Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced that older Pennsylvania youth exiting the foster-care system will now be eligible for aftercare services until age 23 – a policy change that will offer myriad supportive services to a particularly vulnerable population of youth as they transition to adulthood. Previously, youth became ineligible for aftercare services on their 21st birthday.

DHS estimates that the extension of aftercare services to age 23 will benefit about 1,500 former foster youth in fiscal year 2020-21.

“Every child deserves a safe and healthy environment to grow up, and every person deserves a stable support system to help them transition from childhood to adulthood,” DHS Secretary Teresa Miller said. “For former foster youth aging out of the system, the traditional family support system may not be there for them. I’m proud that Pennsylvania is stepping up to fill that gap and provide the types of services these young adults need to go on to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.”

DHS convened a workgroup to study the possibility of extending aftercare services to age 23 for former foster youth after the federal Family First Prevention Services Act gave states the option of doing so. After studying the issue in collaboration with stakeholders, DHS has opted into this provision effective July 1, 2020.

In Pennsylvania, child welfare is a county-administered and state-supervised system. Counties provide aftercare services that meet the needs of the youth who exit foster care on or after their 14th birthday – and now until age 23 – that can include: needs assessment/case planning, life skills training, prevention services, education, support services, employment, location of housing, room and board, retreats and camps, indirect services, and program administration. Some services require youth to meet other eligibility criteria.

This policy change to extend aftercare services to age 23 ensures that all former foster youth, including those who remain in foster care to age 21 have access to aftercare services to help them safely and successfully transition to independence and adulthood after they’ve exited the formal foster-care system.

Research shows that youth who age out or leave foster care without a permanent family/connection experience worse outcomes than that of their peers in the general population. Former foster youth are disproportionately represented among young adults entering the mental health and substance use disorder systems, homeless services, employment services and criminal justice systems. This policy change is a critical step forward in serving older youth and preventing the outcomes seen nationally for foster youth who age out of the foster-care system.

In addition, beginning July 1, 2020, DHS has extended eligibility for the Chafee Education and Training Voucher program — known as Education and Training Grants (ETG) in Pennsylvania — to youth up until their 26th birthday. This program provides eligible youth financial support to attend post-secondary education and training classes for up to five years (consecutive or non-consecutive). The previous cutoff age was 23.

ETG eligibility includes youth who are in foster care or discharged from foster care on or after age 16, including those youth have exited foster care to adoption or permanent legal guardianship. The ETG application for the 2020-21 academic year is available online.

Youth applying for ETG will be evaluated to determine if they also qualify for the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program (FosterEd). The FosterEd program requires Pennsylvania post-secondary institutions to waive tuition and mandatory fees for Pennsylvania youth who meet Chafee ETG eligibility requirements and who have applied for all available federal and state grants.

The following is an opinion editorial authored by Todd Bartley, Talk Williamsport, todd@talkwilliamsport.com.

In the immediate aftermath of the publication of OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART I and OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART II Talk Williamsport continued an even deeper look into Jennifer Lake and her ascent to Williamsport Area School Board member.

A mountain of documents and background materials have been obtained, including Lake in her own words.

What has been discovered is quite remarkable and miraculous for someone who claims to advocate for children on a daily basis.

So why did Jennifer Lake sit silent at the WASD school board meeting on that fateful February 2020 evening?

Was it just another baseball courtesy?

Was it a quid pro quo for those who signed her election petitions?

Was it a quid pro quo for those who attend her church?

Was it a quid pro quo for those who donate to her non-profit the Secretary of State has no record of?

Do her election petitions and affidavits give us any clues or possible answers?

Has Jennifer Lake sat silent on issues of race because she is just too tired?

Jennifer Lake was contacted for this story on several occasions; to date she has not responded.

 

In the past week Pennlive confirmed the previously reported by FSW news of Attorney General John Shapiro accepting the “criminal sexual misconduct” case referral from Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner.

The case stems from a 2018 incident occurring on the WAHS baseball team trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART I, the first statement I made was, “My argument is, Jennifer Lake you missed your moment!”

In fact Jennifer we are approaching the four year anniversary of an article you posted on your own website titled “I’M A WHITE WOMAN RAISING A BLACK SON. HERE’S MY PERSPECTIVE ON BLACK LIVES MATTER.” published on July 14, 2016.

Allow me to make a prediction, that post and entire website will soon be coming down and the argument will be to “protect her children and her privacy.”

