Aug. 18, 2023

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#Listrak\DateStampLong# The latest news from the State Capitol
 
In this Edition:
  •   Green Light-Go Grant Award for East Hanover Township
  •   Back to School for the 106th!
  •   Department of Human Services Releases 2022 Child Protective Services Report
  •   Sign Up Today for November Veterans Appreciation Breakfast
  •   Expansion of SNAP Eligibility for College Students Enrolled in Certain Employment, Training Programs
  •   Out and About Photos – Cobles Locust Lane Farm & Milton Hershey School
 
 
Green Light-Go Grant Award for East Hanover Township

 
Seventy-seven municipalities across the Commonwealth will receive over $35.5 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing safety, and mobility across Pennsylvania’s communities through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT’s) “Green Light-Go” program.

East Hanover Township is receiving $256,852 for relocating signal poles and correcting radii at Allentown Boulevard (Route 22) and Laudermilch Road (Route 743).

Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities for updates to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. These projects will be funded through the appropriation for fiscal year 2023-24. Grant funding through the Green Light-Go program may be utilized for a range of operational improvements including, but not limited to, light-emitting diode (LED) technology installation, traffic signal retiming, developing special event plans and monitoring traffic signals, as well as upgrading traffic signals to the latest technologies.
   
 
Back to School for the 106th!

 
Summer is coming to an end, and it’s time for our Derry Township, Lower Dauphin and Middletown Area school district students to return to school as listed below:

Derry Township School District:
Monday, Aug. 21

Lower Dauphin School District:
Monday, Aug. 28

Middletown Area School District:
Monday, Aug. 28

Let me also take the start of a new school year to remind everyone to drive safely with school buses back on our roads. State law requires motorists stop at least 10 feet away from school buses when their red lights are flashing, and their stop arm is extended. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Please do your part to keep our kids safe as they travel to and from school!
 
 
Department of Human Services Releases 2022 Child Protective Services Report 

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) released the 2022 Annual Child Protective Services Report, which provides statewide and county-level data on the efforts to protect and help children who were reported as victims of suspected abuse and neglect.

The child welfare system in Pennsylvania is state-supervised and county-administered, with both playing vital roles in the protection of children. DHS urges all Pennsylvanians to report potential child abuse or neglect to ChildLine, which is a 24/7 hotline available to anyone concerned for the safety or well-being of a child, by calling 1-800-932-0313. Mandated reporters can also report to ChildLine electronically.

The Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), requires DHS to annually report to the governor and General Assembly on child abuse in the Commonwealth. The report provides information on the efforts to protect and help children who were reported as victims of suspected abuse and neglect.

DHS continues to see these totals re-stabilize following the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in reduced contact between children and mandated reporters. The 2022 report found:

  •   A total of 60 substantiated fatalities in 2022, compared to 58 substantiated in 2021.
  •   A total of 236 suspected near fatalities in 2022, compared to 217 in 2021.
  •   Reports of suspected child abuse made by mandated reporters increased by 2.8 percent; there were 39,093 reports of suspected child abuse in 2022, compared to 38,013 reports in 2021.
  •   The percent of reports of suspected child abuse that were substantiated decreased from 13.2% in 2021 to 12.8% in 2022.

Of note in the 2022 report, Pennsylvania saw a significant decrease in reports made to ChildLine for substance-affected infants (SAI), or infants with detectable delay or harm that is associated with substance use or withdrawal. There were 496 total referrals for SAI in 2022, compared to 710 in 2021. DHS urges all families and caregivers to keep kids safe from unsecured medication; more information and tips on safe medication storage are available here.
 
 
Sign Up Today for November Veterans Appreciation Breakfast


Mark your calendar for my veterans’ appreciation breakfast on Friday, Nov. 3, from 8-10 a.m. at the Lower Swatara Fire Department, 1350 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown. This event is open to active-duty military personnel and veterans. Accommodations can be made for disabled attendees requiring assistance.

Seating is limited and registration is required online at RepMehaffie.com or by calling the district office at 717-534-1323.

At the event, we will be collecting worn, torn and defaced U.S. flags for proper disposal. The Dauphin County Veterans Affairs Office is also scheduled to be on-hand to answer any questions, and the Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds office will be on-site to register discharge papers, DD214s, and issue cards for the county’s Veteran ID Discount Card program. 
 
 
Expansion of SNAP Eligibility for College Students Enrolled in Certain Employment, Training Programs
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that a new flexibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will allow certain college students who meet eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits but who traditionally do not qualify because of their status as a student. To qualify for this new flexibility, these students must be enrolled in a qualifying employment and training program.

Generally, college students enrolled at least half time are ineligible for SNAP unless they qualify for existing exemptions from a work requirement. Existing exemptions are based on factors such as college enrollment status, income, caregiver status, age, disability, and more. Under this new flexibility, a student enrolled in certain programs meets the new exemption if that program.

  •   Primarily serves students from households with low-incomes.
  •   Is operated by a state or local government, or an instrumentality thereof.
  •   Provides the equivalent of at least one allowable activity under SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) criteria.

Colleges can submit a formal request for an employment and training program to be reviewed and approved. To do so, they must complete the SNAP College Program Checklist (doc) and email it to DHS at RA-PWSNAPIHEElig@pa.gov.

To find out more about SNAP, including eligibility requirements, visit dhs.pa.gov/SNAP. For more details about SNAP benefits for college students, visit SNAP for College Students (pa.gov).
 
 
Out and About Photos – Cobles Locust Lane Farm & Milton Hershey School
While preparing for the Dauphin County 4-H Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12, the Coble family allowed me to give cattle showmanship a try. (Rose, the heifer, was the real pro in the ring.)
Wow, what an amazing way for the Milton Hershey School to start its school year. I would like to thank President Pete Gurt for giving me the opportunity to experience this phenomenal event.

Best of luck to all the students at Milton Hershey in their breakthrough year!
   
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