“Nursing Home Week is the perfect time for Pennsylvania to pledge its commitment to our rapidly growing senior population,” Barth said. “We need a bold new plan to address how to provide senior services to the state’s low income seniors; not the same approach of cutting rates and crossing our fingers with the hope that our members’ investment in charity care and rate increases on private pay residents will raise enough money to bail out the government.”

The proposed state budget would cut rates paid to nursing facilities caring for Medicaid residents by 4 percent. This comes at a time when Pennsylvania’s senior population is at its largest, with over 300,000 residents age 85 and over.

“This cut should worry every family in Pennsylvania who is fighting to make ends meet and has a loved one who requires senior care,” Barth said. “To pay for the cuts, care providers will have to raise rates on private paying nursing home residents. Additionally, the dedicated nursing staff who care for these seniors will be punished with frozen or reduced wages and benefits – in essence a stealth tax increase on these most vulnerable citizens.”

Under current funding mandates, Medicaid funded nursing facilities are the only option for low-income Pennsylvanians needing 24-hour care and services. However, many could be cared for in personal care or assisted living at a substantially lower rate if the state expanded the options to serve more residents.

If personal care reimbursements are expanded, taxpayers could save as much as $90 million a year by transferring nearly 3,000 seniors currently in nursing facilities to personal care homes that could better meet their needs.

“The LeadingAge PA plan will allow us to provide a real, expanded senior care system for Pennsylvania. Nursing facilities serve a very necessary purpose, and LeadingAge PA salutes the dedicated people who provide services to those who need intensive 24 hour long term care services.  But the State must commit to developing a delivery and payment system that incorporates all parts of senior services so that those in need can get the right service at the right time for the most value of scarce state tax dollars,” Barth said.

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About LeadingAge PA

Founded in 1963, LeadingAge PA (formerly PANPHA) is a trade association representing over 350 not-for-profit providers of services, housing and health care for aging seniors throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More information about LeadingAge PA is available on our website, www.leadingagepa.org.

“We’re proud to welcome such a dynamic and accomplished team to Valley Forge Casino Resort,” said Resort President and CEO Saverio “Sal” R. Scheri III. “Our chefs will set the bar high with every carefully prepared menu item. When guests dine with Valley Forge Casino Resort, they will enjoy a truly memorable experience.”

As part of the new sophisticated and exclusive Valley Forge Casino Resort, seven new restaurants will offer guests countless culinary delights, including the freshest steaks at Pacific Prime, a true Italian experience at Viviano, and tremendous Asian cuisine at Asianoodle. The other new restaurants are Valley Tavern, Nosh Deli, American Grill and Italian Market. For more information about the dining options, please visit www.vfcasino.com.

Food and beverage team members are as follows:

• Martin Doyle, Vice President of Food and Beverage: Doyle opened and ran all food and beverage operations at Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, while working with Emeril Lagasse to open Lagasse’s three restaurants there. He previously worked as regional executive chef for The Lyons Group, opening three restaurants at The Pier Shops at Caesars. Working with Philadelphia’s own Susanna Foo, he was executive chef at Suilan in the Borgata Hotel Casino. Doyle was a previous partner at Twenty 21 in Philadelphia, as well. He also shared his talents in New York City at Windows of the World with legendary chef and mentor Philippe Feret, and worked in New York restaurants 21 Club and Café Centro. In Europe, he worked at Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.

• Aaron Heinemeyer, Director of Restaurants: Heinemeyer’s more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry include a stint as the general manager for celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burger Palace.  His experience also includes positions as director of food and beverage for the Clearwater Casino Resort outside of Seattle, Wash., and operator of a premier Manhattan restaurant and nightclub hot spot.

• Anna Schneider, General Manager: With 15 years in the hospitality industry, Schneider has worked with many world-renowned chefs, including James Beard Award-winners Barbara Lynch and Guillermo Tellez. She helped to open Philadelphia’s Square 1682, and most recently she spent five years with hospitality leaders Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants in multiple cities.