Sorry Jennifer, too late again, you missed another moment.

Back to the Lake article from nearly four years ago and almost a year into her first term on WASD school board; you know the systemically racist WASD, that Jennifer Lake led the charge to memorialize and codify just a few weeks ago.

The article opens, “I have been fairly quiet about recent events in our country because honestly, I just feel so tired.”

Her next line eerily foreshadows what happened to George Floyd, “I feel as if I am emotionally suffocating at times.”

She is so “tired and emotionally suffocating” she waited four years to identify what she claims is systemic racism in the WASD.

It will get progressively worse from here.

Now she lends her perspective which she believes gives her not only instant credibility but moral authority on this issue.

Lake: “I am a white mother raising a black son alongside raising a white son.  This doesn’t mean that I’ll ever be able to understand what it must feel like to be a black citizen in this country these days.  But it does mean that I have a perspective that few have.”

Nearly one month after the Lake article, the New York Times, published on August 16, 2016 a story related to social media discussions on crimes of racial injustice; “on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Dylann S. Roof, a white man, walked into a black church in Charleston, S.C., joined those there in prayer and then opened fire. He killed nine people that night.

Twitter erupted again the day after the funeral of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who sustained a fatal spinal cord injury in police custody last April.

The funeral was held on Monday, April 27, 2015, a day that ended with the Maryland governor activating the National Guard in response to riots in Baltimore. The following day, Tuesday, April 28, users posted 3.4 million race-related tweets, contributing to the second-largest single-day conversation on the subject over the period studied.

The third-, fourth- and fifth-largest discussions of race on Twitter all occurred as the nation reacted to the death of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old black woman who was found dead, hanging in her Texas jail cell, three days after being arrested last summer.

On July 22, 2015, one day after the authorities released dashboard camera footage of Ms. Bland’s arrest, users posted 3.3 million tweets discussing race. The next day, they posted three million more. A week later, on July 29, the conversation was just as loud, with Pew attributing the three-million-tweet-strong discussion that day to protests held in response to Ms. Bland’s death.”

Lake: “I know that I’m not alone in feeling the weight and sadness of the events happening in our country.  I made the decision to be fairly quiet on social media for a while because I just needed a break from it all.  I have been watching, reading, observing but not commenting much.”

So Jennifer Lake, from day one as a WASD School Board Member, you sat idly by and never addressed the systemic racism in the very same district your children attend school in?

How you could allow this to happen?

Lake: “I have observed friends of mine dismiss “Black Lives Matter” because they want to spread the message that All Lives Matter.  Please hear me when I say that I agree…ALL lives DO matter.  But that’s an entirely different issue.  When I say Black Lives Matter, my point of reference is the unfair and often times rude treatment that I have seen my son be subject to.  He is only 12 and we have a lifetime of experiences like this coming for us.”

So, in your world ALL lives do not matter?

How exactly do you explain that to your biological children?

All lives matter, means all lives matter, correct?

That is what the Bible says that you previously used to hide behind in a social media post.

What ever happened to Genesis 1:27, NIV, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Does that verse makes any mention of race?

She concludes the article, “So when you hear Black Lives Matter, I would simply ask you to respond with, Yes!, They absolutely do.”

So Jennifer, with the article you authored outlining how white people and their inherent “privilege”; how is the systemic divide ever going to change if you keep perpetuating it with this narrative?

Do you also subscribe to the stated Black Lives Matter position on the nuclear family or did you just like how the headline sounded?

“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.”

By the way, why did it take you nearly five years to bring this up to the WASD school board?

Were you just too tired and staying off social media?

Was it all the social status climbing that was more important?

 

Jennifer, will the students in the WASD be safer as you continue to jam down the BLM platform position of “Defund the Police”?

Does this mean no more School Resource Officers in the WASD?

As FSW has already reported when fights break out SRO Miller stands down units responding when concerned parents call 911, so will it really be a big change from the status quo?

 

On a personal note, in the aftermath of the Freddie Gray riots I was led to a place called Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

It just so happened Chestnut Hill College was playing a basketball game there and I needed to cover for one of our broadcasters.

That January we began a broadcast relationship with Coppin State that still stands today.

In fact, Jennifer, for that relationship I was actually called out on social media for “abandoning the athletes of Lycoming County”, I believe Attorney General Josh Shapiro and the FAMILY of JOHN DOE #1 would beg to differ.

