Handsnet Weekly Digest 10/26-11/1 (fwd)

[F. Pennell]

Here is a summary of recent/current "happenings" of interest.
HandsNet is a subscription service used by many non-profits and social
service agencies.  You can request a free trial membership by visiting
their website at http://www.handsnet.org/.  Francie Pennell
___Message Separator______
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 1996 14:50:30 -0800 (PST)
From: HandsNet <hspcnews at u.washington.edu>
To: "HandsNet.Mailing.List":  ;
Subject: Weekly Digest 10/26-11/1


HandsNet Weekly Digest
Oct 26 - Nov 1, 1996

The Weekly Digest provides headlines from a small sample of the hundreds
of articles posted each week by members in HandsNet's information forums. 
To find the full article online, follow the path of forums (given in
parentheses) or search on keywords from the title "SHOWN IN ALL CAPS"
using Keyword Search in the Information Menu.  *********************

** Alerts:
 "WELFARE UPDATE/CHILDREN'S SSI" Implementation of the new welfare law
could severely limit disabled children's access to the Supplemental
Security Income program.  Children's Defense Fund, HN3208, and Bazelon
Center for Mental Health Law, HN1660, say the best way to help is to
contact President Clinton, 202/456-1111, president at whitehouse.gov, Carol
Rasco, President's Domestic Policy Council, 202/456-2216, and Franklin
Raines, OMB, 202/395-4840, and tell them the driving force in setting a
new standard for SSI eligibility should be the best interest of low-income
children with severe disabilities and not an arbitrary budget figure or
fear of Congressional backlash. (Alerts) 

** AIDS-HIV:
 "CAN HIV PROGRAMS BE ADAPTED?" As the HIV epidemic changes, so do the
number and groups of people at risk. Prevention programs need to take into
account the life context and the relationship to the HIV epidemic of the
person, but can be tailored to these different situations, not reinvented
entirely. Adapting interventions allows us to use principles we know are
effective to address the needs of those newly at risk, says a fact sheet
from Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Univ of CA, HN7153. A separate
fact sheet addresses "HOW ARE HETEROSEXUAL MEN REACHED IN HIV PREVENTION."
(AIDS-HIV/Prevention/HIV Prevention Fact Sheets) 

"AIDS ACTION WEEKLY UPDATE" AIDS Action Council, HN3384, reports that
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Reps Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and John
Dingell (D-MI)  will introduce a legislative proposal to allow disabled
individuals under 65 to access Medigap policies. Medigap is important for
people living with HIV/AIDS because Medicare itself does not pay for most
outpatient prescription drugs. The NIH will establish an HIV standard of
care concentrating on implications of the availability of the new
therapies on medical practice; a free public meeting will be held in D.C.
11/13-14.  To register call Johanna McDonough at 301/986-4870 by 11/8. 
(AIDS-HIV/Policy/AIDS Weekly Update) 

"CALL IN TO LOWER PWA'S DRUG COSTS" In the last two years the price for
basic anti-viral therapy has risen from an average of $2,500 a year for a
single drug to $12,000-$20,000 for an average marketbasket of drugs that
rise in price depending on disease stage.  AIDS Action, HN3384, and others
coordinated a national call-in and fax-in to major pharmaceutical
companies on 10/31 to demand they acknowledge the stark reality that an
ever-growing number of people living with HIV cannot afford the care they
need to stay alive. This sets the stage for future national efforts--look
for information on upcoming advocacy to be posted next week.
(AIDS-HIV/AIDS Alerts) 

** Budget, Tax & Policy:
 "WHO PAYS PERSONAL INCOME TAX IN CALIF?" California's personal income tax
rates are among the highest in the nation, but when the state's large
number of credits, exemptions and deductions are taken into account, the
burden on the most wealthy taxpayers is modest. When state and local taxes
are combined, CA ranks 26th among all states and the District of Columbia. 
When property, sales and excise taxes are included, the state's poorest
20% pay a greater share of their income toward taxes than any other group. 
>From California Budget Project, email: cbp at cbp.org. (Budget, Tax &
Policy/State Tax Issues) 

"EITC TRAINING NOV-DEC" Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, HN0026,
offers a series of free trainings in California on the 1997 Earned Income
Tax Credit Campaign.  Details posted in (Resources/Calendar/November). 

** Children, Youth & Families:
 "CYF SEMI-FINAALIST IN NII AWARDS COMPETITION" HandsNet's Children, Youth
& Families Initiative is a semi-finalist in the 1996 National Information
Infrastructure Awards competition, which recognizes extraordinary
achievement in information highway applications.  Winners will be
announced Dec 3.  For more information contact Scott Barkan at Center for
Law and Social Policy, HN3067.  (Children, Youth & Families/Welcome to
CYF!) 

