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State & Federal Political Recap

Gov. Wolf Holds News Conference in Support of Minimum Wage Increase

On Friday, Governor Tom Wolf joined Democratic members of the House and Senate, including House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, in Philadelphia to again call for a raise in Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.  Without regard for the economic consequences of this proposal, Gov. Wolf has repeatedly called for the state’s minimum wage to be raised to $15 per hour after an initial increase to $12.  The governor and advocates have also proposed eliminating the tipped credit system used primarily by the restaurant industry, which would force these small businesses to increase labor costs by 425 percent as they continue struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Carla Sands Announces Run for Pennsylvania Senate Seat

President Trump’s former ambassador to Denmark announced last week that she was joining the crowded primary field vying for the state’s Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate.  Carla Sands is a Pennsylvania native and CEO of Vintage Capital Group.  The primary election will be held in May 2022.

New Law Gives Telecom Companies Competitive Advantage in PA

According to reporting in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, legislation that passed in late June could be a boon for the competitiveness of Pennsylvania’s telecom market.  Municipal permitting for 5G infrastructure — formerly a process that could play out over many months — is now limited by statute to 60 or 90 days before being granted automatic approval.

Commerce Department adds 34 Chinese Companies to ‘Entity List’ for Xinjiang, Trade, Military Abuses

On Friday, the Biden Administration added 34 additional companies, 14 headquartered in the People’s Republic of China, to the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security’s ‘Entity List’ for activities “contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States.” Among the reasons for the listings were support for actions that aided the PRC government’s oppression of minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, trading with Iran in violation of existing U.S. regulations, and supporting China’s military modernization programs.  Maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the list restricts trade practices on goods listed on the U.S. Government’s Export Administration Regulations.

PA Chamber Collaborates on Study Covering Childcare and the Workforce

Over the last 18 months, Pennsylvania employers and workers adapted to unprecedented challenges as shuttered schools and childcare facilities required typically full-time staff to care for their families on short notice.

In recognition of these challenges, the PA Chamber teamed up with the PA Early Learning Investment Commission and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania to conduct a survey of employers that is the basis for a new report.

Released on June 8, the report details how employers have been taking action to support families, boost productivity and address the estimated $3.47 billion lost to Pennsylvania’s economy due to childcare issues.  Overall, 84 percent of employers have offered at least one type of childcare support throughout the pandemic.  Many Pennsylvania employers added supports beyond government mandates, and 41 percent say they anticipate keeping those supports intact once the pandemic has ended.

PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr highlighted the results in a press release issued last week, noting, “The findings in this report include best practices for businesses and program administrators and, we hope, will help inform lawmakers developing public policy that strengthens childcare and the workforce.”

The PA Chamber’s participation in this report and focus on the workforce is part of the ‘Bringing PA Back‘ initiative, the PA Chamber’s bold, collaborative plan for economic resurgence to make Pennsylvania a beacon for innovation and investment.  The initiative creates a framework to foster long-term economic growth and equality of opportunity for all residents—including parents.

Admin Code Officially Law, Codifies Repeal of Wolf Administration’s Overtime Rule

Governor Wolf opted to neither sign nor veto H.B. 336, the Administrative Code bill that is one of four bills accompanying the state budget passed in late June.  Without action by the governor, legislation passing the General Assembly becomes law after 10 days.

Among the bill’s key provisions was a one-sentence entry worked out as a compromise between the Republican legislature and the Governor’s office that nixed a regulation promulgated in 2019, which would have significantly expanded the scope of individuals mandated by the state to receive overtime compensation.

The PA Chamber released a statement when the General Assembly passed the bill highlighting the plight of the small business owners and non-profits already struggling to recover from the pandemic and associated shutdowns, for whom this regulation would have been an additional and potentially devastating burden.

Employer Survey Shows Business Interest in Assisting Workers with Childcare, Flexible Scheduling to Support Families

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement upon the release of a joint report between the PA Chamber, PA Early Learning Investment Commission, and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania on childcare and the workforce:

“Families have long strived to balance work and raising children. This tension was made all the more obvious throughout the pandemic when business closures threw many Pennsylvania families’ childcare arrangements into chaos. As part of our ‘Bringing PA Back’ initiative, we teamed up with the PA ELIC and the Center for Rural PA to determine what employers across the Commonwealth are doing today to support families and their workforce and how we can help them in the future. The findings in this report include best practices for businesses and program administrators and, we hope, will help inform lawmakers developing public policy that strengthens childcare and the workforce.”