Coppin State University is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and as their play-by-play broadcaster it is humbling to be able to say COPPIN PROUD.

Remember the Freddie Gray riots, the “peaceful protests” started across the street from campus at Mondawmin Mall and proceeded to the blocks near campus; and we all saw what played out on national television.

Chaos reigned and Baltimore burned!

I have driven and will continue to drive into those same neighborhoods to do games at Coppin State University.

Lifelong friendships have been forged at Coppin and I would not trade them for anything.

You see Jennifer, in my experience at Coppin and in the MEAC for that matter, it is all about family.

The conversations never begin with Hey Todd, you’re wearing your white privilege today, right?

The conversations begin with,

“I’m so happy to see you!”

“Hey Mr. Gary, how are you doing today?”

Most of the time, they are accompanied with smiles, hugs and laughter.

As the games progress, the ongoing conversations and jokes at the press table with everyone from everywhere in the world is about each other and our shared experience in the moment.

We have followed each other on social media and share stories often. This is the same experience from my time in eastern North Carolina with folks that lost everything in hurricanes in recent years.

Skin color does not matter to me, they are family to me because we share something greater – faith in each other!

Faith that we can put the color of skin away and just enjoy each other for who we are to each other.

Person-to-person, experience by experience, relationships are forged.

Jennifer, I share this with you because as happy as those times have been, there have been tragic times as well.

Coppin State Head Baseball Coach Sherman Reed had to bury his son who was a victim of random gun violence.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Reed was found fatally shot late Thursday in the 3800 block of W. Patapsco Ave. in the Violetville neighborhood, according to Baltimore Police. He was one of seven people shot in the city that night. Police have not announced any arrests in the case and had no updates Sunday.

Last August, I drove to a funeral home in Baltimore to see my friend Coach Reed to give him a hug and tell him I was sorry for his loss.

You see Jennifer, Coach Reed had taken me in like his own family when I began doing his teams baseball games. We traveled all the way to Daytona Beach, Florida to the MEAC tournament in 2019 and were set for another great run this year until the coronavirus changed everything.

To date, no suspect has been identified in the murder of Coach Reed’s son and the case remains unsolved.

The same day Reed died, Dorothy Reed said, his son’s camp had the kids write a letter to their parents. Reed’s son wrote that Reed was the best father and he was excited to go the Ravens game with him that Thursday.

Sherman Reed Jr. left behind an 8 year old son at the time of his tragic passing.

 

IRREGULARITIES

Lori Baer, WASD school board president signed two different Republican petitions for Jennifer Lake on February 19, 2019 the same day as a school board meeting, as follows:

#3 Lori A. Baer, right below WAHS Athletic Director #1 Sean McCann and Stevens Elementary School Principal, #2 Kirk Felix.

Her signature appears four spots above fellow WASD board member #7 Patrick Dixon’s signature. He is also the signatory on the back of the page noting his role as “Circulator”, notarized and submitted to the Lycoming County Board of Elections on March 5, 2019.

On the back of this same Petition are the signatures of now former WASD administrator #20 Randy Zangara, his wife #21 Tina Zangara and WASD board member #22 Adam Welteroth; all of whom signed on February 24, 2019.

Another petition reflects, #1 Lori A. Baer, right below that is WAHS Head Principal #2 Brandon Pardoe; both of whom signed on February 19, 2019.

On the Democratic petitions, #1 Richard Poole Director of Student Services, right below is the signature of WASD board member #2 Nancy Story Somers followed by #3 WASD Solicitor Fred Holland all signed on February 19, 2019.

Former WASD Education Foundation Executive Director Greg Hayes trying to do his best Lori A. Baer impersonation signed a pair of Jennifer Lake petitions as well on February 19, 2019.

#5 Greg Hayes, right below #4 WAMS Principal Justin Ross, Somers circulated the Petition for Lake and garnered 29 signatures.

#1 Greg Hayes, right below, #2 Barbara Reeves both signed on February 19, 2019, Reeves circulated the Petition for Lake garnered 30 signatures. It was notarized and submitted to the Lycoming County Board of Elections on March 6, 2019.

#8 Jennifer Lake, signed her own petition which had 8 only total signatures on March 5, 2019. The same day it was notarized and submitted to the Lycoming County Board of Elections on March 5, 2019.

Lake garnered 61 signatures including herself, while Somers collected 29 signatures for Lake and Reeves collected 31 including herself and her husband.

