Educational Rights for Children Experiencing Homelessness

SUMMIT III ASSEMBLES BRILLIANT MINDS TO TALK BEST PRACTICES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FORWARD MOTION ON EDUCATING HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN PENNSYLVANIA

On Friday, May 4 2012, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) hosted its third annual Summit focusing on the educational needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness. “In Pennsylvania in 2010 there were 31386 homeless children, more than the entire University of Pittsburgh student body,” explains Dr. Ralph da Costa Nunez, President and CEO of the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness. “Some of these homeless families are living in shelters. Many more are in motels, and doubled up, living two or more families in an overcrowded apartment. This instability would make it hard for anyone to learn.” In an effort to move beyond providing educational programming, Senator Wayne Fontana, HCEF, and many others have dedicated themselves to assist in the passage of the Pennsylvania State Senate Bill 157, which passed by a unanimous vote of 44-0 on April 30, 2012. While the bill will need to clear the Pennsylvania House before becoming law, the progress is substantial for promoting awareness of the educational rights of children experiencing homelessness. “As a society, we owe it to all our youth, to make sure no child slips through the cracks and that they have every opportunity for an education,” says Pa State Senator Wayne Fontana. “The Homeless Children’s Education Fund has focused on the plight of the homeless children in our Commonwealth. That’s why I am proud to have sponsored SB 157, which will create a task force to examine the educational needs and status of homeless children in Pennsylvania.” Through their annual Summit gatherings, HCEF is committed to increase awareness of and to advocate for the educational challenges faced by children and youth experiencing homelessness (i.e. transportation, identification and enrollment). Speakers and participants at Summit III highlighted challenges, best practices and initiatives to help combat barriers these children face, as well as focusing on the devastating effects that poverty and homelessness can have on learning and brain development. Summit III speakers included national, state and local experts on homelessness as well as government, community, social service and educational leaders:

Anti-Bullying Association, Sto-Rox High School
Dr. Stephen Bagnato, Early Childhood Partnerships/University of Pittsburgh
Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive
Wayne Fontana, Pa State Senator
David J. Hickton, U.S. Attorney (Western Region of Pa)
Terrence Moses, Pittsburgh Technical Institute Student
Dr. Ralph da Costa Nunez, Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness
Denise Ross, Prince George’s County Public Schools (Maryland)
Dr. Michele Sellitto, Pa Department of Education

During Summit III, new statistics from the PA Department of Education as well as facts and figures from local sources and the U.S. Census about the status of housing and educational stability for children and youth experiencing homelessness were shared, confirming a growing need for local government, school superintendents and members of our community to continue collaborative efforts to better serve our most vulnerable population. “Since last year’s Summit, we have seen significant progress as a result of our outreach efforts through the Homeless Education Network, an initiative of HCEF,” says Bill Wolfe, Executive Director, Homeless Children’s Education Fund. “Funding and programming have both increased, allowing us to intervene into the lives of even more children in homeless situations. This year, we were able to start a highly active campaign aimed towards identification and bettering educational resources for children and families experiencing homelessness.” For more detailed information regarding Summit III or to receive speaker remarks or photography from the event, please contact Meredith Matthews at meredith@createareaction.com or 412-224-6070. About HCEF Since 1999, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has been dedicated to providing advocacy, community engagement, and direct service programs that support the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. For more information, visit www.homelessfund.org.

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Posted on 21/05/12 Filed under HCEF

ACP a Nonprofit That Helps With Debt Settlement

What are the Negatives of Debt Settlement?

To define the term, debt settlement is an agreement an individual makes with a creditor to pay off a debt by paying a percentage of it in a lump sum. Usually the amount is at least 50% to 75% but sometimes you can get the amount lower than that if you can prove reduced income or other financial distress.

So what could be a down side of getting your debt reduced? Be aware that debt settlement companies will charge you a fee that is a hefty percentage of the total due. Also, credit companies won’t settle your debt if you are current. You have to be significantly behind in your payments to even qualify. Debt settlement will damage your credit even if the settled amount shows a $0 balance on the debt. You have not paid the debt in full as was originally agreed to. There are also taxes due on any forgiven balance over $600.00. You need to make your tax preparer aware of any settlements you have made backed up with the appropriate paperwork. Make sure you get the settlement terms in writing from the creditor.

All of these negatives need to be considered before one decides to do a debt settlement. A good non-profit organization that works with repairing and improving credit will walk you through a settlement for free.

The Alliance for Consumer Protection, Beaver County PA is available to answer your questions.