Key Report Findings:

  • Many employers have a workforce with moderate to high childcare needs.
  • While flexible work schedules and remote work arrangements are the most common solutions, Pennsylvania employers currently employ various strategies to assist with childcare.
  • During the pandemic, childcare emerged as one of the more significant reasons why employers believe they lost employees.
  • Most employers offered additional childcare supports during the pandemic to meet labor needs, with 41 percent planning to keep those supports in place after the pandemic ends.
  • There is strong interest among employers of all business sizes to support working families with childcare needs – most employers see it as a way to improve retention, recruitment, productivity and reputation.

A summary of the report is available here.

PA Chamber Applauds Vote to Scrap Crippling Overtime Rule, Save Businesses

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement on the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s vote to block an onerous final overtime rule that would have hurt Pennsylvania businesses:

“The damage the Department of Labor and Industry’s Overtime Rule could have caused to Pennsylvania businesses cannot be overstated,” Barr noted, “Increasing the overtime salary threshold by over 92 percent in around two years would have been a death knell for many businesses already struggling to recover from the pandemic, namely small business owners and non-profits. I applaud House Speaker Bryan Cutler for his prioritization on fixing this disastrous regulation, and our organization looks forward to continuing our important work with state lawmakers and advancing our mission of Bringing PA Back.”

Liz Hays, Director of Human Resources for MHY Family Services, a nonprofit organization based in Butler County that serves at-risk youth and their families through residential and community-based programming, also addressed the potential effects of the rule:

“To say that the reversal of the state overtime rule is welcome news would be grossly understated.  MHY Family Services has worked vigorously to respond to market conditions, notably so over the past two years, and still we faced serious fiscal concerns with the looming adjustments that the overtime rule would have imposed,” added Hays, “We’re relieved, and with that very grateful, that our concerns not only were heard but responded to as we continue to address the many challenges that so many employers are facing at this time.”

Mercyhurst University General Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs Meredith Bollheimer, Esq. added:

“The university is glad to hear that an agreement has been reached between the Governor and the legislature that will result in more uniformity between the federal and state overtime rules.”

Background: In 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry submitted a Final Form Regulation with several significant changes to overtime eligibility standards. Many employers reported they would be unable to afford the higher costs associated with the near doubling of the overtime salary threshold and would be forced to convert salaried employees to hourly workers so hours could be tracked and capped each week. Employees also expressed concern at the prospect of losing their salaried status and their positions’ flexibility and benefits. The PA Chamber has led a diverse coalition to oppose the rule, including organizations in the nonprofit community, higher education, healthcare institutions and the restaurant industry.

Businesses Need Employees. Reentry Citizens Need Jobs. PA DOC is Bridging the Gap

When you think of someone “doing time,” what image comes to mind? How do you think they spend their days? What type of person do you imagine who is a felon? The typical images we see on television and in the movies include gangs, working out with weights, inmates sitting in their cells, or notorious felons like Charles Manson.

Reality inside the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) and Parole Board (Parole) is very different. PA DOC and Parole have two goals when it comes to Workforce Development – GOAL (Inside): Ensure inmates are “job ready” at any step of incarceration. GOAL (Outside): Assist employers with workforce needs and show the benefit of hiring our population. PA DOC and Parole addressed employers biggest “asks” for entry level applicants: 1) Career Awareness, 2) Hands on Experience, and 3) Soft/Employability Skills.

 

Inside the PA DOC

The PA DOC maintains 24 State Correctional Institutions (SCIs) across the Commonwealth, with approximately 37,000 inmates. Inside the SCIs, inmates are offered the opportunity to participate in education and/or vocational classes, inmate employment, and reentry services. In 2020, PA DOC and Parole combined the areas of Education, Treatment Services and Reentry into the Bureau of Reentry Coordination. This change has improved operations and increased communication between these areas, resulting in improved continuity of care.

 

Education/Vocational Programs

The Division of Correction Education (DCE) oversees schools in the SCIs. The schools have a principal, counselor, adult basic education teachers, GED teachers, special education teachers, and vocational teachers. Their mission statement is “to provide educational opportunities which will enable students to become responsible and productive citizens in a diverse society.” DCE offers the following educational opportunities inside the SCIs:

  • GED
  • Commonwealth Secondary Diploma
  • School Aged Youth Program
  • Special Education

DCE also offers 28 vocational programs throughout the SCIs:

  • Auto Mechanics/Technician
  • Barber School
  • Barber Shop
  • CADD
  • CDL
  • Carpentry
  • Construction
  • Cosmetology
  • Custodial Maintenance
  • Electricity (Electrician)
  • Electronics
  • Flagger
  • Fiber Optics
  • Green Environment
  • Horticulture/Landscaping
  • HVAC
  • Interior Finish
  • JGL Lift
  • Machine Shop
  • Masonry
  • OSHA
  • Optical Assistant
  • Plumbing
  • Print
  • Restaurant Trades
  • Ward Flex (on hold)
  • Warehouse Operations
  • Welding

Each of the vocational programs offer nationally accredited certifications. A list of vocational programs and certifications can be found online at https://www.cor.pa.gov/Inmates/Pages/Vocational-Programs.aspx.

