Wolf Administration News Wolf Administration Urges Pennsylvanians to Review Transit Options and Apply for Transportation Assistance Programs, Highlights Importance of Access to Health Care and Jobs Officials from the Pennsylvania departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Human Services (DHS) today urged Pennsylvanians to use Find My Ride (FMR) to learn about public transit options and apply for transportation assistance programs. The participants underscored transit’s critical role in getting people to work and medical appointments while connecting them to their communities. Public transportation services are available in every county in Pennsylvania, including: Shared ride service in all 67 counties;Fixed route bus service in 49 counties; andFixed route rail service in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. “Transit provides a vital connection to jobs, to medical appointments, and to our communities,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Jennie Louwerse. “We urge Pennsylvanians to try transit, and we’re excited that it’s now easier to access these services.” Citizens are encouraged to use FMR Apply, an online tool which was developed collaboratively with transit agencies and streamlines the application process for the five largest transportation assistance programs in the state, including the Senior Shared Ride program, the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP), ADA complementary paratransit, the Persons with Disabilities program and the Free Transit Program. Additionally, FMR Apply allows third-parties, such as a family member or healthcare provider, to apply for services on behalf of a rider. Collectively, 24.4 million trips supported by these programs were provided to Pennsylvanians in the 2020-21 fiscal year. An additional 141 million trips – including 17.7 million free senior trips – were provided through fixed route service in the 2020-21 fiscal year. Since the rollout of FMR Apply in May 2021 via transit agencies, assistance-program applications have been processed for nearly 8,000 Pennsylvanians and benefits to transit agencies, PennDOT, DHS, and customers have been considerable. Customers do not need to determine what programs they are eligible for, and this, coupled with the user-friendly application has resulted in an increase in applications submitted. Automatic data validation within the application has resulted in improved data accuracy, saving transit agencies time and money in processing applications. Transit agencies can process applications more efficiently, which allows transit users to access benefits more quickly. “The Wolf Administration is always working to make the services we provide easier to access for the people we serve, and the Find My Ride tool is an excellent example of collaboration between state agencies in making this happen,” said Andrew Barnes, Deputy Executive Secretary for DHS. “Nobody should let a lack of transportation keep you from getting to a doctor’s appointment or filling your prescription. I encourage anyone who needs transportation to their physician, pharmacy, dentist, or other necessary medical services to apply today.” DHS’ MATP program provides non-emergency medical transportation for Medicaid-eligible consumers who do not have access to transportation. MATP funds more than 9 million trips annually, and each county provides the type of transportation that is the least expensive while still meeting an individual’s needs. Contact information specific to each county MATP provider can be found at matp.pa.gov. Accessibility was a key focus when developing FMR Apply, with emphasis on validating color contrast, use of captions, use of assistive reader devices, sentence length, and reading level to evaluate the forms accessibility. User feedback has been extremely positive and has been demonstrated by the continuous increase in online applications. FMR Apply leverages Keystone Login, a single, secure user credential that can be used to log into multiple Commonwealth online services. The team that developed FMR Apply was recently recognized with a Governor’s Award for Excellence. Find My Ride’s education and application modules were developed over two years, made possible by $1 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $1 million in state transit funding. More information on public transit and alternative transportation options like ridesharing, biking, and walking, is available on PennDOT’s website. Wolf Administration Highlights Substance Use Disorder Prevention, Education Tool for Construction Industry Today, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) joined the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) to discuss substance use disorder (SUD) in the construction industry, highlight the importance of education and prevention for employees in this field, and to remind them of available safety resources. “While not often discussed, studies have shown that, when compared to other occupations, employees in the construction field have high rates of overdose deaths,” said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith. “The risk of on-the-job injury remedied with an opioid prescription increases the chances for those in this field to develop opioid use disorder. We must ensure that employers and employees know about every resource available to them to support individuals suffering from substance use disorder.” A recent study showed that construction workers prescribed opioids for pain had a higher risk for long‐term opioid use and for developing opioid use disorder (OUD); annually, 15% of workers who were prescribed opioids became long‐term users; and, long-term users were nearly 10 times as likely to develop OUD. “The importance of employee