Capitol Comments

Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller Hosts 7th Annual Disability and Mental Health Summit

By
Sydney Geiger
|
Monday, April 13, 2020 at 02:44 PM
Pennsylvania Disability Summit Billboard

Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller hosted his seventh annual Disability and Mental Health Summit in Pittsburgh at the beginning of March.  The event highlights a variety of critical issues faced by people with disabilities. Over 2,000 legislators, advocates, youth, and practitioners were in attendance.

The all-day event covered a variety of topics including sessions on Building a Youth Mental Health Advocacy Network, Navigating Medicaid for a Child with a Disability, and From Referral to Job Placement: Led by the...

National Suicide Prevention Month: States Take Action

By
Sydney Geiger
|
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 01:56 PM

Every year, state leaders, policymakers and advocates recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month. According to data from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause of death for ages 35-54 and the eighth leading cause of death for ages 55-64. As suicide rates continue to climb, states across the country have taken steps to reduce...

Colorado Office of Employment First Hosts Youth Disability Employment Listening Sessions

By
Sydney Geiger
|
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 04:40 PM

The Colorado Office of Employment First is hosting Youth Disability Employment Listening Sessions! The sessions will take place on September 10, September 17, and September 24, 2020 at 3-4 PM MT. The Office of Employment First is looking for youth with disabilities ages 14-26 to participate in the dialogue. Participants will have the opportunity to share their voice and get involved with leading Colorado’s Employment First efforts!

Employment First is the belief that individuals with disabilities have the right to...

State Approaches to Rural Healthcare

By
Sydney Geiger
|
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 03:18 PM

Amid the opioid crisis and COVID19 pandemic, healthcare has been at the forefront of most state policy priorities. However, rural healthcare has been facing a crisis over the past decade.

Over 60 million Americans live in rural areas. Rural communities make up over 50% of the state in numerous states such as Mississippi, Vermont, Maine and West Virginia according to US Census data. For example, Vermont’s rural population is 61.1% of the state.

According to a recent...

Kentucky Paves the Way for Public Sector Apprenticeships

By
Sydney Geiger
|
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 10:49 AM

Kentuckians work for the government at a rate slightly higher than the national average — 16.2%. Based on application trends, however, that percentage might decrease. According to a report from the National Association of State Chief Administrators, the number of applicants for state government jobs has decreased by 24% from 2013 through 2017....

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