Beginning in December 2017, SCIs began offering a new class, “Pathway to Success,” that addresses the “career awareness” aspect employers requested. The curriculum is taught in one semester, or sixty hours, with the following modules.

  1. O*Net Interest Assessment
  2. Jobs Not Available Due to Criminal Record
  3. Understanding Job Opportunities in Location of Reentry
  4. Introduction to Career Pathways
  5. Introduction to Opportunities at SCIs
  6. Creation of a Career Plan
  7. Introduction to PA CareerLink System
  8. Resume, Cover Letters, and Applications
  9. Interview Skills
  10. What to Expect When Paroled
  11. Finalizing Your Career Pathway

If you would like to learn more about the educational opportunities inside the SCIs, please contact Chief Terri Fazio at tfazio@pa.gov.

 

Inmate Employment and Correctional Industries

Employers are looking for applicants with “hands on experience.” The PA DOC offers inmate employment within the SCIs in two different forms.

Each SCI is run like a little city. Every part of the facility, including food, janitorial, and maintenance, is supported by inmates along with staff. Employment is offered to inmates in vocations such as janitors, food service, maintenance, warehouse, landscaping, etc. These jobs work an average of six hours per day, five days a week. Inmates are paid for these jobs and receive valuable work experience for their resume and future employment upon release. An inmate once shared, “this may not be the job you want, but you can learn something from it, and it will give you something to put on your resume.”

Another way for inmates to work inside the SCI is employment with Correctional Industries (CI). Pennsylvania CI work programs are modeled after the real world. Here are some examples of CI positions:

  • Assembler
  • Cabinetmaker
  • Cook
  • Custodian
  • Drafter
  • Engraver
  • Inventory Clerk
  • Laundry Worker
  • Machine Operator
  • Machine Repair
  • Maintenance Worker
  • Mechanic
  • Printers
  • Shipping/Receiving
  • Upholster
  • Warehouse Worker

Additional information on CI can be found online at https://www.cor.pa.gov/PCI/Pages/default.aspx.

 

Reentry Services

In 2020, the Deputy Secretary (DS) of Reentry, Kelly Evans, wanted all inmates to be provided reentry services and to open a Reentry Service Office (RSO) in every SCI. RSOs provide information, service referrals, workshops, and other risk-reducing activities to inmates prior to release to help them ease their transition back into the community. The workshops are often conducted by the reentry parole agents (RPAs), PA DOC staff and local community providers so that inmates can start to make critical links with services that they may actually access upon release. One of the links inmates can make while inside the SCI is enrolling in PA CareerLink®. The site allows inmates to create a resume and look for jobs 30 days prior to release. This is a mandatory first step toward receiving PA CareerLink® services and minimizes the chance of delay upon release.

 

COVID-19 Changes

COVID-19 required massive changes to the day-to-day operations inside SCIs. Daniel McIntyre, Director, Bureau of Reentry Coordination, sums it up best. “The Pandemic really tested our ability to provide quality programming and treatment while ensuring the safety of staff and inmate/reentrant populations. We were able to reduce waiting lists and increase in-cell programming opportunities during these difficult times.”  He continued, “staff worked tirelessly to improve programming, educational opportunities and even provide support in the community through various virtual platforms.”

During the pandemic, SCIs achieved the following accomplishments:

  • Over 200 inmates obtained their GEDs
  • Over 400 received secondary diplomas
  • Almost 5,000 received vocational certificates
  • Streamlined in-cell programming and reduced program waiting lists

As DS Evans shared, “the PA DOC is in the business of second chances, it is our mission to give inmates the tools they need to succeed upon release. Education and vocational training are one vital piece in assisting them with this success in the hopes that upon release our inmates will become successful, tax paying members of our communities.”

Additional information on how PA DOC responded to COVID-19 can be found online at https://www.cor.pa.gov/Pages/COVID-19.aspx. 