safety and well-being cannot be overstated,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We need to ensure that we are prioritizing both our employees’ physical and mental health and creating a safe work environment in an effort to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.” The Wolf Administration’s Just Five initiative is a self-paced program designed to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and provide education about SUD prevention and treatment. It is displayed as six short learning modules that each take “just five” minutes to complete. The interactive lessons include: The Science of AddictionAre You at Risk?The Dangers of OpioidsSigns, Symptoms and TreatmentHow You Can HelpThe Gift of Recovery DDAP rolled out a version of Just Five to Pennsylvania commonwealth employees in May 2021 and an additional version of Just Five is now available to all of Pennsylvania’s workforce. Since roll out, the state-wide Just Five tool has had more than 11,000 new users and users have remained engaged with the lessons for an average of 13 minutes per session. Use of the Just Five website is completely confidential and voluntary, and no personal information regarding utilization of the program is shared. It can be accessed virtually from anywhere at any time with no registration required. The program is also available in English and Spanish and accessible for individuals with visual and/or hearing impairments. “Our members are committed to having safe workplaces and healthy and productive employees,” said Robert Latham, executive vice president of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors. “We utilize a wide variety of programs and activities aimed at employee wellness, including substance use prevention. We welcome Just Five as a new tool in the health and safety toolbox.” APC is a membership organization of more than 400 contractors, consulting engineers, material suppliers, manufacturers, and others with an interest in Pennsylvania’s road and bridge construction industry. DDAP operates the Get Help Now hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The hotline is a trusted resource for individuals and/or their loved ones if substance use disorder treatment or resources are needed. The hotline is confidential, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staffed by trained professionals who will connect callers to resources in their community. Callers can also be connected with funding if they need help paying for treatment. To learn more about the Wolf Administration’s efforts in combating the addiction crisis, visit ddap.pa.gov.
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary to Host Sanctuary Spirits & Brew Please join us at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary for our Sanctuary Spirits & Brew event on Monday, July 18th from 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet our rescued animals and mingle with other local business professionals. You’ll have the chance to take a guided tour of the sanctuary, followed by an hour of networking. Free cheese, wine, and coffee will be provided. If you’re looking for a chance to network and hear about opportunities for your business to contribute to the community through our programs, we’d love to see you on July 18th! Register here.
Johnson College to Host an Open House Johnson College will hold an on-campus Open House on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register to attend the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu. Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces $100 Deposits, Waived Fees for PA 529 GSP Account Owners Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that qualifying PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) account owners will receive a $100 account deposit. In addition, all PA 529 GSP account owners’ asset-based fees will be waived for the fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2022. The deposit and fee waivers are being funded by PA 529 GSP surplus earnings. “The PA 529 GSP is a great way to offset the effects of inflation,” Garrity said. “Any family looking to make postsecondary education more affordable should consider the benefits of the PA 529 GSP. Giving participants this deposit and a year of waived asset-based fees is a way to share the success of the plan with families who are dedicated to saving for their child’s education.” To be eligible for the $100 deposit, a PA 529 GSP account must have a minimum of $100 in contributions as of June 30, 2022. Account earnings do not count toward the qualifying $100. “Investing in the PA 529 GSP gives parents peace of mind,” Garrity said. “They know that as tuition rates climb, they’ve already locked in their child’s future education at today’s price.” There are nearly 110,000 PA 529 GSP accounts with $2.2 billion already saved for future postsecondary education expenses. Account earnings are based on college tuition inflation rates, and families can select the tuition credit rate they wish to save at, whether that’s a community college or an Ivy League university. Saving at today’s credit rate will cover the same credit in the future. PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts are designed to help Pennsylvania families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses. Treasury offers two plans: the PA 529 GSP, which allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs, and the Morningstar Silver Rated PA 529 Investment Plan, which offers a variety of investment options. PA 529 plans have significant state and federal tax advantages and can be used for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, apprenticeship and K-12 educational expenses. To learn more, visit pa529.com or call 800-440-4000.
