Energy Information, Resources and Highlights

Staying Warm this Winter

December 13, 2011 pfcsup

Winter is fast approaching! Keep your home safe and warm this winter with these great resources!

Heating Assistance/LIHEAP, this federally-funded program helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel sources and furnace repairs in the winter and is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. LIHEAP Hotline is 1-866-857-7095

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/foradults/heatingassistanceliheap

PA Weatherization website helps low-income families weatherize their homes to help save on energy costs. Select your county for contact information. http://www.paweatherization.org

The Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) offers help for families who qualify under their Home Repair Programs, they aid families with heater repairs and roofing. Visit their website at www.phdchousing.org

The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) offers to help families in Philadelphia County lower their energy costs by helping families conserve their energy. The ECA offers a variety of help, from their Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to their Utility Emergency Service Fund. The ECA also links you to LIHEAP (Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program) and a Heather Hotline. If you need Energy Assistance or just want to find out the best ways to conserve, visit their website, Energy Coordination Agency

Their Heater Hot line is (215) 568-7190

Uncategorized

PA Senate Bill Replaces term “Mental Retardation” with “Intellectual Disability

December 1, 2011 pfcsup

The Pennsylvania State Senate Bill NO.458, Printers NO. 1299 which was passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House amends the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 by renaming it the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act. This amendment will change the language used in the entire law, which defines the term and controls the Department of Public Welfare’s use of the term.This legislation renames the existing act and replaces the terms “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability.”

The amended Act replaces the current definition as: “Intellectual disability” means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning that is accompanied by significant limitations in adaptive functioning in at least two of the following skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social and interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self-direction, functional
academic skills, work, health and safety. The onset must occur before the individual’s twenty second birthday.

Information provided by the PA Department of Public Welfare, Office of Developmental Programs’ Public Notices on November 29, 2011