Patrick Dixon garnered 118 Republican signatures for Lake.

 

JENNIFER LAKE EMPLOYMENT WITH BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES

Why has Jennifer Lake recently become so quiet publicly and on social media while her husband takes up for her from his bully pulpit?

Is it because the further into Dwell Orphan Care one digs; the more unanswered questions one finds?

Jennifer Lake worked for an organization called Bethany Christian Services based in Michigan.

For years Bethany specialized in international and domestic adoption as well as post adoption care of client children and adoptive parents.

Let me make the clear distinction now, Lake worked for and did not volunteer for Bethany Christian Services.

How is this is verified?

Multiple ways, Lake disclosed this fact on her election Statement of Financial Interests form from March 10, 2019 for the year 2018.

On the same form she claims income from First United Methodist Church of Williamsport where her husband is the lead pastor. The address for the church provided by Lake, according to the Lycoming County Tax Office does not exist on a map.

Talk Williamsport further verified her employment history with the human resources director of Bethany Christian Services who stated, “Jennifer Lake was employed from November 3, 2016 until May 3, 2019.”

Lake began with Bethany Christian Services as a Resource Family Development Specialist and prior to quitting she was a Post Permanency Case Worker.

According to the human resources director of Bethany Christian Services; the reason for separation: “voluntarily left for a job change.”

When asked about any complaints lodged against Lake, “you need a release from Jennifer Lake for that information.”

So Jennifer, how about that release in the spirit of transparency as a publicly elected official?

You forgot to mark another box on your Statement of Financial Interests form last year C Public Official (current) – it was blank.

So glad to know you remembered the fact you held Public Office at the time, you must have been too tired.

On line 13 Office, Directorship, or Employment In Any Business you listed Dwell Orphan Care with an address of 1157 Market Street, Williamsport and the box asking for Position Held (i.e. officer, director, employee, etc.) – it was blank too.

Your bio page says you are the Founder and Executive Director of Dwell Orphan Care, why not list that?

You must have been too tired to remember that fact too.

My guess is you will look at the floor again while deciding not to agree and claim you are again the victim of a public forum attack of your credibility.

You know like JOHN DOE #1 in the Myrtle Beach case you still refuse call a victim.

Another irregularity in the Statement of Financial Interests affidavit filed by Jennifer Lake shows and address for Bethany Christian Services in Lancaster, Pennsylvania which is interesting since the information developed by FSW for this story clearly states she was working out of the State College office.

Just some of that proof, is her attendance as an exhibitor at the PASAP-PAMLE 2019 Conference held from February 24 – 26, 2019 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College.

In the list of exhibitors it clearly states:

Bethany Christian Services 2147 East College Avenue. Suite A State College, PA 16801

Telephone: 814-867-2848  (portions redacted)

Booth Representatives: Jennifer Lake and Rebecca Baughman – Booth #8

Bethany is a not-for profit adoption and family services agency with more than 65 years of delivery compassionate, professional services to a hurting world. Our worldwide team of more than 1,100 experienced staff ministers to children and families in more than 80 locations across the US and on five continents.

Our Central PA location, with office in Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, State College and Martinsburg, WV offers Foster Care and Foster Care to Adopt, Domestic and International Adoption, Post Permanency Services, Safe Families and Save Families PLUS for Children, Counseling, ADOPTS and equine therapy, Refugee Services, and Pregnancy Counseling and Parent Training Services.

Bethany Christian Services manifests the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting and enhancing the lives of children and families through quality of services.

 

Bethany Christian Services has been challenged in court all over the country for a miriad of issues related to their claim of “manifests the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting and enhancing the lives of children and families through quality of services.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer has been following the Bethany Case “The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a Philadelphia dispute over same-sex foster parents.”

From the article, “The path to the Supreme Court started in March 2018, when a same-sex couple interested in becoming foster parents said they were turned down by Bethany Christian Services because they were lesbian. An Inquirer story about the incident found that CSS had a similar policy of not working with LGBTQ people. Bethany agreed to change its policy to align with the city’s anti-discrimination rules. CSS did not, and the city ended its foster-care contract.”

BCS subsequently amended their policy on same-sex couples becoming foster parents and regained a contract with the City of Philadelphia.

So does Bethany Christian Services, the firm that employed Jennifer Lake have the best interest of the child in mind at all times or is something else at play?

An article titled “Shotgun Adoption” was published by thenation.com chronicling ironically enough a story involving a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina case.

