News

Act Updates How We Assess Poverty

The American Poverty Act (H.R. 2909), which would establish a modernized poverty measure that reflects a more accurate picture of what it takes to meet basic needs in America today, including food, clothing, and shelter. Introduced by Rep. McDermott, the bill would count both income assistance (such as Earned Income Tax Credit, nutrition assistance, and housing assistance) and necessary expenses (such as federal taxes, work expenses, and out-of-pocket medical costs) not considered in the current poverty measure. Click here.

Legislation Boosts Care for Seniors in the Community

New legislation called Project 2020: Building on the Promise of Home and Community-Based Services (S. 1257/H.R. 2852) was introduced in Congress last week. Sponsored by Sens. Cantwell, Stabenow, Braley, and Sarbanes, the legislation would make a significant investment in services provided through the aging network. These include: Person-Centered Access to Information-Providing older adults and caregivers counseling and assistance regarding long-term care services and supports. Evidence-Based Health Promotion and Disease Prevention-Offering scientifically proven wellness programs for seniors through area agencies on aging. Enhanced Nursing Home Diversion Services-Developing specific care plans targeted at allowing lower-income individuals to stay in the community and off of Medicaid. (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)  Click here

New Health Bill Discourages Hiring of Low-Income Workers

A proposal that the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee are considering for the forthcoming health legislation would have serious unintended consequences for low-income and minority workers and workers with disabilities. It would make it considerably more expensive for employers who do not offer health insurance to hire workers from lower-income families than workers from higher-income backgrounds. Employers would have strong incentives to tilt hiring toward people who have a spouse with a good income. (CBPP). Read more

Bill Would Expand Home Visiting Programs

More Home Visiting legislation was introduced last week, on June 16, Senators Robert Menendez and Robert Casey introduced S 1267, the Evidence-Based Home Visitation Act of 2009. This bill would amend Title V of the Social Security Act to provide grants to establish or expand quality programs providing home visitation to low-income families. Click here.

Legislation Strengthens Medicare Low-Income Assistance

Three lawmakers have introduced bills to improve Medicare assistance for low-income beneficiaries. They include: The Medicare Financial Stability for Beneficiaries Act (S. 1185) introduced by Sen. Bingaman. The Prescription Coverage Now Act (H.R. 2700) introduced by Rep. Doggett. The Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act (H.R. 2716) introduced by Rep. Becerra. Click on the bill to read more about them, also check out the NCOA website for more info.

$6 Billion of CHIP Funds Released
On June 19, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of $6 billion to states for their Children's Health Insurance Programs. The reauthorization maintains coverage for over 7 million children and contains funding to expand CHIP or Medicaid coverage to four million more children. The reauthorization guarantees dental benefits and mental health parity, offers states the option to implement express lane eligibility, has grants for outreach and enrollment, and establishes a child health quality initiative. An estimate of how much each state will receive is available http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/

School-Family Partnerships Play Important Role in Immigrant and Refugee Children's Success

Supporting the academic success of immigrant and refugee students often focuses on improving their knowledge of English. Recognizing the mental health needs of immigrant and refugee students, and engaging the entire family in addressing them, can build a crucial home-school partnership that may open doors to student success. Click here to read more of this report from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

Noncustodial Parents Benefit from EITC

The noncustodial parent earned income tax credit (NCP EITC) offers an earned income tax credit to low-income noncustodial parents who work and pay their full child support. This new type of credit was recently enacted in New York and Washington, D.C. This report provides national estimates of the benefits and costs of an NCP EITC under three alternative policy scenarios. (Tax Policy Center). Click here.

Out of School Supports Critical to Student Success

This report from Harvard Family Research Project makes a case for federal provision of out-of-school complementary learning supports from birth through high school, particularly for poor children, so that all students gain the skills necessary for success in the 21st century. Research demonstrates it is necessary to redefine learning—both where and when it takes place—and to follow up with innovations that enable communities to move to a complementary learning. Click here.

Housing Key to Successful Reentry for Ex-Offenders

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently released a report on prisoner reentry efforts in 79 cities. It found that 36% of the surveyed cities have made changes in ordinances or policies that had previously hindered reentry for ex-offenders. Among these cities, 58% changed ordinances related to housing. The report identified homelessness prevention as a key goal of state’s efforts in the area of reentry. Click here.

Low-Income Workers Benefit from Paid Sick Leave

A new study from the National Partnership for Women & Families finds that adopting paid sick days would have a positive effect on low-income workers. The report finds that 79% of low-income workers do not have any paid sick days and are deterred from taking leave out of fear of losing their jobs or going without pay. The Healthy Families Act of 2009 would allow workers at firms with at least fifteen employees to earn up to 7 paid sick days a year. Click here.

Recommended Reading List

Listed below are books of relevance to the nonprofit human service sector that come highly recommended by colleagues.  Those that you are interested in can be purchased through Amazon.com.

Hold your computer mouse over the book cover to learn more about that title.

Click on the image to be directed to Amazon.com where you can read more about the book, including price and reviews, as well as purchase the title.