 

Outside the PA DOC and into Parole

Support and services do not stop after someone is released from an SCI. Once on parole, a number of services and opportunities are available. As of April 2021, there are approximately 40,200 reentrants under supervision across the Commonwealth.

 

Community Reentry Parole Agents (CRPAs)

A CRPA is a specialized agent who conducts parole orientation workshops, provides information on resources, and conducts workshops or one-on-one meetings for parolees in the surrounding areas of district and sub offices for Parole. The CRPA provides valuable information and assistance to reentrants on parole.

CRPAs facilitate orientation for newly released inmates who are returning to their community under parole supervision. At orientation, each reentrant learns of the expectations and rules associated with parole requirements, is assessed for any immediate needs, is provided information on services available in the community, and educated on the role of the CRPA and how they can help. One of the services offered is employment assistance. The CRPA helps reentrants identify work-related skills and abilities, prepare a resume, learn to interview, and search for employment opportunities.

If a reentrant needs additional services, CRPAs connect them with resources within the community to help them become successful. Through the assistance of Reentry Service contracts and partners, additional services are available to the reentrant; especially if they do not have the means to pay for the service.

Additional reentry service information can be found online at https://www.cor.pa.gov/community-reentry/Pages/default.aspx.

 

Workforce Development Specialist – Dorenda Hamarlund

In September 2019, the PA DOC and Parole created the Workforce Development Specialist position to streamline the flow of information between internal and external stakeholders.

This position is responsible for:

  • Working with PA DOC and Parole staff and outside organizations to implement meaningful learning opportunities for inmates
  • Establishing community connections to create a continuity of support so that reentrants gain and sustain employment and reduce their chance of recidivism
  • Serving as a single point of contact for outside employers, community colleges, training programs, and unions
  • Collaborating with reentry partners to understand reentrants’ barriers to employment
  • Working with employers to understand where reentrants are finding employment and providing employers with information about the programming and training inmates receive
  • Collaborating with DCE to ensure programs are in line with in-demand jobs
  • Serving as a liaison with the Department of Labor & Industry and Workforce Development Boards
  • Sharing the benefits of hiring reentrants with employers and other community partners through community roundtables and panel discussions

With the Pennsylvania unemployment rate rising to 7.4% in April 2021, employers are desperately seeking employees. Ms. Hamarlund speaks with employees on a daily basis to see how the PA DOC and Parole can assist with their workforce needs. Working one-on-one with employers to “paint a picture” of their ideal candidate, Ms. Hamarlund then relays the information to PA DOC and Parole staff to find suitable job candidates to fill the positions. As of April 2021, there are currently 9,800 parolees who are able to work but unemployed. Hiring this population is a great way to decrease the unemployment rate in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the support of Parole staff, there are many financial benefits to hiring a reentrant.  Per DS Evans, “our partnership with the business community and employers is essential and Dorenda Hamarlund has been instrumental in promoting the benefits of hiring reentrants and connecting them with employers. We have heard from many of our partners in the business community that reentrants are some of their best employees and this is a tribute to the great work of our educational and vocational staff, they are truly vested in giving inmates the foundation and skills that they need to succeed upon release.”

Flagger Force (https://flaggerforce.com/workforce/) is a valued employment partner of PA DOC and Parole. In 2019, Flagger Force approached PA DOC and Parole to help fill their open positions. When the topic of transportation barriers came up, Flagger Force quickly developed a solution. The company offers an opportunity for reentrants to pair up with a mentor. Each day, the reentrant and mentor meet at a mutually decided location, and the mentor drives both to the job site. For many reentrants, lack of a valid driver’s license or transportation is a significant barrier to employment. Flagger Force has given many reentrants the opportunity to work and promote throughout our partnership.

Ms. Hamarlund is available to educate employers and community partners on the benefits of hiring a reentrant. She has presented at various statewide trainings, participated in podcasts, and sits on many committees on workforce development. She has also partnered with various chambers of commerce to present this information to their membership.

 

If you are an employer looking for eager, qualified applicants, please contact Dorenda Hamarlund at dhamarlund@pa.gov.

Additional information on the workforce efforts of PA DOC and Parole is available online at https://www.cor.pa.gov/community-reentry/Pages/Workforce-Development.aspx.

 

Cedar Crest College: Preparing the Next Generation of Workforce Leaders

Cedar Crest College is a small private, liberal arts institution primarily for women in Allentown, PA, that prepares students for life and work in an everchanging world.