“Such enthusiasm for Christians to adopt en masse begins to seem like a demand in need of greater supply, and this is how critics of current practices describe it: as an industry that coercively separates willing biological parents from their offspring, artificially producing “orphans” for Christian parents to adopt, rather than helping birth parents care for wanted children.”

This same scenario played itself out in when a biological father in State College sued Bethany Christian Services claiming his rights as a father had been violated and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania agreed.

According to a Centre Daily Times article from August 7, 2017, “State College adoption agency sued for more than $1 million.”

From the story, “The suit alleges that “Bethany knowingly, voluntarily and tortiously interfered” with the man’s parental rights by refusing his requests for custody of the child and to visit the child on all but one occasion. The suit also claimed that Bethany Christian Services provided the man with false information about the pre-adoptive parents, would not provide information about the child’s whereabouts and refused to facilitate a paternity test.

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled in August 2016 that “the father has been deprived of (the) child without any evidence in the record that he is an unfit parent, and without the benefit of due process protections.”

The court also opined that the adoption agency’s actions were “troubling.”

In the court’s conclusion, it expressed sympathy to the pre-adoptive parents’ efforts to raise the child, but that “our sympathies must give way to (the) father’s fundamental constitutional rights” and that he is presumed to be a fit parent.

The case was transferred to York County, where Judge Todd R. Platts ordered in June (2017) that the child’s biological parents share custody on a week-on, week-off basis.

The lawsuit alleged that Bethany Christian Services’ motive was to protect business profit, which caused economic damages and emotional pain to the father in his quest for custody and also harmed his relationship with the child. The suit has requested more than $1 million in punitive damages, more than $50,000 in compensatory damages and more than $20,000 in legal fees.

Jennifer Lake began her employment with Bethany Christian Services on November 3, 2016.

FSW, has also confirmed multiple civil court cases against Bethany Christian Services in the Philadelphia region.

Jennifer Lake, you remember the one who was “too tired” for nearly 8 years to address systemic racism and nearly 5 years as a member of the WASD school board sat down for an interview with macaronikid.com on February 26, 2018 for an article titled “Some common misconceptions about adopting from foster care include:“

1. “It’s too expensive.” The reality is that the costs are very minimal. Adopting a child from foster care is often funded by the state, and in many cases, there are little to no fees (varies by state). Medical assistance and financial subsidies are often available as well.

2. “They need unconditional love. They need consistency. They need someone to show up for them. They need a family.”

Lake unequivocally states, “They need unconditional love. They need consistency. They need someone to show up for them. They need a family.”

So in the case of JOHN DOE #1 in the Myrtle Beach case when you were asked for to second a motion for an independent investigation; you showed no love, no consistency, and never showed up, instead history shows you sat silently while looking at the floor.

In other words, you failed JOHN DOE #1 and his family.

 

Jennifer Lake your website is quite amazing, in your biographical information it states; “She is the Founder and Executive Director of dwell Orphan Care; a non-profit seeking to support foster and adoptive families so that children have a safe, loving, forever home in which to dwell. She has been alongside her husband in ministry for over 20 years and understands the unique challenges that come along with being “The Pastors Wife”!”

It goes onto ask:

ARE YOU CALLED TO LEADERSHIP?  THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING “YES”.
IT ISN’T A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A LEADER BUT INSTEAD,
“HOW WILL YOU LEAD?”

• Maybe you have a ton of responsibility and no support system to push you towards excellence.

This entire community is still waiting for you to practice what you are handsomely rewarded to show up and preach as your side hustle.

“If you resonate with this quote from Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” then working with me is going to change your life for the better. You need clarity. You need direction.  You need a Coach.”

Really?

JOHN DOE #1 was looking for a coach in Myrtle Beach, however after Ryan Miller picked up two prior convictions for DUI you approved him to be an assistant baseball coach before allowing him to become the head baseball coach.

Jennifer, you and your fellow WASD board members allowed Miller to take nearly 40 student athletes multiple states away with no hotel room assignment list with only paid and volunteer coaches as “chaperones”.

Of course, Miller let you and the WASD off the hook from firing him by resigning in disgrace after showing up to a game drunk; when he was suppose to be coaching.

Some would call his and your actions endangering the welfare of children and when you found out what happened on that trip; your response could be called depraved indifference.

I have a snapshot of Jennifer Lake after she just read this part; she again is looking at the floor, just so tired of facts getting in the way of the truth she has tried to spin of all these years.

