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A New Legislative Session, with New United Way of Pennsylvania Policy Priorities 
 
The new year brings a new 2019-2020 legislative session in Pennsylvania with many new and returning House and Senate members.   As with every new legislative session, UWP evaluates our top policy priorities and narrows our focus for the issues we will be advocating for or against during the current session. 

UWP advocates for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.  It is through United Way's expertise and relationships that we are able to develop meaningful and lasting cross-sector solutions to community challenges. Below is a highlight of the various policy priorities UWP will be advocating for this session:   

PA 2-1-1: Connecting Pennsylvanians to the Right Service at the Right Time. UWP Supports:   
  • Investment of state funds to continue a public-private partnership to strengthen 2-1-1; 
  • Providing data for health and human service planning at the state and local level; 
  • Exploring ways to increase the efficiency of state and local governments by contracting to provide information phone hotlines; and  
  • Working with state agencies to define shared goals to save taxpayer dollars by connecting Pennsylvanians in need to the right services. 
Education: High-Quality Childhood Education and Out of School Time Activities to Prepare PA's Kids for the Jobs of Tomorrow. UWP Supports: 
  • Assuring all children have access to consistent, high quality and affordable early learning with increased funding for Pre-K and Head Start programs; 
  • Assuring all children have access to reliable, high quality and affordable child care; 
  • Creating a forum for out of school time program funders, providers, schools and policy makers to identify stable sources of funding, consider quality program standards, and foster partnership to support out of school time activities; and 
  • Incentives for aligning out of school activities with PA's projected work force needs in order to prepare PA's kids for high-demand, family sustaining jobs
Income Stability and Family Self-Sufficiency: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty. UWP Supports: 
  • State and federal Earned Income Tax Credits to support working families; 
  • Improving PA's affordable housing options in rural and urban areas for median and low-income individuals and families; 
  • Workforce development initiatives that help more of PA's populations achieve jobs that provide family-sustaining wages; and 
  • Expanding access to vital and affordable health care programs including Medicaid and CHIP.

You can read our full list of public policy priorities here


 

UWP is looking forward to kicking off this new legislative session with some great partnerships and advocacy opportunities around important issues to Pennsylvanians and their families.  We also have a statewide data project we are working on, which will launch in June 2019, so please stay tuned for more news on that as we get closer to launch! 



PA United Ways in the News 

Steelers continue to give back 

Blue Ridge Communications partners with United Way of Monroe County to 'bundle up' kids this winter

United Way of Berks County awards $580,200 in grants

Wegmans employee wins car lease in United Way of Wyoming Valley donor drawing

Organized labor, United Way of Erie County and Mental Health Association help feed homeless

Kate Houstoun takes on senior role with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

United Way of Wyoming Valley gives $75K grant to Child Development Council of NEPA

United Way of Lancaster County wants to halve poverty, boost employment by 2025. How's it going?

United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania CEO Bob Nelkin to retire in mid-2019

United Way of Mercer County gives more than 900 books to local first-graders

United Way of Chester County gets new president and CEO

United Way and Chris Long initiate Crowdfunding to support literacy campaign
 
UPCOMING UNITED WAY 
EVENTS
UWP 2019 Board Meetings 
March 21, Harrisburg
June 7, State College 
September 19, Harrisburg 
December 19, Harrisburg  
 
UWP Annual Statewide Conference: Hitting the Target
June 5-7, State College  

Check Out What Your Local United Way has Going On
LIVING UNITED IN PENNSYLVANIA
United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) is a state association representing our 48 member United Ways and United Funds across the Commonwealth. 

UWP's mission is to assist and champion the efforts of local United Ways in advancing the common good

Primarily UWP's work consists of government relations work on the policy issues affecting PA's communities in the areas of health, education, and financial stability.  In addition, UWP works with our local United Way members to support their efforts and offer support to their mission.  

Visit United Way of Pennsylvania's website
to learn more about how local United Ways are working to advance the common good

For any inquiries please contact us


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