• Michael Inferrera, Executive Chef: Inferrera’s vast experience in the culinary arts includes stints working under renowned chefs George Perrier and Chris Scarduzio. He has held many top positions, including chef de cuisine at Philadelphia powerhouse Table 31, chef de cuisine at Mia in the Caesars Casino in Atlantic City, and executive chef at the White Oaks Country Club in Newfield, N.J.

• Chris Garrison, Executive Sous Chef: With a diverse culinary background, Garisson’s past positions include executive chef of the Cove at Riverview in Harrah’s Chester Casino and executive chef of Bien Shur restaurant at Sandia Resort and Casino in New Mexico. He also held culinary positions in San Diego at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and at Del Mar Country Club and Fiore, both with celebrated French chef Thierry Bregeon.

• Wei Wen, Sous Chef:  A native of Hainan, China, Wen has competed in the Food Network show “Chopped.” He has served as chef de cuisine for famed Philadelphia Chef Susanna Foo, helping her bring her highly successful restaurant, Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen, from Philadelphia’s Walnut Street to the Main Line. He also has worked as chef de cuisine at Temptation in New York City and the Borgata Hotel Casino’s Mixx.

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About Valley Forge Casino Resort

Valley Forge Casino Resort is the region’s only full-amenity gaming resort, featuring 486 guest rooms and suites, and 600 of the latest and most popular slot machines, along with 50 of the best table games. The resort also includes the area’s hottest new nightclub, 7, and 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit, meeting, conference and banquet facilities. Overnight guests also can enjoy Valley Forge’s signature fitness center and spa.

Duties include: drafting press releases, op-eds and letters to the editor; pitching stories to the press; managing social media programs; and compiling media reports.

The ideal candidate will be a college junior or senior who is an excellent writer, familiar with media relations, articulate and well-organized.

Journalism, public relations, communications and similar majors are encouraged to apply.

Please no phone calls.  Send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Kara Luzik at kara@latorrecommunications.com or mail to:

La Torre Communications

Re: Internship

509 N. Second St.

Harrisburg, PA 17101

Deadline to apply is April 25.

However, there are many opportunities to achieve savings without sacrifice by privatizing the delivery of state-supported children and youth services.

In fact, the privatization of Pennsylvania’s delinquent youth treatment centers would save the state millions of dollars without cutting a single service.

Throughout Pennsylvania, there are seven state-run Youth Development Centers and Youth Forestry Camps that serve about 600 delinquent youths.

These centers are funded mostly by state dollars; however, the per diem cost of treating youth in these state-run facilities is significantly higher than their privately run counterparts — close to double in some instances.

Some state-secure facilities are approaching $500 a day per youth.

However, private agencies, many of which are nonprofit, deliver identical care to thousands of Pennsylvania youth at a fraction of the cost of these state-run facilities.

By treating Pennsylvania’s delinquent children in private youth centers, taxpayers would immediately gain upward of a 30 percent to 50 percent savings based on the lower service costs of the private providers.

With the current state budget of $72 million for these programs, taxpayers would see a savings of more than $20 million upon the privatization of these services.

To put it simply, the current state system is designed in a way that undermines common-sense fiscal management.

Counties have, as they should, ultimate control over youth placements.

Choosing to invest in private providers will create a competitive marketplace in which counties can choose from a variety of services at a better cost to taxpayers.

The use of private youth centers isn’t only in the best interest of Pennsylvania taxpayers, but private facilities also are in the best interest of the youth and families they serve.

Private providers have a successful track record in delivering quality care.

In fact, in a 2010 report issued by the Department of Justice, found that private youth centers often received higher safety ratings than state-run centers.

The privatization of youth centers has proved successful in several other states.

Ten years ago, Florida transitioned the children in its state-run facilities into private youth centers.

The results reported by the Miami Herald in 2011 showed many positive factors that contributed to significant cost savings for Florida’s Department of Children and Families.

Texas also embarked on privatization of its youth services and, after extensive research, published an August 2008 report finding that private providers were more effective and efficient than the state in the actual delivery of direct services to at-risk children.

Youth Services Alliance of Pennsylvania believes in right-sizing the current state Youth Development Centers and Youth Forestry Camp system — not completely eliminating the system — to achieve significant cost savings in the best interest of taxpayers and children.

The state system can be greatly reduced by transitioning youth to already available open spaces in private facilities.