 

KIND WORDS GET REWARDED

In the interesting world of Jennifer Lake, if you say nice things about her and for her, you get rewarded.

According to her own coaching website John Machak, President of The Wealth Factory offered the following after working with Jennifer Lake:

“I would highly recommend working with Jennifer Lake as a mentor and personal coach. She has been a tremendous help to my business and personal life. She listens and pays attention to you as an individual and caters her coaching to fit your specific needs. Her personalized Yoda-like coaching skills were invaluable to my success and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone trying to improve personally or professionally.”

John Machak is currently a Dwell Orphan Care board member.

FSW, confirmed Dwell Orphan Care received $3,590.66 on March 20, 2020 as part of the Raise the Region campaign from the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.

FSW also inquired about the formation documentation and IRS Form 990 for Dwell being provided to the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, FCFP declined comment on those matters citing existing policies and protocols.

Jennifer, in the spirit of transparency how about providing the IRS Form 990’s for Dwell since its inception?

Why not?

 

As a footnote, your inability to stand up for a defenseless child and offer a second to a motion may have also cost your husband his ministry too; since you are using the church and your home which the church owns as offices for your non-profit.

Hope it was worth it to stay in the cool kids club.

No worries, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his team will do a real thorough job of investigating who knew what when and who did favors for who and in the end; history will show exactly how wrong you were to sit quietly as the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child victim came and went.

Your response wasn’t even a whisper, it was depraved indifferent silence.

Maybe the cause was the The Dragon of Self-Doubt you spoke of in your blog on April 7, 2015.

You are unfit to serve as a WASD school board member.

As you relinquish your seat on the WASD school board, take the rest of those that also sat silent with you that evening including; Lori A. Baer, President, Dr. Jane Penman, Vice President, Patrick Dixon, Star Poole, Barbara Reeves, Marc Schefsky and Nancy Story Somers.

On your way out, ask WASD Solicitor Fred Holland to join you since he apparently has no understanding of the difference between “indecent and inappropriate behavior” and “criminal sexual misconduct.”

Can everyone also thank you for the “Racism Has No Home Here” signs in there yards when all the different protesting factions show up in a few weeks looking to destroy property?

Just to be clear, there was never going to be a Jennifer Lake statue erected for a future generation of protesters to tear down or have removed someday.

There may have been if you would have stood up for JOHN DOE #1 instead of sitting silently in your seat staring at the floor.

As I previously stated Jennifer, you effectively resigned from the WASD school board on February 4, 2020 just like you quit Bethany Christian Services on May 3, 2019.

Jennifer, will all do respect with these types of facts in the record you have a blind spot for that elephant in the room in regard to the Myrtle Beach case.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Wolf Administration highlighted recent research studies that further point to the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The recent uptick in cases in southwest Pennsylvania have been traced to people not wearing masks in public places such as bars and restaurants,” Gov. Wolf said. “Research tells us that masks, while not perfect, make a difference in the spread of COVID-19 and are a simple and effective way to help protect ourselves and others.”

According to a recent, comprehensive study published in The Lancet and funded by the World Health Organization, which identified 172 observational studies across 16 countries and six continents, face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection from COVID-19, in particular when combined with social distancing.

A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. The findings were published in the PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). According to the study’s findings, “not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus.”

And a recent modeling study by the Royal Society A notes that wearing masks in public could have a major impact toward reducing the spread of COVID-19. According to the modeling, “Under certain conditions, when lock-down periods are implemented in combination with 100% facemask use, there is vastly less disease spread, secondary and tertiary waves are flattened, and the epidemic is brought under control. The effect occurs even when it is assumed that facemasks are only 50% effective at capturing exhaled virus inoculum with an equal or lower efficiency on inhalation.”

“Study after study indicates the effectiveness of mask-wearing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep the curve of cases flattened,” Gov. Wolf said. “That’s why we are requiring masks when in public. It is the most simple, effective way to protect yourself and others during our ongoing efforts to mitigate COVID-19.”

Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on July 1. It remains in effect. Frequently Asked Questions about the mask-wearing order can be found here.

Briefing with Congressional offices comes in response to letter seeking investigation into Wolf administration’s COVID-19 nursing home guidance

WASHINGTON – Today, members of the Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation, including Congressman GT Thompson, Congressman Mike Kelly, Congressman Scott Perry, Congressman Lloyd Smucker, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler, Congressman Dan Meuser, Congressman John Joyce, and Congressman Fred Keller, made the following statement following a briefing conducted for their offices by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.

