Text4Baby

Pregnant women and new mothers have a new way to get health information – a nationwide free text message service. This service, called “Text4Baby,” grew from a coalition of mobile service providers, health professionals, and government agencies. Mothers will receive text messages timed to where they are in their pregnancy or the baby’s age up to the baby’s first year.

Topics covered in the text messages include seasonal flu prevention, nutrition, prenatal care, oral health, smoking prevention, immunization schedules, and safe sleep. Mothers will get no more than three text messages per week. Messages can also connect mothers to clinics and support services for prenatal care.

You can sign up for messages by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish messages) to 511411. To learn more, please visit text4baby.org.

image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonjon_2k8/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

New Insurance Coverage and Information About Insurance Options

Starting today, new insurance coverage and information is now available to most people throughout the country.

• Insurance Coverage: Many states have made Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans available starting today for people who are uninsured due to a pre-existing condition.  These plans will continue until 2014, when new health insurance rules go into effect.  In Pennsylvania, these plans will be state-run and will go into effect on July 12, 2010.  Premiums under the Pennsylvania plan will cost $283.20 per month.  

• New Information: Starting today, a new website, www.healthcare.gov, is available to answer questions about insurance coverage options by state as well as information on prevention, care quality, and understanding health care reform.

Get the College Prep Services You Need at CACDC

The College Access Center of Delaware County (CACDC), located on the Widener University Campus, provides a wide variety of services for preparing for college, including:

• SAT/ACT Prep and Exams
• Extensive College Prep Resources
• Wired for Learning - Academic Atmosphere
• Year Round College Prep Advising

It is never too early to early to start preparing for college, and CACDC provides college preparation for even the middle school level. CACDC focuses on ensuring optimal success in the college application process.

You can find out more about CACDC, sign up for their mailing list, and check out their calendar of events by following this link: http://www.collegeaccessdelco.org/

Free Training to Earn EMT Certification

If you are at your best in an emergency, this training might be for you.

PathWays PA, a Holmes-based nonprofit organization, has partnered with Delaware County Community College to offer free training for Emergency Medical Technician certification.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) respond to situations that can vary from heart attacks to automobile accidents. “EMT training is a great way to combine a desire to help others with the ability to earn a good, family-supporting income,” said Lyn Kugel, Director of Self-Sufficiency Projects for PathWays PA. On average, EMTs in Delaware County earn $30,000 per year.

PathWays PA’s training prepares technicians for any situation they might face. The program combines a six-week class study support class focusing on math and English skills with the certification trainings. Participants first complete CPR certification, and then complete First-Responder training (50 hours of training over four weeks) and 77 hours of EMT training through the community college.

EMT classes at PathWays PA are open to individuals who are currently unemployed, who have limited employment, or who meet income eligibility requirements. People who are interested in serving others, who can think and take action quickly, and who are willing to work with everyone are encouraged to apply.

In addition to quick reaction times and a willingness to work with others, EMT participants should also be able to lift 125 pounds 33 inches off the ground and carry it for 10 feet.

For more information, email Jennifer Oglesbee .

Philadelphia Summer Meals Directory Available

Each summer tens of thousands of Philadelphia children go without the school breakfasts and lunches they rely on. To ensure that children do not go hungry, free meals or snacks will be available to low-income children at more than a thousand recreation centers, churches, schools, parks, and community centers through out Philadelphia.

The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has published a directory of programs offering free meals for children in Philadelphia this summer. To find a summer meals program you can:

• Download the 2010 Philadelphia Summer Meals Directory
• Find your nearest site on the Philadelphia Summer Meals Map
• Or call 311, the City's Information Hotline, for further assistance

The Online Training and Benefits Eligibility Tool (OTBET)

The Online Training and Benefits Eligibility Tool (OTBET), an online tool available to all Pennsylvanians, can tell you if you qualify for certain public benefits and link you to important state programs.

The Self Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania (2010-2011) demonstrates that a single adult with one school-aged child needs to earn between $12.98 and $24.55 per hour to be economically self sufficient. For an adult with a child facing unemployment, this reality can be daunting. Work supports and public benefits can reduce this amount, and during periods of unemployment they can play a crucial role in helping a family maintain financial stability.

Using the Online Training and Benefits Eligibility Tool (OTBET), families now have the opportunity to determine what income they need to support themselves and what public benefits are available for their use. The OTBET is an easy to use tool that determines eligibility for multiple programs including food stamps (SNAP), child care assistance, and CHIP. Families can print out their eligibility information and use it when applying for services or tracking their income needs. Additionally, the OTBET provides links to the COMPASS system (where families can apply for benefits), CareerLink, and other important services.

Who can use the OTBET?

You can use the OTBET for yourself or as an advocate, service provider, client, employer, policy-maker, or researcher. Just follow the steps below:

1. To begin, use the drop-down menus and boxes to show whether you are using the OTBET for yourself, a family member, a client, or as a researcher, the county you live in, and the name of the family. **PathWays PA does not save any data except the county and user-type chosen.**
2. Continue by adding information about your family size, ages of family members, and employment data.
3. Add additional income and expenses.
4. Answer a few more questions about any services you may currently use.
5. Click “Calculate Final Report” to get your results! If you would like to test eligibility for services, click on the button next to that service to learn more.
6. You can now print your information, go back and recalculate information, or move on to see other links.

Job Searching Resource Guide

Searching for a job can be very overwhelming, not to mention time consuming. What with writing resumes and cover letters while sifting through job descriptions and seeking out the perfect opportunity, it is no wonder people lose motivation. With all of the work that is involved, it can be easy to lose track of the ultimate goal: obtaining a job which you find satisfying and which can support you and your family.

If you find yourself getting caught up in the woes of job searching, or know someone else who has, check out this helpful Job Searching Resource Guide. The guide breaks down the entire process into eight steps, which can help you to:

• Identify your interests and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses
• Prepare your resume
• Develop a plan for job searching
• Research the job market and determine what is available
• Apply for positions and compose cover letters
• Prepare and practice for the interview
• Attend workshops and training sessions
• Consider options such as internships and furthering your education/skills
  

Don't let the mere thought of job searching and resume writing get you down! Use this helpful guide to keep yourself organized and on track to achieving happy and gainful employment!