On the heals of the Corbett administration’s release of the Pennsylvania Justice Reinvestment Initiative, creating more effective ways to work with today’s at-risk youth is the perfect way to invest in the reduction of criminal activity.

Pennsylvania can reduce crime by making sound investments in the private sector.

At a time when we cannot afford to waste a single penny of the state budget, investing in the juvenile justice, private provider community is the perfect option to achieve relief from today’s budgetary concerns, support quality programming for youth and reduce future crime to make our communities safer.

Craig Adamson is president of Youth Service Alliance of Pennsylvania.

As seen on PennLive.com.

Watch video of the tour on LATC-TV.

“March 31 will mark the culmination of all the hard work done by our outstanding construction and management teams,” said Valley Forge Casino Resort President and CEO Saverio “Sal” R. Scheri III. “Our guests will walk into an unmatched, sophisticated, casino-resort experience that they simply won’t find anywhere else. We look forward to opening our doors to the community and creating more than 650 jobs for area working families.”

Valley Forge Casino Resort is the region’s only full-amenity gaming resort, featuring 486 guest rooms and suites. A luxurious and exciting casino floor features 600 of the latest and most popular slot machines, along with 50 of the best table games, including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker and Baccarat.

Guests also will enjoy a chic nightclub, hosting the area’s hottest DJs, a lively dance floor and signature bottle service.  The casino’s seven new, upscale restaurants will feature Italian, Asian and American cuisine, as well as the freshest seafood and prime steaks. Three micro-restaurants will be located on the casino floor adjacent to a grand central bar. Several new bars and lounges featuring great live entertainment will be located throughout the resort.

Business travelers and conference-goers will find everything they need, including 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit, meeting, conference and banquet facilities. Overnight guests also can enjoy an assortment of new retail stores, as well as a Valley Forge signature fitness center and spa.

Final opening will be subject to the successful completion of a test period and final approval by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Watch news coverage on LATC-TV!

“The only way it can be done is they’re going to have to cut people loose that shouldn’t be cut loose,” said Roy Pinto, president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association.

Read the full story by Donald Gilliland in the Patriot-News.

“With seven new restaurants, lounges, a nightclub and bars, we look forward to hiring hundreds of talented professionals for these great jobs,” said Valley Forge Casino Resort President and CEO Saverio “Sal” R. Scheri III. “Our staff will be great ambassadors to what will be a truly sophisticated and upscale experience here at Valley Forge Casino Resort.”

Valley Forge Casino Resort is the region’s only full-amenity gaming resort. Seven new restaurants will provide everything from an exclusive steakhouse experience to delicious American, Italian and Asian cuisine.

Food and beverage positions include shift managers, cooks, stewards, restaurant servers, bartenders, model cocktail talent and bar porters. Job fair attendees are asked to bring copies of their resume. Applications also are being accepted online at: www.vfcasino.com.

Watch news coverage of Valley Forge Casino Resort’s job fair on LATC-TV!

When you need an expert to weigh in on public safety, health care, child welfare or many other critical issues, please consider speaking to our clients.

Our media kit features: Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, Leading Age PA and Youth Services Alliance of Pennsylvania.

For more information, please view the online copy of our media kit: LATC Media Kit

Media Contact: David La Torre, 717-608-6337, david@latorrecommunications.com

“One of the core functions of government is public safety. Despite difficult economic times, Gov. Corbett, by fully funding a large cadet class, has shown he’s committed to providing for the protection of 12 million Pennsylvania residents. We urge the legislature to also recognize this most vital function of state government and protect the funding targeted for state police operations. With the increasing workload of truck inspections, responding to increased traffic incidents, and receiving more calls for assistance directly related to the expansion of Marcellus shale drilling, now, more than ever additional resources and personnel are needed. On behalf of all enlisted state troopers, the PSTA applauds Gov. Corbett for his commitment to providing our department with the cadet classes and tools necessary to achieve our mission.”

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About PSTA

The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association represents 4,300 state police officers serving Pennsylvania. PSTA exists to help protect those who protect us, and to serve those who serve the Commonwealth.  For more information about PSTA, visit www.psta.org .