“On June 25, 2020, Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and eight members of the Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro requesting a formal review of the impact of Governor Wolf’s March 18, 2020 guidance for nursing homes to readmit COVID-19 positive residents that would be made public so that the over 4,500 Pennsylvania families that suffered as a result of this deadly policy could have answers.

“Today, July 6, 2020, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office briefed our offices by phone. The Attorney General’s office confirmed receipt of our letter, acknowledged that it is aware of the concerns expressed therein, and assured Pennsylvanians that the Attorney General’s office is conducting a ‘thorough, holistic, and wide-ranging investigation’ into Coronavirus and Pennsylvania’s nursing homes ‘using all the tools the office has available.’

“The Pennsylvania delegation and members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis remain committed to bringing transparency and accountability to Gov. Tom Wolf’s and Sec. Rachel Levine’s actions during the Coronavirus pandemic, especially as it relates to the unnecessary and tragic deaths of so many Pennsylvanians in nursing homes.”

BACKGROUND

• On March 13, 2020, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance “For Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes.”
• The March 13 guidance said that “nursing homes should admit any individual that they would normally admit to their facility, including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present” only if the nursing home can follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) quarantining guidance.
• CMS Administrator Seema Verma later said, “[u]nder no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that is not prepared to take care of those patient’s needs.”
• Despite these warnings, however, governors of multiple states — including Pennsylvania — issued guidance and executive orders forcing nursing homes to admit people with the virus, thereby encouraging the spread to those vulnerable populations.
• While nursing home residents make up 0.6% of the U.S. and Pennsylvania populations, they account for 43% of America’s coronavirus deaths and 68% of the Commonwealth’s coronavirus deaths.
• The letter to AG Shapiro came after Republicans on the Select Subcommittee for Coronavirus Crisis sent a request for information about the nursing home order to Governor Wolf. His administration’s initial response can be found here.
• So far, AG Shapiro is the first and only one of the five Attorneys General that House Republicans sent letters to last week to have given an update briefing like this.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf visited the child care center at PSECU headquarters in Harrisburg today to announce $53 million in additional financial support for child care providers that have suffered during COVID-19.

“This funding will help child care providers bridge the gap until their clientele returns,” Gov. Wolf said. “It will also help them with any increased costs that have been incurred due to the pandemic – things like cleaning and sanitization, which will help keep the 386,000 children who attend our licensed child care facilities safe, as well as the workers who do so much to care for them.”

The governor was joined at the announcement by Teresa Miller, secretary of the Department of Human Services; George Rudolph, president and CEO of PSECU; and Tonya Bastinelli, director of the Bright Horizons child care center at PSECU.

In June, the Wolf Administration distributed $51 million in CARES Act Child Care Development Funds to eligible child care providers. The $53 million announced today is also from CARES Act funding and will be distributed this month. Another $116 million from Act 24 will be distributed in the coming months, bringing the total sum of financial support to $220 million.

The funding is distributed through the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), which licenses child care providers in the state and is working with Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs on an impact study to understand challenges for child care providers reopening and resuming operations during COVID-19.

OCDEL has 7,017 licensed child care providers as of June 24 and 65 have permanently closed based on the February 2020 license list. Based on participation in the June CARES Act distribution, slightly more than 100 additional providers have declined funds indicating they intend to remain closed.

The Penn State study highlights the various operational and financial impacts child care providers have endured and will continue to endure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the preliminary findings of the study, distributing stimulus funds in July is critical to ensure adequate capacity is available in the future. Data collected through this study will be used to help determine allocation of the remaining $116 million.

“While we do not know how this pandemic will look in a week, a month, or a year, we know that a healthy, robust child care system will be critical to weather the economic recovery ahead,” DHS Sec. Teresa Miller said.  “This study will capture experiences and challenges child care providers have endured since COVID-19 arose in Pennsylvania and will allow us to direct additional funds how and where our child care providers need them most. This industry is vital to both a healthy economy and our children’s futures, and we will not abandon our child care providers who dedicate their lives to our youngest Pennsylvanians, often at low pay and now, a risk to their health. We will be with you through the challenges to come.”

