Dates are Subject to Change) COSECHA (Harvest) meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of the

month from September through June at the Head Start Center, 380 West Cedar Street, Kennett Square. Further information is available from Elizabeth Garduno at elizabethga@cciu.org or (610) 444-2880 x305.

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 July 16, RSVP of the Capital Region will present, followed by a tour of the

Manheim Township Public Library at 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster. On July 21, Country Meadows of Wyomissing and the IM Able Foundation will present at Country Meadows, 1800 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing. On August 18, Berks County Veterans Affairs will present in the Community Room at Boscovs Department Store, 4500 Perkiomen

Avenue, Reading. On August 20, Webb Medical Systems will present at Excentia, 617-C North Prince Street, Lancaster. Specific topic workshops also are being scheduled in the counties. Further information is available at http://berkslancasterlebanonlink.org, or from

Brian Long, coordinator, at blllink@mail.com or (717) 380-9714. Phoenixville Area Resource Network (PARN) meets from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month, except December, at the First United Methodist Church (north

entrance), 865 South Main Street, Phoenixville. Representatives of community organizations exchange information about current and upcoming activities and hear presentations from various services providers. On July 28, Open Hearth of Spring City and the Phoenixville

Time Bank will present. On August 25, Chester County Emergency Management and Chestnut Hill College at the Montgomery County Community College Center will discuss activities. Additional information about the group is available from Debbie Dundon at Open Hearth, Spring City, at (610) 792-9282 x201 or debbie.openhearth@verizon.net.

Kennett Area Bridging the Community meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesdays of January, March, May, July, September and November at various community locations with any interested individual or organization welcome to attend and share information on

resources and needs that can build "bridges" toward a more integrated Kennett area community. On July 8, the annual community potluck picnic will be start the gathering at 6 p.m. at His Mission, 342 East Birch 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.

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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 exchange information about current and upcoming activities and hear presentations from various services providers. Further information is available from Kathryn Spurlock at ccch@comcast.net or at (610) 380-7111 x16.

Chester County Family and Community Partnership meets from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Friday of February, April, June, August, October and December at various locations. The group is a diverse partnership of individuals, families, community organizations, service

agencies, businesses and funders committed to empowering individuals and families in living self-sufficient, productive and fulfilling lives. Additional information is available from Kathy Brauner at kbrauner@chesco.org or (610) 344-5262.

Chester County Faith Community Health Ministry Network meets from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., on the first Thursday of each month, from September through June to exchange information on promotion of holistic health within faith congregations and communities and

to develop additional faith community nurses, also known as parish nurses. Further information is available from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180.

Communities That Care (CTC) groups in several Chester County school districts provide networking opportunities for community organizations and individuals that use a planning and mobilization model to promote healthy youth development and prevent and reduce negative youth health and behavior issues that may include substance abuse, delinquency,

teen pregnancy, school drop-out, and violence.

West Chester CTC meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second Thursday of each month of the school year at the West Chester Area School District Spellman

Administrative Building, 829 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Lunch is provided by reserving at rsvp@wcctc.org or (610) 359-5817.

Downingtown Area CTC meets from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month from September through May at the Lionville Community YMCA, 100 Devon Drive, Exton (Lionville). Further information and registration available at dtownctc@umly.org or (610) 458-9090 x2827.

Coatesville CTC Community Prevention Board, a body coterminous with the

Coatesville Youth Initiative Steering Committee, meets periodically in the fourth floor

Community Room, Brandywine Health Foundation, 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Further information and requested lunch reservations are available from Jarvis Berry, CTC community mobilizer, at Jarvis@coatesvilleyouthinitiative.org or (610) 380-0200.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Support Groups for Unemployed and Underemployed - Ongoing

Several networking/support groups (open to everyone) are available at area churches for persons who are unemployed or unemployed, with each providing its own variety of specific services in support of those who attend:

Downingtown (Lionville/Exton) -- Barnabas Group, at Calvary Fellowship Church, 95 West Devon Drive (rear entrance) at Route 113 in Exton (Lionville) is named after the Biblical disciple known as the Son of Encouragement. Weekly sessions are part of the churchs Care Monday, that includes a prayer group that meets at the same

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time in the Prayer Lobby (Portico Entrance), with intercession for those attending the Barnabas Group and the churchs other Care Ministries, including DivorceCare for

those coping with separation or divorce, even years later; Mending Hearts for those with prodigal children and other family members; and various offerings focused on assistance in healing and coping. Further information for Barnabas Group activities is available at barnabasgroup@cfdownington.com or (610) 363-7171.

