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William O'Boyle: Wolf Administration raises awareness of suicide prevention among veterans

Times Leader - 9/12/2021

Sep. 12—WILKES-BARRE — Members of the Wolf administration gathered this week at the YWCA Greater Harrisburg to raise awareness about veteran suicide — a health crisis taking the lives of about 20 veterans a day nationwide.

The event was held in recognition of September being National Suicide Prevention Month.

"Our veterans deserve our gratitude and our support for their service to our country," said Go. Tom Wolf. "It's important to show our thanks by providing critical resources to our at-risk veterans. My administration is committed to supporting our veterans in a variety of ways, including suicide prevention efforts."

Assembling to talk about how to reduce the number of veteran suicides were the Department of Aging (PDA), Department of Corrections (DOC), Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, as well as other veteran advocates.

"It is important that we all continue to have discussions about suicide and let our loved ones in crisis know that there is hope," said Dr. Daniel L. Jurman, DMin, executive director of the Governor's Office of Advocacy & Reform. "Pooling resources and raising awareness is a strong approach to sending the message that we all care and that help is available. Through a number of initiatives, Gov. Wolf has kept suicide prevention and behavioral health and wellness in the forefront, and his administration will work vigorously to reduce the number of veteran suicides."

"Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than Americans who never served in the military, and the risk factor for female veterans is even higher at 2.2 times," said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania's adjutant general and head of the DMVA. "Veterans are a proud and humble group of people and may be reluctant to ask for help. I want you to know we are here for you. We are thankful to Governor Wolf, our sister state agencies and community partners who advocate on behalf of veterans at risk."

"No matter your background, mental health and personal crises can touch any of us at any point. When you're going through this, it can be easy to turn inward and not let others around you know what you're experiencing, but your life and your health are too important to go through these feelings alone," said DHS Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes. "We're all living through a time that has changed our routines and way of life in order to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities more broadly. If you are experiencing difficult emotions or feelings of hopelessness, your feelings are valid. Just as you don't want your loved ones to feel alone in this, you also are not alone and help is always available."

Gov. Wolf has launched a number of initiatives focused on suicide prevention. Leading the way on veteran suicide prevention efforts has been the federal Veterans AdministrationSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families. Within Pennsylvania, this program is led by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

If you are a veteran in crisis — or you are concerned about one — free, confidential support is available 24/7. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, send a text message to 838255, or chat online.

Statewide tracking system for

sexual assault evidence introduced

State Sen. Katie Muth, D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks, House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia/Delaware), and state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, this week introduced legislation to establish a statewide tracking system for sexual assault evidence administered jointly by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Department of Health.

The legislation would allow victims of sexual assault to track the status of their evidence and give them information on who to contact for more information. The bill would also create an Advisory Committee to help develop and implement best practices in creating and maintaining a tracking system.

"If we are serious about empowering victims and increasing transparency, we need to establish a tracking system that gives victims timely access to their evidence and updates on their cases," Muth said. "Every sexual assault kit is more than a number — it is the face of an individual who lived through hell and deserves justice."

The first rape kit tracking law was implemented in Michigan in 2014. In total, 30 states and Washington DC have either implemented or are in the process of implementing sexual assault kit tracking systems.

"This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. We all want to give survivors of sexual assault every tool at their disposal to seek justice and begin the healing process," McClinton said. "This common-sense legislation will establish a one-stop tracking system for people to get answers regarding the most traumatic and stressful event of their lives."

Tracking systems provide for a comprehensive analysis of total rape kits in a state, showing how many are in possession of the hospital, in law enforcement custody, and sitting at state labs either awaiting testing or that have been tested. The establishment of a statewide tracking system would also help prevent a backlog of untested rape kits.

"Despite many improvements to the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act, too many victims of sexual assault in Pennsylvania still struggle to access updates on the status of their rape kits. It is simply unacceptable for a person who survived such a brutal attack to also have to endure delays created by the system," Toohil added. "This bill would provide more transparency and allow victims of sexual assault, abuse and rape to log into the database for real-time updates concerning their case."

The legislators indicated that companion bills were introduced as Senate Bill 860 and House Bill 1848.

Sen. Toomey encourages approval

of Pa. major disaster declaration

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, this week urged President Joe Biden to approve Gov. Tom Wolf's request for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to damage incurred from Tropical Depression Ida.

"Preliminary joint damage assessments conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Pennsylvania estimate that damages currently stand at $117 million," Toomey said. "This likely does not capture the extent of the damages as assessments from Chester and Fulton counties have yet to be completed.

"Additionally, at least five fatalities have occurred in the Commonwealth as a result of this event. As emergency response measures proceed in these counties, costs continue to escalate and local resources are unable to keep pace.

"Granting emergency aid through the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act will allow access to federal resources and programs designed to facilitate a successful recovery."

School districts should keep bus

driver background checks on file

Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor this week reminded school districts facing a shortage of bus drivers not to cut corners regarding driver background checks required by state law.

"Bus driver background checks help to keep Pennsylvania's children safe," DeFoor said. "School districts must make sure that every driver, regardless of whether the driver works for a contractor, has secured all required background clearances."

DeFoor noted that his audit team checks to make sure driver background checks are valid and current when auditing school districts. School districts must also retain those records and not simply rely on transportation contractors to do so.

State law requires school districts, charter schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools to have the following documentation on all bus drivers:

—Valid driver's license with S-endorsement for operation of a school bus

—Annual physical examination

—Criminal Background Check (PA State Police)

—Federal Criminal History Record (FBI)

—Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

—Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form PDE 6004

Also, under state law, there is a recertification requirement for the state and federal background checks and the child abuse clearance every five years.

State Police release Labor Day

holiday crash/enforcement data

Members of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) arrested 587 motorists for driving under the influence and issued 9,968 speeding citations during the four-day Labor Day weekend from Sept. 3-6, 2021.

Colonel Robert Evanchick is Pennsylvania's State Police Commissioner

Troopers also cited 737 people for not wearing seat belts and issued 120 citations to drivers for failing to secure children in safety seats.

Six people lost their lives in crashes investigated by the state police, with alcohol cited as a factor in one of the fatal collisions.

Troopers responded to a total of 674 crashes — in which 209 people were injured — over the long holiday weekend.

During the 2020 Labor Day weekend, seven individuals died and 186 people were injured in the 678 crashes investigated by PSP.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.

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