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to keep our childcare center open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said George Rudolph, president and CEO of PSECU. “This is so important because many of the parents who use this service are essential workers. By keeping the doors open, we’ve been able to provide a valuable service to our local heroes that has allowed them to continue working. For PSECU, this childcare center represents one of the many ways that we’re able to support the strength and well-being of our members and the local community.”

“Stable, affordable, high-quality child care is an important piece of our workforce development,” Gov. Wolf said. “In fact, my Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center identified it as one of the biggest hurdles to getting more Pennsylvanians into the workforce. As we continue to recover economically from this pandemic, we will need child care available so parents can resume working, or so they can attend training programs or job interviews. And, of course, it is crucial to continue providing high-quality care during critical early years when children are rapidly learning.”

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

450 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 90,304

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 6, that there are 450 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 90,304. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 6,754 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of one new death reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

“As the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings this holiday weekend,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, the virus has not gone away and we are seeing cases rise, especially in Southwest Pennsylvania.”

The number of new cases in Allegheny County increased by 218 overnight.

Mask wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 634 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 743,020 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
• 1% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 3% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 8% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
• Nearly 24% are ages 50-64; and
• Nearly 27% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,933 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,351 cases among employees, for a total of 21,284 at 709 distinct facilities in 52 counties. Out of our total deaths, 4,593 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 6,824 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, July 5:

• Provided an update from Pennsylvania State Police on business closure enforcement actions.
• Reminded that mask-wearing is critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that 309 nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants totaling $2.3 million to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the CARES Act support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) distributed $1.8 million to 36 organizations that will each receive a $50,000 grant. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency under the office of the Governor, distributed the remaining $527,000 to 273 organizations that will each receive a $1,930 grant.

“Arts organizations are an important part of their communities and contribute to the economic health of our state,” said Gov. Wolf. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many organizations, including the arts. The National Endowment for the Arts recognized the role of the arts in Pennsylvania and the need to help artists and the organizations that support them to inspire creativity and vitality in our commonwealth.”

Arts and cultural economic activity, adjusted for inflation, accounted for 4.5 percent of gross domestic product or $877.8 billion, in 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In Pennsylvania, the sector contributed $25.8 billion to the state’s economy and employed 176,000 workers.

“The arts and culture sector has been severely impacted by the pandemic, so we are very pleased that more than 300 arts organizations in Pennsylvania are receiving support through the CARES Act,” said Karl Blischke, PCA Executive Director. “Pre-pandemic, Pennsylvania’s creative economy was critical to the vitality and livability of our communities and to development of our commonwealth’s talent pipeline. Support for these organizations today helps to ensure that they are positioned to play a key role in the recovery of Pennsylvania’s cities and towns going forward.”

A list of Pennsylvania arts organizations receiving a $50,000 award from the NEA is available here. A list of the 273 organizations receiving a $1,930 award via the PCA is available here.

Find more on Gov. Wolf’s Process to Open PA here.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today reminded Pennsylvanians that mask-wearing is required and critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“The order to make mask-wearing mandatory when leaving home was put in place to protect all Pennsylvanians from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “This simple practice, combined with social distancing, handwashing, and staying home if sick, is paramount to stopping this virus from infecting more people. I again urge Pennsylvanians to mask up for the protection of everyone.”

Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on Wednesday. It remains in effect. Frequently Asked Questions about the mask-wearing order can be found here.

 

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

479 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 89,854

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 5, that there are 479 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 89,854. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 6,753 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 4 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

“As the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings this holiday weekend,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, the virus has not gone away and we are seeing cases rise, especially in Southwest Pennsylvania.”

Mask wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 634 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 734,846 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
• 1% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 3% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 8% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
• 24% are ages 50-64; and
• Nearly 27% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,923 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,346 cases among employees, for a total of 21,296 at 709 distinct facilities in 52 counties. Out of our total deaths, 4,592 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 6,806 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, July 4:

• Reminded Pennsylvanians this Independence Day that mask-wearing gives us more freedom.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

 

Harrisburg, PA – On this Fourth of July, Governor Tom Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians that masks – required when leaving home – provide more freedom to do the things we love without an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

“This Independence Day I ask all Pennsylvanians and all those visiting our state to mask up to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and allow everyone to continue to enjoy the freedom we associate with our country and our commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said. “We have made great strides with our mitigation efforts but now is not the time to stop. The virus is still very much with us and we need to stay the course and continue to wear masks, social distance, and wash hands frequently.”

Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on Wednesday. It remains in effect. Frequently Asked Questions about the mask-wearing order can be found here.