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 July 12, Amy Dinning, a senior training and talent development leader, will discuss Youve Lost Your Job Now What? In

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

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

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

West Chester Unemployment support group meets bi-weekly from 5:45 p.m. to

7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner Street, West Chester, to learn tips and techniques related to job searches. Further information is available

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

West Chester BarnabasWC group meets from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mondays, except holidays, in the Community Room, Providence Church, 430 Hannum Avenue,

West Chester. Further information is available at www.barnabaswc.org or info@barnabaswc.org.

Six Area Affiliates of Joseph's People meet during the month: Berwyn/Main Line - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays at the Hagenbach Room, St. Monicas Church, 635 First Avenue. Further information is available from Bob Schubert at bobschubertjr@aim.com or (610) 755-2398.

Central Delco Groups at three locations in Central Delaware County now coordinate meetings in Media and Upper Darby at 7 p.m. on the first three Tuesdays

of the month. First Tuesday: St. Francis Room at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 North Providence Road, Media, with further information at smmemploy@gmail.com or (610) 873-7117. Second Tuesday: The Parish Hall Rear Entrance, St. Laurence Church, 8245 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby. Third

Tuesday: Hassler Chapel, Media Presbyterian Church, 30 East Baltimore Pike, Media, with further information at robinst37@gmail.com.

Downingtown -- 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays, in the

Parish Meeting Room Rear of the School Property, St. Joseph's Parish, 338 Manor Avenue (Route 322). On July 14, starting at 6:30 p.m., members of all affiliates will hold their annual family picnic. Information about the affiliate is available by

leaving a message at (610) 873-7117.

Upper Uwchlan Township 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at the School Education Center, St. Elizabeths Catholic Church, 100 Fellowship Road, Chester

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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. 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.

Free Job Assistance Workshops, Job Fairs and Job Openings Report June Unemployed and underemployed persons seeking education and training in career planning, along with employment assistance for veterans, ex-offenders and persons with disabilities,

can take advantage of a broad series of services and monthly workshops offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor CareerLink at its Exton offices in Suite 500, 479 Thomas Jones Way in the Oaklands Corporate Center.

These trainings include an orientation presentation as to what PA CareerLink has to offer. A calendar of PA CareerLink-Chester County workshops for the current month is available at

www.pacareerlinkchesco.org/calendar. Monthly job openings list that provides several pages for the Chester County area is available at www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/25877. Daily position openings

updates are available through www.cwds.state.pa.us. Websites for additional county PA CareerLink offices in the area, at which many services are

available to out-of-county residents, include:

Berks: www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/CareerLink/Pages/default.aspx Delaware: www.delcoworks.org

Lancaster: www.jobs4lancaster.com Montgomery: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1024

Free Certified Nursing Assistant Training Available Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) is enrolling income-eligible individuals for its Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program.

Further information is available at (610) 692-2344.

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.

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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.

NIDA Says Abuse of Prescription Pain Medications Risk Heroin Use National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that one in 15 people who take non-medical

prescription pain relievers will try heroin within 10 years. In an infographic campaign, it is noted that nearly one in 20 adolescents and adults, or 12 million people, used prescription pain medication in 2010 when it was not prescribed for

them or only for the feeling it caused. While many believe these drugs are not dangerous because they can be prescribed by a

doctor, abuse often leads to dependence, according to the NIDA. And eventually, for some, pain medication abuse leads to heroin. Further information on prescription drug and other abuse is available at

www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/abuse-prescription-pain-medications-risks-heroin-use.

Study Says Early Sipping by Kids Increases Alcohol Risks Students having a sip of alcohol before sixth grade were four times more likely to have been drunk by the ninth grade, according to a Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction

Studies researchers study. In the report, approximately three in 10 students reported having sipped alcohol before the sixth grade. In addition to ninth graders having been drunk, those children were five times

more likely to have consumed a full drink of alcohol and 3.7 times more likely to have tried binge drinking.

The study counters many parental hypotheses that introducing children to alcohol when they are young will reduce its tempting taboo and help them better manage alcohol as they get older.

Further information about the study and its results are available at https://news.brown.edu/articles/2015/03/kidsip.