Moses Taylor Foundation Announces New Board Officers Moses Taylor Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has announced its newly-elected officers for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The officers were elected at the Foundation’s annual meeting in June and will assume their roles beginning July 1, 2022. William R. Lazor, CPA/PFS, CFE, has been elected Chair of the Board. Lazor joined the Foundation as a board member in January 2016 and served as Vice Chair from July 2019-June 2022. Along with his service to Moses Taylor Foundation, Lazor has contributed in a variety of roles within local government and nonprofit sectors to ensure appropriate oversight and stewardship of resources. As a director with the certified public accounting firm of Kronick Kalada Berdy & Co. PC, he concentrates in the area of taxation, with expertise in local and multi-state taxation. Lazor earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from Wilkes University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Pennsylvania and New York. Lazor assumes the role of Chair following the tenure of Judge Robert A. Mazzoni, who served in the role from July 2019-June 2022. Mazzoni will remain on the Foundation’s board as a general director. Maria Marsili, Esq., has been elected as Vice Chair of the Board and will also Chair the Governance Committee. Marsili is one of the Foundation’s original board members, beginning her service in 2012. She is currently a Vice President and Special Assets Officer at First National Bank of Pennsylvania while maintaining a limited private law practice. Marsili is a past member of the Kiwanis Club of Scranton and has served on the boards of directors of NeighborWorks NEPA, Moses Taylor Health Care System, and Mid-Valley Hospital. Kimberly Santarsiero has been re-appointed to the role of Treasurer. Santarsiero joined the Foundation’s board in January 2016 and has contributed her time and expertise to many local nonprofit organizations, including St. Joseph’s Center and Dress for Success Lackawanna. Santarsiero is an Investment Executive for the Santarsiero Investment Group at LPL Financial in Dunmore and has provided financial planning and investment management services for individuals, businesses, pension funds, foundations, and endowments for the past 20 years. Mary F. Sewatsky, M.D., has been re-appointed as the Foundation’s Secretary. Dr. Sewatsky has served on the Foundation’s board since its inception in 2012 and, prior to the appointment of the Foundation’s current President and CEO in 2022, led the organization as Interim President and CEO for eight months. Sewatsky earned her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and has served the Northeastern Pennsylvania community as an internal medicine physician and community-minded servant leader for decades. She is an affiliate faculty member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and volunteers her time and talents with multiple organizations. “The Moses Taylor Foundation has been through tremendous change during the past two years, including a leadership transition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his role as Board Chair, Judge Mazzoni directed the organization during this period, and I am grateful for his leadership and his plans to continue serving as a board member. I appreciate Mr. Lazor’s acceptance of the Board Chair role and Ms. Marsili’s willingness to step into an officer role as Vice Chair. Mr. Lazor and Ms. Marsili are sincerely dedicated to the mission and vision of the organization and will capably guide the Foundation, complemented by the continued service of Dr. Sewatsky and Ms. Santarsiero,” stated Danielle Breslin, President and CEO, Moses Taylor Foundation. In response to his recent appointment, Lazor shared, “As a lifelong resident of the area, it is important to me to give back to my community in a variety of ways. Moses Taylor Foundation works with nonprofits throughout NEPA that are providing necessary services to those living in 11 counties. I am honored and look forward to continuing my work with the board and staff in this new role; and, most importantly, continuing to build healthy communities.” Moses Taylor Foundation’s officers hold their positions for a one-year term and may be re-elected.
Broadway Theatre League of NEPA Fundraiser For information and pricing please call the Broadway Theatre League of NEPA at 570-342-7784
Outreach Center Visits State Capitol Outreach – Center for Community Resources participated in the Pennsylvania Family Center and Parents as Teachers® Rally on the front steps of the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Accompanying Outreach Family Center Director, Carlene Gula, were Amy Paulin and Sandra Miller with her 10-year-old son Matthew; all are past participants of the Parents as Teachers® program provided by Outreach. Ms. Paulin and Mrs. Miller both had the opportunity to speak at the rally, explaining how the Parents as Teachers® program helped them during the early stages of their children’s lives and told of their successes as parents using the skills they gained during the program. Matthew, a recipient of the Parents as Teachers® resources, had the opportunity to meet with state legislators, Representative Kyle Mullins and Representative Thomas Welby. Representative Mullins introduced Matthew to fellow State Representatives as he provided a tour of the State Capitol and House floor while explaining his duties as a legislator.
Invitation to Participate in Focus Groups – City of Scranton License Process The City of Scranton would like to invite you to take part in focus groups regarding the license process for specific industries. The focus groups will be conducted over Microsoft Teams and expected to last no longer than one hour. The focus groups are part of a broader project the city is undertaking regarding the evaluation of permit and licenses processes and policies. At these meetings, we would like to know… Your experiences in applying for and renewing your licenseYour views on how the process or policies surrounding licenses could be improved Further background information and a more detailed list of questions will be sent to those confirming attendance before each focus group. Scheduled Focus Groups: To take part in any of the focus groups, please email Jessica Redmond at jredmond@scrantonpa.gov or 570-445-8261. Contractor License process – Thursday, July 14, 8 a.m. & Friday, July 15, 8 a.m. Health License process – Thursday, July 14, 3:00 p.m. & Friday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. Please only RSVP to a focus group if it is for a license relevant to your business. The City of Scranton is in the process of arranging focus groups for other license types. Any questions may be directed to jredmond@scrantonpa.gov. As highlighted in the 2022 Scranton Strategic Economic Development Plan, the City of Scranton is exploring options to streamline the Licensing and Permitting process in the city to make it easier for community members to conduct business in Scranton. Your views from the focus groups will be used to help the City of Scranton evaluate the impact of current requirements and processes around licenses and possible changes that could reduce the administrative burden for local businesses.
