“Guilty plea entered in day-care baby shaking case - Citizen Online” plus 4 more |
- Guilty plea entered in day-care baby shaking case - Citizen Online
- Lawsuit raises questions about deal in which union gets dues from baby ... - detnews.com
- Caregiving, Long Term Care Policy Proposal Discussions Bring Advocates ... - PR Newswire
- How much does a baby cost? - Globe and Mail
- Family Seeks Answers In Deaths Of Teen, Baby - WSOC-TV
| Guilty plea entered in day-care baby shaking case - Citizen Online Posted: 21 Sep 2009 02:03 PM PDT Guilty plea entered in day-care baby shaking caseBy: The Citizen staff report  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lawsuit raises questions about deal in which union gets dues from baby ... - detnews.com Posted: 21 Sep 2009 08:27 AM PDT Our EditorialsA free-market think tank has filed suit accusing state government of helping to organize baby sitters so the union can reap dues from federal day care subsidy checks. If the allegations are true, it's a con perpetrated on taxpayers. The suit, contending that the arrangement violates the state Constitution and labor laws, was filed last week by the Mackinac Center. The suit says that the state, through the Department of Human Services, essentially set up a shell agency that a newly created union could bargain against to gain the dues. The suit wants Human Services to stop deducting the dues. The state provides about $382 million in federal child day care subsidies to parents, the center notes. The money is paid directly to child care providers that the parents designate. The parents hire and fire the day care providers. Advertisement Because of this, they are independent business people, not state employees, the center's lawsuit contends. However, the state agreed to set up something called the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council, which then agreed to a contract with a union called Child Care Providers Together-Michigan, a joint operation of the United Auto Workers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Michigan Employment Relations Commission conducted a unionization vote by mail, and the majority of the 6,000 or so respondents, out of about 40,000 child care providers, agreed to unionization, the suit states. All of this, the suit contends, is illegal. The plaintiffs in the suit are two Petoskey women who provide child day care out of their homes and who say they were unaware of the union election or the fact that they had become union members until they received notices that dues were being subtracted from their subsidy checks starting this year. The amounts they lose from their checks are minuscule, but the center estimates that the union will get about $3.7 million this year from all 40,000 day care providers. The union didn't respond to a call for comment, though its Web site says it has won increases in the subsidy checks for the providers. Patrick Wright, the lawyer for the Petoskey women, notes that the collective bargaining agreement itself states that the raises are contingent on the Legislature appropriating them, since the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council doesn't have any money of its own. So if the union can't really deliver more money without an appropriation from the Legislature, what do the child care providers get for their dues? Money is scarce in Lansing, even for child care. Even if it is legal, this arrangement indicates the Granholm administration served the interests of a union at the expense of taxpayers. |
| Caregiving, Long Term Care Policy Proposal Discussions Bring Advocates ... - PR Newswire Posted: 21 Sep 2009 12:02 PM PDT WASHINGTON and RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "It's more dangerous to be a home health aide than it is to be a coal miner(1)." Howard Gleckman, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, said that as he described the state of home health care in the U.S. at Genworth Financial's Fourth Annual Long Term Care Symposium on Monday, September 14, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090921/PH78949-a ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090921/PH78949-b ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090921/PH78949-c ) As aging baby boomers put unprecedented demands on the nation's long term care resources, Gleckman, who served as moderator of the Symposium, also noted that 80 percent of the long term care giving taking place in the U.S. is done by informal caregivers, often family members or close friends who receive no financial compensation. As most people who require long term care services prefer to be taken care of at home rather than in a nursing or assisted living facility, Gleckman said that it is becoming critical that society acknowledge and address the stresses being placed on caregivers, most of whom have no formal training in providing care. Genworth Financial's Long Term Care Symposium is held annually to discuss and evaluate public policy issues surrounding the state of long term care across the nation. As Congress addresses healthcare reform and its many components, this year's event emphasized the need for a national long term care strategy including funding, education and support for the caregiver. Additionally, the event served to highlight the viability of numerous legislative proposals in support of caregivers aimed at helping to solve the nation's long term care challenges. Part of the emotional strain facing many home care givers results from low wages paid for providing such services. According to Genworth's "A Workforce to Care for our Aging" 2008 white paper, 19% of home care aides and 16% of nursing home aides are compensated at a level insufficient for them to rise above the poverty line. The report adds that the typical working family caregiver loses approximately $110 per day in wages and health benefits due to care giving responsibilities. Suzanne Mintz, co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) added, "The