New Consumer Hospital Discharge Planning Checklist Available Medicare has published a six-page checklist to help individuals

avoid being re-admitted after a hospital stay. It is suggested by Medicare that Your Discharge Planning Checklist be used early and often during your stay and that a

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patient talk to their doctor and hospital staff, such as a discharge planner, social worker or nurse, about items on the list.

The publication, including a list of additional resources, is available at www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11376.pdfm with the The Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health

care organizations and programs in the United States, providing additional information at www.jointcommission.org/toc.aspx.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness May be Available for Some Student Loans Individuals working in governmental organizations, some charitable organizations and some organizations providing specific services such as public education or health may be eligible

for a broad, employment-based forgiveness program on qualifying student loans. Further information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is available at www.ed.gov/blog/2015/04/how-to-qualify-for-public-service-loan-forgiveness-2 and

www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#page.

Area Said to be a Hot Spot for Human Trafficking The Philadelphia area is a hot spot for human trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking, according to 2014 statistics from the National Human Trafficking Resource

Center. Over 30 percent of cases involved children and youth. Further information about the numbers and recognizing signs of trafficking is available at

www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/2014%20Minors%20Trafficking%20Report_FINAL.pdf and www.polarisproject.org.

Additional information about some area cases and impacts is at www.facebook.com/chestercountyantihumantraffickingcoalition.

Pennsylvania Gears Up Against Bird Flu Poultry and other avian competitions will be absent from this year's state-approved

agriculture fairs due to the threat of highly

pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N2, that has intensified nationally. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

has suspended the competitions to minimize risk of the disease spreading from other states and the estimated $13 billion in total economic activity in the state's poultry and egg industry.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is said to be "very contagious" and can make domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys, very sick or even cause death. It rarely affects humans, according to the federal

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in those cases usually follows direct or close contact with infected poultry, resulting in mild to severe illnesses.

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Further information from the Department of Agriculture is available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_agri

culture/10297 and from the CDC at ww.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm. Free Child Abuse Prevention Resource Guide Published

A new 2015 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections, along with other publications to aid in combating child abuse, has been made available as part of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The materials and other information are available at www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/?utm_source=Gateway&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=NCAPM15.

Free Motorcycle Safety Courses Scheduled Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program (PAMSP) is offering all riders from novice to

experienced -- safety training for the riding season. In addition, anyone under 18 years of age must take and successfully complete a

Pennsylvania motorcycle safety program basic rider course before he or she can receive a motorcycle license. To be eligible to test, youth must have a motorcycles learners permit for at least six months and have 65 hours of supervised riding.

Further information about new motorcycling laws effective last year is available at http://dmv.state.pa.us/centers/motorcycleCenter.shtml, with information on PAMSP at www.pamsp.com.

Berks County is under Drought Watch Berks and 26 other Pennsylvania counties are under a DROUGHT WATCH due to below-

average groundwater levels. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says that "despite the recent surge of surface water caused by snow melt .... low groundwater levels can cause well-fed water

supplies, both private and public, to go dry. "The very dry fall and below-normal precipitation in January and February have contributed

to low groundwater levels in the northeast and central portions of the state. The increasing temperatures and melting snow have helped, but groundwater levels may not be back to normal before the summer," it says.

A drought watch declaration is the first and least-severe level of the states three drought classifications. It calls for a voluntary five percent reduction in non-essential water use and puts large water consumers on notice to begin planning for the possibility of reduced water supplies.

Further information and conservation information are available at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288.

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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.

To submit materials for publication, please refer to the guidelines that follow.

Blessings

Casey Casey Jones Transformation Initiative Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families (610) 707-1494 / bps461@msn.com

2009-2015 Casey Jones, Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families. Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or non-commercial uses only.

Information provided is designed to highlight activities within the broader community that can help enhance Christian principles relative to development of healthy children, individual and family relationships. Recipients are encouraged to print and post this Calendar to employee and public bulletin boards for benefit of others. Activities included in this publication are gathered from various submissions and other sources. No

representation is made as to their accuracy or value. Persons wishing to be included in future e-mailings of updates, should request inclusion by sending an e-mail with Subscribe in the Subject line, along with your name, organization, community and where you heard about the publications to bps461@msn.com.

General Guidelines for Information Submission:

Submission up to two to three months prior to the event is encouraged to increase exposure to new subscribers, individuals who only may read the list periodically, and for other organizations that want to avoid scheduling opposite an event or may want to collaborate with others in the area. For annual

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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.

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.