"FROM NIMBY TO GOOD NEIGHBORS" The Not-In-My-Back-Yard syndrome may rear
its head whenever an agency proposes to open group homes, independent
living apartments, transitional housing units, or other places for people
who require community care in a residential neighborhood. Child welfare
agencies are successfully fighting NIMBYism using education and litigation
in various combinations, but neither approach is guaranteed. In the long
run, proactive legislative initiatives that smooth the entry of group
homes and other care facilities into residential neighborhoods can benefit
far more children and families. From Child Welfare League of America,
HN3898. (Children, Youth & Families/Child Welfare/Out of Home
Care/Services & Supports) 

"TOP TEN PARENTING TOOLS" Bedtime Rituals, the Broken Record, Choosing
Your Battles, Dividing the Deed from the Doer, Doing Nothing,
Encouragement, Humor and Positive Expectations are all proven parenting
tools, writes Ron Huxley of Sullivan Center for Children in Fresno, CA,
202/271-1186. (Children, Youth & Families/Early Childhood-School
Age/Parent Education/Resources for Parents) 

"JUVENILE STATE ROUND-UP: AZ ended its military-style boot camp program
with projected cost savings and prison crowding reduction unrealized.
Success rates among participants were roughly half that for those
sentenced to traditional jail time. ABA Juvenile Justice Center, HN3377,
reports news from around the U.S. (Children, Youth & Families/Juvenile
Justice/Federal and State Law & News) 

"REAL-TIME CHANGE & PERFORMANCE" is a model being used nationally with
child welfare reform and family support initiatives. It collapses the
traditionally separate elements of strategic change: planning,
implementation and evaluation, into one continuous self-governing,
self-evaluating learning cycle. From The Evaluation Exchange, Harvard
Family Research Project, 617/495-8594. (Children, Youth &
Families/Comprehensive Strategies/Research & Eval./Focus on Outcomes) 

** Health Issues:
 "MEDIGAP COSTS HURT ELDERLY" Premiums for Medicare supplemental insurance
skyrocketed between 1995 and 1996, according to a new state-by-state
report by Families USA, HN0156. Prudential, the company with the largest
Medigap sales, increased premiums an average of 23%, nine time greater
than the rise in Social Security benefits (2.6%) and more than double the
Medicare inflation rate. The press release and report is posted, for a
print copy including statistical tables call 202/628-3030. (Health
Issues/Medicare & Long Term Care/Medicare) 

"NASHP RELEASES STATE GUIDE" According to study in the Journal of the
American Medical Assoc., the elderly and poor report a greater decline in
health in HMOs than in fee-for-service. "Look Before You Leap: Assuring
the Quality of Care of Managed Care Programs Serving Older Persons and
Persons with Disabilities,"  outlines steps to design, implement and
monitor an accessible, quality Medicaid managed care plan. From Nat'l
Academy for State Health Policy, 207/874-6524.  (Health/Managed
Care/Medicaid & Managed Care) 

** Housing - Community Development:
 "NLIHC HOUSING UPDATE 11/1" On Nov 17, the OMB will provide HUD with its
"Passback" outlining the White House's budget priorities for housing. HUD
is requesting $32.4 billion in budget authority and $36.7 billion in
outlays, a sharp increase from the recently enacted FY97 budget increase
that is needed for Sec 8 contracts due to expire in FY 98. National
housing organizations are launching a letter writing drive to key White
House staff, reports Nat'l Low Income Housing Coalition, HN0053.
(Housing-Cmty/Public Policy/NLIHC Weekly Updates) 

"HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL" Only about one-third of all women
who maintain households with children own their own homes, compared to
nearly three of every four other households with children.  A resource
guide from The Women and Housing Task Force of The McAuley Institute,
HN0331, recommends banks be required to offer credit to women under the
Community Reinvestment Act and that housing counseling and education
available under HUD's Housing Opportunities for Women Initiative be
bolstered.  See related articles in the new forum on Women and Housing (in
Housing-Cmty Dev/HCD Programs/Women and Housing) 

"LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS-FAIR HOUSING" National Neighbors, Inc. (202/28-8899)
led a successful campaign to change language in the 1997 HUD
Appropriations Bill to give equal access to Education/Outreach dollars to
all qualified organizations regardless of inclusion of an enforcement
agenda. (Housing-Cmty Dev/Public Policy) 

** Hunger & Nutrition:
 "FRAC RESPONSE TO AEI FOOD PROGRAM STUDY" Recent press coverage of an
American Enterprise Institute evaluation of federal food assistance
programs inaccurately reported findings, creating an impression the study
panned the programs. In truth, the author gives them an overall good
grade. Food Research and Action Center, HN0050, offers a background paper
that corrects misconceptions.  (Children, Youth & Families/Hunger &
Nutrition) 