Melody Logoyda

ACP Executive Director

Posted on 18/05/12 Filed under Alliance for Consumer Protection

Improve How Your Perceive and Approach Conflict

Conflict Resolution
Dates: June 25, 26
Times: 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Tuition: $200
Trainers: Dawn Lehman, MA and
Mary Jo Harwood, MSW, LSW
Conflict presents opportunity. The conflicts you face in everyday life are opportunities to have constructive conversations, to resolve issues peacefully, and to enhance your interactions with others to have more meaningful and less stressful relationships. During this 15 hour course, participants improve how they perceive and approach conflict. Experienced instructors assist participants in developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills that foster productive outcomes of conflict while reducing negative impacts on personal or professional relationships. Completion of the 15 hours results in a certificate of completion and serves as a prerequisite for participation in the 24-hour Mediation class. Full attendance is required for certificate.

Mediation
Dates: June 27, 28, 29, 2012
Times: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Tuition: $350
Trainers: Dawn Lehman, MA and
Mary Jo Harwood, MSW, LSW

This 24-hour experiential course builds on basic conflict resolutionskills to assist participants in becoming proficient in a party centered, transformative mediation model. If you are seeking techniques and tools to enhance effective communication with and between people, especially your ability to act as a third party for others(such as employees or family members in conflict situations) you will find this course invaluable. Participants learn skills that promote constructive conversation and ways to help people in conflict work out their own solutions. Conflict Resolution is a prerequisite to this course.
Together the goals of Conflict Resolution and Mediation are to:

Replace attitudes and styles of ineffective communication with tools and techniques for engaging in conflict effectively and peacefully in everyday life
Develop a comfort level with how people express conflict
Acquire tools for initiating and facilitating constructive conversation between people or groups of people
Learn an orientation, foundational principles and skills for acknowledging, addressing and supporting others in generating options for conflicts that come up in every day circumstances
Provide participants with a basic mediation training
Increase people’s awareness of constructive alternatives to resolving conflict beyond the use of violence & litigation.

The Effective Providers for Child Victims of Violence Program (EP Program)
Date: Monday, June 11th 2012
Time: 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Tuition: $65
Trainers: Prabha Sankaranarayan, MS,
Toya Jones, MSW, LSW,
Cynthia A. Snyder, MSW, LCSW
CE Credits Available

The EP Program goal is to increase the capacity and effectiveness of mental health professionals providing services to children victimized by violence. The EP Program is part of the U.S. Attorney General’s Defending Childhood initiative, launched in September 2010 to address children’s exposure to violence as victims and as witnesses. This is a one-day workshop for local mental health service providers conducted by EP Trainers in communities nationwide. The community workshops are approved by APA to offer CE credits.

The EP Program Curriculum
The program’s research-based curriculum was developed by the APA Violence Prevention Office in collaboration with NCVC and Childhelp and with assistance from nationally recognized experts in violence; trauma; victimization; trauma assessment; trauma-focused,evidence-based treatments; and diversity and culture issues. The program curriculum addresses the following areas:
1. The impact of violence in children’s lives
2. The role of diversity and culture in victimization and treatment
3. Assessment tools
4. Trauma-focused, evidence-based treatment models
5. Family-oriented, collaborative treatment approach
The program is approved for 7 credit hours through APA. An\additional payment of $25.00, payable to CVVC, is required. Please register by calling 412-482-3240 x214.

Posted on 17/05/12 Filed under CVVC

Vannah Needs a Loving New Home

Animal Friends would like you to meet Vannah, an American Pit Bull Terrier. Vannah, one of our V Pits, is a shy little girl that is trying very hard to come out of her shell. She really wants to be social and we found that she is more comfortable with people if they are sitting… Continue Reading

Posted on 16/05/12 Filed under Animal Friends

Volunteers Plant the Seeds of Kindness

The 7th Annual Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Breakfast was held at The Bradley Center to celebrate National Volunteer Week. A crowd of nearly fifty volunteers, donors and staff gathered to celebrate the generosity and kindness of the Bradley supporters. The patrons were greeted by some of Cornelia Harlovic’s class and followed the smell of a… Continue Reading

Posted on 15/05/12 Filed under The Bradley Center

Children Standing Up for Children

HCEF website - http://www.homelessfund.org/, phone (412) 562-0154 On April 5, 2012, HCEF tried something new. Through monthly meetings, HCEF’s Cabinet of Congregations formed ideas for a third-grade curriculum to effectively yet gently teach children about homelessness. The curriculum was developed by an HCEF afterschool instructor and professional educator, using Dr. Ralph da Costa Nunez’s book, Voyage to… Continue Reading

Posted on 14/05/12 Filed under HCEF

Free Workshop for Family Caregivers

Taking Care of Your Family Member and Yourself Valley Care Association, Willow Brook Geropsychiatric Unit at Ohio Valley General Hospital, and Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice will present “Taking Care of Your Family Member and Yourself” on May 16, 2012 from 6—7:30 p.m. at the Valley Care Adult Day Services Center, 345 Maplewood Avenue,… Continue Reading

Posted on 11/05/12 Filed under Valley Care Association