wellbeing of family caregivers and direct care workers are inextricably tied together. As the wages of the latter go up, it makes it that much harder for family caregivers to purchase the services they need. The solution to this ironic situation is that easing the financial strain on family caregivers must go hand in hand with raising the wages of direct care workers." Recognizing the urgent need for a comprehensive national long term care strategy, Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-LA) said in his opening remarks that, "We've got to do much more with regard to long term care and how it's provided, how it's financed." He noted that "most seniors did not realize that Medicare doesn't do much in terms of providing for long term care." Author and expert on aging Virginia Morris said national education campaigns -- like Genworth's "Let's Talk" program (www.genworth.com/lets-talk), aimed at providing families with the planning tools necessary to prepare for future long term care obligations -- "will be critical in the years ahead." Also on the symposium agenda was an in-depth discussion about the various individual legislative proposals addressing long term care. Panelists for that session included Congressional staff members:
Genworth Financial's fourth annual Long Term Care Symposium was organized with the cooperation and guidance of:
To view excerpts from Genworth Financial's Fourth Annual Long Term Care Symposium, visit http://genworth.edgeboss.net/download/genworth/5700_ltcsymp_akamai.wmv. About Genworth Financial Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a leading Fortune 500 global financial security company. Genworth has more than $100 billion in assets and employs approximately 6,000 people with a presence in more than 25 countries. Its products and services help meet the investment, protection, retirement and lifestyle needs of more than 15 million customers. Genworth operates through three segments: Retirement and Protection, U.S. Mortgage Insurance and International. Its products and services are offered through financial intermediaries, advisors, independent distributors and sales specialists. Genworth Financial, which traces its roots back to 1871, became a public company in 2004 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit Genworth.com. From time to time Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of Genworth.com. (1) Bureau of Labor Statistics, The injury rate for coal miners is 3.6 per 100 workers. The official rate is 4.1 for home health aides SOURCE Genworth Financial Website: http://www.genworth.com/lets-talk  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How much does a baby cost? - Globe and Mail Posted: 21 Sep 2009 01:42 PM PDT I don't have children, yet. But in the past year I've helped welcome seven babies into the world. I've watched as my family and friends adjusted, some better than others, to this new addition in their lives. Many new parents say the first year is often the toughest one - physically, mentally and financially. One reason having a baby is so expensive is that one of you will likely stop working, at least temporarily. New Canadian mothers are entitled to 15 weeks of pregnancy leave after giving birth. After that, there's an additional 35 weeks of parental that either parent can take. And although the stay-at-home parent can collect employment Insurance benefits, provided they qualify, they amount to only a portion of Mom or Dad's previous full-time salary. Last week, a federal board ruled that parents of twins can each receive EI benefits for full parental leaves. At the same time your household income drops, your expenses are rising. The first year of a child's life is usually one of the priciest, costing the average parents upwards of $8,000 in extra expenses. If you're expecting a bundle of joy in the near future, check out this baby cost calculator for a detailed list of what items baby will need and how much they could set you back. Keep in mind the information is in U.S. dollars and that American parents, who head back to work much earlier, pay for day care or a nanny for most of that first year.
 Pregnant woman. Outside of child care, there are plenty of necessary baby items that can certainly add up: crib, playpen, bassinet, changing table, baby bath and car seat, to name a few. You'll pay more for additional usage of utilities like electricity and water - just think of all that additional laundry - as well as clothing and food. Babycenter.ca has some good tips for new parents looking to cut costs in the first year. When it comes to furniture, for example, their advice is to make a list of what you really need. You can find a sturdy new crib for around $250. Of course, you can also find one for $1,250. But don't assume a higher price tag means a safer product. All cribs have to meet the same government safety standards. When you're looking at cribs, consider one that adapts as your child grows, converting from a crib to a toddler bed to a day bed. That can save you money down the road. Viewpoints.com and eBay.ca are two sites that offer reviews and price comparisons for a variety of makes and models. You can also post a request for items on local parenting sites or on Craigslist.ca. Often times people only use or need baby items for a few months and then they're ready to get rid of it at a fraction of the original price. For the 75 (seriously) or so diapers that new parents are changing a week, consider signing up at diaper manufacturers' websites to get coupons – every little bit helps for these necessary purchases. Stores like Babies "R" Us offer coupons periodically on a variety of basic baby items, including diapers. Just sign up at the store to receive coupons by mail or online for promo codes. It's also a good idea to list some of the basics on your baby registry, so that your friends and family can pitch in on big-ticket items like a car seat, stroller, and high chair.