"WIC IMMIGRATION PROVISION" The welfare reform bill does not REQUIRE
states to make any changes in eligibility criteria for the Women, Infants
and Children Nutrition program. It does give states the OPTION of barring
certain categories of immigrant women and children from WIC.  Because all
infants born in the U.S.  are citizens eligible for a wide range of
benefits -- and because WIC has been demonstrated to reduce subsequent
costs for Medicaid and special education -- denying WIC benefits to these
categories of immigrants would have adverse cost implications for states,
writes Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, HN0026.  (Children, Youth &
Families/Hunger & Nutrition/Federal Food Programs/WIC) 

"USDA ALLOCATES FY97 FUNDS" When combined with funds received through
re-allocations and funds states "spendforward," there should ultimately be
sufficient funds to maintain year-end FY96 WIC participation in most
states, reports CBPP, HN0026. (Children, Youth & Families/Hunger &
Nutrition/Fed Food Programs/WIC) 

"FED'L NUTRITION PROGRAMS UPDATE" Advocates should work with the state and
other partners to seek waivers of new food stamp time limits for
unemployed adults for people in high jobless areas, says Food Research and
Action Center, HN0050.  (Children, Youth & Families/Welfare Reform
Watch/Analyses of Food & Nutrition Legislation/Nutrition Program Updates) 

** Immigrants:
 "IMMIGRANT POLICY NEWS" Significant changes were negotiated in the
immigration reform bill (H.R. 2202) conference report in order to secure
inclusion in the appropriations bill. The most controversial provision,
denial of public education for undocumented immigrants, was stripped from
the House bill and passed the House as a stand-alone bill (H.R. 4134). The
Senate did not take up the measure. NCSL Immigrant Policy Project, HN4964,
summarizes the bill's key points. (Resources/Publications/Immigrant Policy
News) 

** Legal Services:
 "THE WELFARE LAW AND MEDICAID" Continuation of the Medicaid entitlement
is a tremendously important benefit for the poor. However, it cannot be
overstated how difficult it will be, in practice, to assure that the poor
continue to have access to the program. Client advocacy is needed on a
number of fronts, spelled out in Advocacy Tips for Making the Medicaid
Savings Provision Work by National Health Law Program, HN0533. (Legal
Services/Substantive Law/Health) 

"LSC DIVIDING TO SURVIVE" The 9/9 Legal Times describes how some legal
services organizations have split into two independently funded and
operated legal providers, one of which wul forgo Legal Services Corp.
funding and free its lawyers from new constraints under which LSC-funded
lawyers cannot practice welfare reform advocacy, represent prisoners or
undocumented aliens, seek attorneys fees or file class actions. Posted by
ABA Juvenile Justice Center, HN3377. (Children, Youth & Families/Juvenile
Justice/Fed'l & State Law & News) 

** Management Issues:
 "SETTING RETIREMENT SAVINGS GOALS" A retirement program needs to provide
employees with tools to determine how much they need to save and how to
diversify savings to meet their individual retirement needs. The Nat'l
Employee Benefits Consortium has developed a retirement program available
to community based organizations of all sizes. For information contact
Lisa Benjamin, Cammack Assoc., 800/438-7771. Posted by Human Resource
Consortium, HN6374. (Housing-Cmty Dev/Human Resources & Org Dev/Retirement
Benefits) 

** Substance Abuse:
 "LIMITS ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE BENEFITS" Congress appears to exclude
substance abuse treatment from newly proposed reform requiring annual and
lifetime caps on mental illness coverage must be the same as limits for
physical illness in group health plans.  This is particularly sad given
the cost effectiveness of substance abuse treatment, writes David Lewis of
Brown Univ. Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, HN2764. (Substance
Abuse/Treatment/Commentaries) 
 
** What's Available:
 "KAISER OFFERS VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANTS" Kaiser Permanente is now
accepting grant applications from community-based groups in the
Washington, D.C. area for programs which promote violence prevention among
disadvantaged youth. For an application call 301/816-6163 and leave a
mailing address; for information call Barbara Henley, 301/816-6404.
Deadline 11/15. (Substance Abuse/Treatment/CSAT Forum Gateway/Criminal
Justice Forum/Violence) 

"ARE YOU A PUBLIC INTEREST PIONEER?" The Stern Family Fund will provide
several seed grants of up to $100,000 to spark creation of new
organizations in the field of government and corporate acccountablity. The
Fund is looking for those with a vision for bringing about systemic reform
that attacks root causes of problems. For guidelines see
http://www.essential.org/stern or send SASE to: PO Box 1590, Arlington, VA
22210. Apply by Jan 4.  (Resources/What's Available) 


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