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WILKES-BARRE — The Shapiro Administration this week announced that all school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding to provide free period products to students.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget includes $3 million to provide period products in schools to help close a gap in women’s health care.
“Josh and I believe all Pennsylvanians deserve the opportunity to succeed and chart their own course,” said First Lady Lori Shapiro. “By providing free period products in schools, we are reducing stress for young people and making sure they can learn without more unnecessary distractions. I’m proud we got this done to support students across our Commonwealth and ensure no student has to miss school due to having their period.”
The funding enables schools to provide access to period products at no cost to students and complements the efforts undertaken by the Shapiro Administration to improve health equity.
“We know that students are missing valuable learning opportunities when they have their periods because they don’t have access to menstrual products,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Providing menstrual hygiene products for students will positively impact public health and education for young people throughout Pennsylvania.”
Applications and reimbursement requests will not be required. All school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding.
Funding is proportional to the total number of students enrolled in a school and based on a rate of $1.75 per student. Schools may use the funding for period product purchases made between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
Funding allocations for the 2024-25 Feminine Hygiene Product Grant Program’s non-competitive, non-solicitation grants can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Schools have the option to opt out of receiving grant funding. Any remaining funds following the first round of grant funding will be dispersed in a second round.
“Students deserve to learn in environments where they are safe, healthy, and cared for—and providing schools with menstrual products at no charge will ensure that no learner has to miss school because they can’t access the care they need,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to health equity for learners of all ages in all areas of the Commonwealth, and this funding will provide another critical resource to Pennsylvania’s school communities.”
Schools should consider privacy, responsiveness, access, and education when developing and implementing strategies to make period products available to their students. Additional guidance and suggestions are available in the Menstrual Equity for Pennsylvania Students – Guidance for School Entities.
Pa. announces $56.5M to combat gun violence, create more opportunities for kids
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) this week invited organizations to apply for $56.5 million in state grant funding under PCCD’s existing VIP grant program and the first-ever Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) program, which will aim to reduce community violence by providing more after school opportunities for young people.
The 2024-25 bipartisan budget signed into law by Gov. Shapiro delivered a 40% increase in state funding for violence prevention and intervention initiatives. Those investments include $11.5 million to create the BOOST program, $10 million in funding for the successful Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention program — doubling state investment in the program — and a $5 million increase for the VIP grant program.
“Kids should be able to focus on being kids — that’s why we made investments in our bipartisan budget to provide more learning opportunities for our students and to help prevent gun violence in the first place,” said Gov. Shapiro. “Under Lieutenant Governor Davis’ leadership at PCCD, we are going to drive out these dollars as quickly as possible to our schools, municipalities, and community organizations. My Administration will continue to deliver for our communities so that every Pennsylvanian can be safe and feel safe — and have the real freedom that comes when you can walk down the street in your community without worrying about gun violence.”
“Since the state budget passed in July, I’ve traveled across Pennsylvania — from Scranton to Lancaster, and Allentown to McKeesport — meeting with residents to understand their experiences with gun violence and to discuss how our 2024-25 budget will enhance community safety through increased investments in programs like the ones announced today,” said Lt. Governor Davis, Chair of PCCD and the School Safety and Security Committee.
State investments in public safety, like PCCD’s successful VIP program, have made a significant impact on reducing community violence across the state in recent years. In 2023, homicides decreased by 16 percent across Pennsylvania, compared to 13 percent nationally, and 29 out of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties saw declines in homicides. Pennsylvania’s largest city, Philadelphia, has also seen significant and sustained reductions in gun violence, among the biggest decreases among major U.S. cities so far in 2024.
While progress has been made, too many Pennsylvanians are still impacted by gun violence — more than 1,600 Pennsylvanians die as a result of gun-related injuries in Pennsylvania each year and Pennsylvania’s firearm fatality rate is significantly higher than surrounding states.
Attorney General Henry launches online portal for companies required to report data breaches
Attorney General Michelle Henry this week announced the launch of an online portal to streamline the process for companies and other entities reporting data breaches impacting more than 500 Pennsylvania residents — which is required under Pennsylvania law beginning on September 26, 2024.
Credit reporting companies, or other entities that hold onto personal data, must report data breaches to the Office of Attorney General, pursuant to the recent amendments to Pennsylvania’s Breach of Personal Information Notification Act (BPINA).
“This new requirement in the law will offer Pennsylvanians more protections and prompt notifications when sensitive information, such as account numbers and personal data, is compromised,” AG Henry said. “We have launched this portal to make the process easier and more efficient for businesses who are required to make these notifications.”
On June 28, Gov. Josh Shapiro approved amendments to the Breach of Personal Information Notification Act when a data breach affects more than 500 Pennsylvanians.
The companies must also provide impacted individuals with 12 months of credit monitoring and access to a credit report, if the breach involves the person’s name and Social Security Number, bank account number, or driver’s license or state ID number.
Entities can access the portal via the Office of the Attorney General’s website, where they will be guided through a step-by-step process to submit required information about the breach.
Pa. recognizes Suicide Prevention Month; discusses multi-agency approach to save lives
Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh this week joined leaders from multiple state agencies, the Governor’s Advisory Commissions on LGBTQ Affairs and African American Affairs, and suicide prevention advocacy groups, to recognize September as “Suicide Prevention Month.”
Although behavioral health and suicide prevention are important to address year-round, this month provides a dedicated time to offer resources, information, and support to those who have been affected by suicide and honor survivors and lives lost to suicide.
“DHS is proud to work alongside our agency colleagues and suicide prevention organizations to raise awareness about how to get help, reduce stigma, and to offer hope,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “When a person dies by suicide, that loss has lasting effects on families, friends, and communities who may grapple with unanswered questions, complex emotions, or fears of being stigmatized or isolated. There is always an opportunity to check in with our loved ones, so they know that people care, their lives matter, and they are not alone.”
The 2024-25 budget built on the previous year’s budget investments by providing an additional $20 million for county mental health programs, $5 million for crisis stabilization walk-in centers, with a focus on geographic areas that may not have a center, and continues the $100 million investment in mental health funding available for K-12 schools.
“It may seem difficult to talk about, but preventing deaths from suicide may come down to a single person asking a caring question and then seeking help,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health. “Don’t be afraid to talk with your loved ones openly about suicide and to offer support and help. Talking about suicide does not increase thoughts of suicide or cause people to act on their thoughts. Acknowledging and talking about suicide lets people know you care.”
Pennsylvania has 12 call centers affiliated with the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24/7 for free by calling or texting 988. Any Pennsylvanian experiencing a behavioral health crisis or who needs help for a loved one, can contact 988 at any time and be connected to highly trained staff or volunteers who will provide free and confidential support and, if needed, referrals to additional community resources.
Nearly 11,000 calls were made to 988 in Pennsylvania alone in August 2024. More than 90 percent of calls are resolved by call center staff without the assistance of EMS or law enforcement.
“The message today is clear: if you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out for help. You are never alone,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Department Policy Director Caroline Beohm.
“Depression or other mental health issues are not a normal part of growing older that we should just accept as part of the aging process,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “They are often triggered by significant underlying causes that could lead an older adult to take their own life. Good mental health is crucial to an older adult’s overall well-being, and we all must eliminate any stigma that would deter older adults from seeking support.
“The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs recognizes that we cannot raise awareness of veteran suicide alone. We are grateful for all our community partners who work tirelessly every day to improve the lives of veterans and help to keep them safe,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.