Cedar Crest has educated the next generation of leaders and learners since its founding in 1867. Immersed in its mission, the College delivers a powerful educational experience through strong scholarship, real-world training and holistic support. Cedar Crest empowers its diverse student body—young women, adult undergraduate students and graduate students—to hone their skills, realize their potential and boldly reach for their professional goals.

At the forefront of education, Cedar Crest College is uniquely able to look beyond the urgencies of the moment to meet the needs of the future. Cedar Crest’s transformative mindset drives the College to continually evaluate and expand its academics and experiences. Graduates are prepared for careers in new and emerging fields. The diverse academic offerings include over 40 majors, nine graduate programs, pre-professional programs and high-demand certificates.

Students in the traditional undergraduate women’s college enjoy a personalized academic experience that prepares them to succeed and lead in an evolving job market. A 10:1 student to faculty ratio and an average class size of 15 offer individual attention and support. A flexible liberal arts curriculum allows students to combine areas of study like art and psychology or forensic science and dance — an interdisciplinary education that provides the skills and thinking students need to flourish in their careers. The unique women’s college experience prepares students to hold their own in male-dominated professions and sets up female leaders for continued success in the workforce and in life.

The School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) extends Cedar Crest’s core mission and vision to women and men who may take a non-traditional path to a degree, and to those whose thirst for continued knowledge leads them to seek advanced degrees. Cedar Crest offers flexibility for busy adult learners with an array of online, accelerated and hybrid programs. Home to some of the most forward-thinking programs at the College, the adult and graduate programs ready students to advance in their current professions or thrive in new careers.

Over the past several years, the College has added new and innovative programs including master’s and doctoral nursing programs, a doctorate in occupational therapy, a master’s degree in integrative exercise science, a master’s degree in crime science, a modular master’s in the business department built upon stackable certificates and will soon be launching a certificate in sports performance.

The distinctive new Modular Master of Science degree is a fully online graduate degree program where learners create customized curriculums relevant to today’s market, their interests and career goals. Learners select two graduate certificates in high-demand fields like Human Resources Management, Strategic Leadership and Analytics and Management Information Systems. The innovative program offers a more convenient, flexible and specialized alternative to a traditional MBA program.

The addition of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) supports a growing need, both regionally and nationally, for professionals in the field. The full-time program can be completed in 33 months and is the first entry-level OTD in the Lehigh Valley. Courses utilize several newly renovated spaces including a state-of-the-art technology lab, the Occupational Therapy Life Skills Lab and the Pediatric Lab. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in occupational therapy will increase by 24 percent by 2026. Currently, the Lehigh Valley, where Cedar Crest is located, is the third-largest employer of occupational therapists in Pennsylvania.

Cedar Crest College is a leading institution in its region for nursing and health sciences. In the prestigious School of Nursing, students with a passion for providing exceptional patient care are empowered at every step in their nursing career. Cedar Crest’s expansive portfolio of nursing programs includes an Accelerated BSN, RN-BSN, MSN Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator and Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia programs. Nursing students hone their skills in state-of-the-art simulation facilities and at clinical instruction sites at nearby nationally-recognized health care networks. Cedar Crest’s School of Nursing is a pipeline to health care employment across the region.

Cedar Crest’s traditional, adult and graduate students build their skills and explore future careers through real-world experiences. Internships, health sciences simulations, research opportunities, volunteering, student teaching, fieldwork, study abroad and more all help students determine their career paths, make connections and gain valuable practical experience.

The Carmen Twillie Ambar Sophomore Expedition, for example, is a guaranteed short-term study abroad opportunity for all sophomores funded almost entirely by the college. During the week-long trip, students perform service-learning activities related to their fields of study and areas of interest. Previous Expedition locations include Greece, England and Brazil.

The Career Planning Center at Cedar Crest College works to assist students in their professional development journey from the moment they arrive on campus and beyond graduation. The Center helps students with choosing a major, finding an internship and seeking mentors and supports them as they navigate work experiences, graduate school and career transitions. The Center collaborates with faculty, staff, parents, employers, alumnae and community partners to connect students to opportunities that will enhance their career development.

Using a student-centered, strengths-based approach, the Center recognizes that career development is unique for each student. The Career Planning Center has the tools and knowledge to support the needs of the College’s diverse student population and help every student pursue their professional goals. Overall, 98% of Cedar Crest’s class of 2016 are employed, attending graduate school or pursuing other options related to their career development.

Through its innovative academic programs, opportunities for real-world experiences and unparalleled support, Cedar Crest College inspires students to passionately pursue their goals and creates confident leaders in their fields.

Learn more about Cedar Crest College at www.cedarcrest.edu