 iStockphoto Another option for cost-savings is to consider going the cloth diaper route. Cloth diapers have come a long way but they certainly aren't for everyone. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons. From a financial standpoint, you will save money using cloth over disposable. However, keep in mind that to save money you need to wash the cloth diapers yourself instead of sending them to a laundering service. One of the best ways to save on baby items is to ask for hand-me-downs from friends with older kids. Five out of the seven new babies I know are girls. They rotate clothes, toys and baby gear. This especially makes sense for age-specific gear like baby swings and bumbos, things a baby outgrows quickly and then end up collecting dust in the basement. Another way to offset the costs of raising a child is to take advantage of some of the tax deductions, tax credits, and other benefits offered by the federal and provincial governments. You may not qualify for all of these, but you'll certainly be eligible for some. Make sure to apply as early as you can, as it takes time to process the applications. The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) is a government program that gives Canadian families $100 (pre-tax) each month for each child under the age of six. Although it was designed to help cover child care costs, your baby does not need to be in a daycare for you to receive this benefit. However, you do need to fill out an application in order to receive the payment. Apply online here. New parents should also look into the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), which is aimed at low and middle-income families. The amount is based on the age and number of children, family income, and child care expenses. Benefits are paid monthly and are non-taxable. There is a basic benefit for each child under 18. Check out this website or call 1-800-387-1193 for more information. You may be able to deduct child care expenses from your income when you're filling out your tax return, so make sure to keep receipts for your child care expenses—from nannies to nursery schools, day and overnight camps. The Canada Revenue Agency site has more information on the deductions. For more on how parents are saving money visit forums like canadianparents.ca. Or, organize a get together once a month for the new parents you know, to check in and see how everyone is managing and what they're learning. And, it's a great opportunity to swap some of that old baby stuff you have lying around and take home some new items. Angela Self writes for Globeinvestor.com weekly. She is one of the founders of the Smart Cookies, a group of five women who specialize in personal finance. They are hosts of a self-titled show on the W Network and the authors of The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough. Find out more about them at Smartcookies.com  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Family Seeks Answers In Deaths Of Teen, Baby - WSOC-TV Posted: 21 Sep 2009 01:35 PM PDT Posted: 4:40 pm EDT September 21, 2009Updated: 5:28 pm EDT September 21, 2009 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Eyewitness News is digging deeper into the past of a pregnant teen gunned down at her bus stop, specifically her time in the state's foster care system.Tiffany Wrights biological family is also doing some legwork to uncover the circumstances behind the teens pregnancy and death one week ago. Wright's infant daughter was delivered at 32 weeks but did not survive.Wright's biological grandmother, Shirley Boston, said, "I feel very cheated, very cheated. I lost my granddaughter and my great-grandbaby." Boston said she came down from Buffalo, N.Y., for one purpose: to get answers."No one has made themselves available to her family, no one. The police department, social services, no one," Boston said.Boston said the family lost touch with Wright and her mother several years ago, but they reconnected last August and learned the teen was living with her adopted mother, Alma Wright, in Kings Mountain.Court records show that after Alma Wright's death in January, her son, Royce Mitchell, was granted temporary guardianship of the teen a month later. Sources say 36-year-old Mitchell fathered the teens baby. He's also a person of interest in her slaying.When asked if she believed Mitchell was responsible for Tiffany Wright's death, Boston said, "Yes, I do believe that, and I also believe there was a conspiracy.""How does social services put her with him in the first place?" she asked.Eyewitness News asked the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services the same thing. Reporter Tenikka Smith e-mailed a spokeswoman a detailed list of specific questions but was told the agency cannot comment on the case.Court records show a Cleveland County woman also wanted to adopt Wright, and Boston said for the past year she had been working to gain custody her granddaughter. She said now she is fighting to get her justice."I'm going to get some answers," Boston said.Mitchell, although charged with rape, has not been charged in the death of Wright or her baby. Copyright 2009 by WSOCTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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