Marywood University News Marywood University Named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction Marywood University has been recognized nationally for its high-impact approach to education and its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by Colleges of Distinction, a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, Marywood confirms its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction. Colleges of Distinction boasts its longstanding support for student-centered schools that traditional rankings often overlook, advocating for schools whose undergraduate experiences are grounded in a philosophy of well-rounded, individualized engagement. Founder Wes Creel created Colleges of Distinction to draw more attention to schools like Marywood, whose student-centered education prevails in applying theory to practice while fostering a dynamic learning community. “When we focus all of our attention on how schools stack up against one another, we lose track of what really matters: the students themselves,” said Wes Creel, Founder of Colleges of Distinction. “Every student has individual needs and their own environment in which they’re most likely to thrive. We want to extend our praise to the schools that prioritize and cater to students’ goals.” Marywood’s inclusion is informed by the unique ways it commits to achieving success. The effective strategies for student satisfaction and outcomes were the kinds of engaging experiences found at Marywood. Marywood University earned special recognition nationally among Catholic Universities and statewide among Pennsylvania Universities. Individual accolades include Colleges of Distinction’s national endorsements of Marywood’s academic programs in Business, Education, and Nursing, as well as its exceptional student support initiatives in Career Development and Military Support. These additional distinctions were borne out of a need for college curricula that are comprehensive not only in course material, but also in practical and soft-skills development. Marywood University has met these needs with a blend of professional degrees, supported by a strong liberal arts education, program-specific training, and abundant opportunities for real-world application. Marywood also has excelled at having students graduate and enter the workforce with versatile skills; that’s why students attend Marywood—to discover their passion and realize their purpose. “We complete a thorough review of the programs in question before giving the awards,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction. “We’re looking for such qualities as accreditation, breadth of program, advising and mentoring, integration of career services, and successful outcomes for students. It’s wonderful to see how Marywood University really exemplifies these qualities.” He continued, “Marywood has created a welcoming environment for underserved students. It’s a tremendous opportunity to highlight the noteworthy support offered for students who might not otherwise study and thrive on a college campus.” To view Marywood University’s profile, or to find more information about the innovative learning experiences it offers, visit collegesofdistinction.com/school/marywood-university/. Marywood University’s Community Leadership Celebration Raises Over $252,000 Marywood University’s Ninth Annual Community Leadership Celebration, which took place on Thursday, May 5, 2022, honored Sister Gail Cabral, IHM, Ph.D., who recently retired after 52 years as a psychology professor at Marywood. Funds raised at this year’s Community Leadership Celebration (CLC) exceeded $252,000. To date, the CLC has raised nearly $3.2 million dollars. Marywood University’s CLC event is the University’s only fundraising event that provides special support to Marywood students. Proceeds from this year’s event, as in the past three years, supported the President’s Innovation Fund, a fund that supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition. More than 200 people gathered at the Insalaco Arena in the Center for Athletics and Wellness to celebrate as Marywood proudly bestowed the Lead On Award to Sister Gail, honoring her for her lifelong commitment to education, service, and the common good, as well as her dedication to the psychology and importance of friendship. Mary Anne Fedrick, Ph.D., retired Marywood dean, and Maria Gogal, Marywood trustee, both longtime friends of Sister Gail, served as committee co-chairs of the event. Guests of the event were entertained by pianist Jim Waltich, vocalist Erin Malloy, and magician and mentalist John Graham. In addition, student vocalists Dominique Ferraro ’25, Gabe Jenceleski ’24, and Sean Wolfe ’24, accompanied by Rick Hoffenberg, DMA, sang “Old Friends” from the Sondheim musical, Merrily We Roll Along. For 56 years, Sister Gail has been a professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Throughout her more than five decades of teaching psychology, she has worked with students on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. She was the first director of Marywood’s Ph.D. program in human development and also served as the chairperson of the psychology department. Sister Gail holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master of science in education from Marywood, as well as a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. She received a National Endowment for the Humanities for a two-month seminar in autobiography at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has researched, taught, and presented on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; gender differences; social-cognitive development, particularly in the area of friendship relations; and the relationship of psychology and religion. To learn more about Marywood University’s Annual Community Leadership Celebration, please visit marywood.edu/clc, or call (570) 348-6238.
