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August 2011

08/31/2011

Labor Day is fast approaching.  We, as a nation, are several years into a job crisis.  Reports of highly disappointing May and June employment gains accompanied by slow economic growth for the first two quarters of 2011 highlight the urgent need for a national plan to grow the economy.  The unemployment numbers throughout the country mandate legislative, tangible action to address the crisis. 

In response to the dismal unemployment figures, on July 13, 2011, U.S. House of Representative Member, Emanuel Clever, III, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) introduced the “Congressional Black Caucus `For the People’ Jobs Initiative Resolution: H. RES.  348 in the US House–in response to record unemployment and the fact that there has been little or no action on the House floor taken to address this pressing matter.  His rationale basis for the resolution is as follows:

“Over six months into the 112th Congress, no jobs creation legislation has been considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over forty bills by members of the CBC.  It is clear that the unemployment numbers throughout the country require effective legislation and tangible action to address the crisis.  The reported unemployment numbers in the African American community are hovering over sixteen percent. 

The CBC is not standing idly by, but rather with the For the People Jobs Initiative, we are providing all of our constituents with what you need—aggressive action that remedies the stymied economy instead of protecting special interests and embarking on ideological crusades.  To address the unemployment crisis and the need for job creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into communities with legitimate,immediate employment opportunities for the underserved.” 

Like most Americans, US Representative Clever asserts that, “It is time for action on the most important issue of our time—economic opportunity through jobs!  Every American deserves the right to be gainfully employed or own a successful business.”  Clever goes on to state that “…the Congressional Black Caucus is committed to that right and will not rest until there is parity in access to economic opportunity.” 

The text of the resolution he introduced is below. 

RESOLUTION

“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that critical jobs legislation should be considered and passed to address the growing jobs crisis throughout America, and for other purposes. 

Whereasthis resolution may be cited as the `Congressional Black Caucus `For the People’ Jobs Initiative Resolution’;

Whereas over six months into the 112th Congress and no jobs creation legislation has been considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over 40 bills by members of the Congressional Black Caucus (`CBC’);

Whereas the unemployment numbers throughout the country mandate legislative, tangible action to address the crisis;

Whereas the reported unemployment numbers in the African-American community are hovering over sixteen percent and in the double digits in other communities of color in these United States;

Whereas for 40 years the CBC has introduced legislation for the people and has served as the unwavering `Conscience of the Congress’;

Whereas the CBC recently launched the `For the People’ Jobs Initiative to directly address the lack of jobs for people of color by holding job fairs and town hall meetings throughout the country in areas hardest hit by the recession; and

Whereas, to address the unemployment crisis and the need for job creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into communities with legitimate, immediate employment opportunities for the underserved: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should– (1) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the crisis facing communities of color disproportionately; and (2) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the nationwide economic crisis.” 

This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.  For further information visit the websites listed below under sources. 

Is discrimination against the unemployed partly responsible for the nation’s high unemployment?  Some assert that there is convincing evidence that employers are discriminating against the unemployed.  In other words, when reviewing applicants some employers are only electing to interview candidates for vacant positions that are currently employed.  In response to this observed phenomena, Democratic members of congress introduced legislation to prevent discrimination against unemployed workers.  Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s of Connecticut and Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 (2501), which would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers by refusing to consider them for employment.  According to Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release—“In today’s tough economy, more than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months.  But companies across the country have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions, and these discriminatory practices are eliminating employment opportunities.  The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will prevent employers and employment agencies from refusing to consider or offer employment to someone who is unemployed, or including language in any job advertisements or postings that states unemployed individuals are not qualified.  A recent survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), of four of the top job search websites, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com, Monster.com, and CraigsList.com, found over 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed.  And the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows that there are 4.7 unemployed workers for every 1 job opening.”  The legislation introduced by US Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s of Connecticut and Hank Johnson of Georgia , if passed by the House and Senate, would apply to employers with over fifteen (15) employees and would provide protection to job applicants who are discriminated against because they are unemployed.  Key provisions of the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 include but are not limited to:(a) Employers – It shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to–

Refuse to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an individual because of the individual’s status as unemployed;

Publish in print, on the Internet, or in any other medium, an advertisement or announcement for any job that includes—

- any provision stating or indicating that an person’s status as unemployed disqualifies the individual for a job; and

- any provision stating or indicating that an employer will not consider an applicant for employment based on that individual’s status as unemployed; and

3.Direct or request that an employment agency take an individual’s status as unemployed into account in screening or referring applicants for employment. 

Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release aptly states that, “In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed.  We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job.  The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment. 

Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job advertisements and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson.  The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.” 

08/28/2011

Like domestic violence, teen dating violence is a pattern of controlling, and abusive behaviors of one person over another within a romantic relationship.  It can include verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse.  It can occur in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships.  It knows no boundaries and crosses race, socio-economic status, culture, and religion.  Violencecan happen to anyone. 

Annually, 1 out of 11 adolescents reports being a victim of physical dating abuse (CDC 2006).  Many of these cases of teen dating violence could have been prevented by helping adolescents to develop skills for healthy relationships with others (Foshee et al.  2005).  Like adults, teenagers can choose better relationships when they learn to identify the early warning signs of an abusive relationship, understand that they have choices, and believe they are valuable people who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 

This month, many of my posts have addressed issues related to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and exposing myths about this phenomenon.  Access to information is integral to breaking the cycle of violence.  Toward that goal, I would like to direct your attention to very help informational resources related to domestic violence intervention, prevention, and community outreach.  For further information on teen dating violence, here are several websites you can visit: www.thesafespace.org; and www.breakthecycle.org.  Sources: Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).  www.thesafespace.org; and www.breakthecycle.org.  Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

08/27/2011

Date: September 22-24, 2011

Venue: Kansas City, Missouri

Organizers: Douglas Drevets and Pieter Leenen

All submitted abstracts will become posters for the conference upon approval by the review committee.  In addition, some abstracts will also be selected for oral presentation.  These selected abstracts will present BOTH a poster and an oral presentation within the program.  There will be a late breaking abstract submission period in late July and these submissions will be accepted as posters pending approval by the review committee.  These submissions cannot be considered for oral presentation or for awards. 

All abstracts will be published online as an e-JLB issue.  Full internet access will be provided onsite at the hotel in guest rooms and meeting space for online access to the abstracts (bring your own laptop/device).  Printed versions of the abstract booklet will be available for purchase ($25) during the registration process.  Those who purchase an abstract book will receive it on-site at the registration desk upon check-in. – Society for Leukocyte Biology

08/26/2011

August 26, 2011 is Women’s Equality Day.  Forty years ago, at the behest of US Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY), the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”  The date of August 26th was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the nineteenth (19th) Amendment to the US Constitution which grants women the right to vote.  This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.  For many feminists, the observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward reaching full equality. 

In its action alert, 9 to 5 reminds us of the continuing problem of sex-and race-based wage discrimination and the need to achieve pay equity.  The alert reads as follows:

When the Equal Pay Act passed nearly 50 years ago, a woman earned an average of 59 cents for every dollar a man made.  Today, she makes 77 cents.  The annual gap between men and women’s median annual wages is a staggering $10,849.  With more and more families relying on women’s wages to support them in an ailing economy, shortchanging women nearly $11,000 a year is inexcusable. 

Solution:

The Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step in the continuing struggle for women’s rights.  Blocked in the Senate in 2010, when a minority of Senators prevented the bill from moving forward, the Act will be reintroduced by members of Congress this month. The Paycheck Fairness Act would take several steps towards closing the wage gap, including: clarifying acceptable reasons for differences in pay between men and women; prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about or disclose information about employers’ wage policies and their pay rates; making it easier to file class action lawsuits based on equal pay; and requiring the EEOC to survey current pay data and obliging employers to submit pay data identified by race, sex and national origin of employees. 

Action Needed:

Help 9 to5 make change: Contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and urge them to support and sign on to the Paycheck Fairness Act as it is introduced this year.  Women have waited too long for equal wages.  We, as a nation, cannot afford to wait any longer.—9 to 5.  Sources: Women’s History Project.  9 to 5.  The National Committee on Pay Equity.  The Paycheck Fairness Act.  Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

08/24/2011

An increasing number of grandparents have become full-time caregivers for their grandchildren due to AIDS/HIV, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration.  United States Census 2000 indicates that 4.5 million of our nation’s poorest children reside in grandparent-headed households and that number is escalating rapidly.  Data indicates that approximately one-third of these children have no parent present in the home.  The number of children in grandparent-headed households has increased 30 percent since 1990.  Further, the literature on this phenomenon suggests that there are probably many more children in informal care arrangements residing with their grandparents than the data can capture. 

AARP indicates that the majority of grandparents rearing grandchildren are between ages 55 and 64.  Approximately 20 to 25 percent are 65 or older.  While grandparent-headed families cross all socio-economic levels, these grandparents are more likely to live in poverty than are other grandparents.  AARP materials also state that there are eight times more children in grandparent-headed homes than in the foster care system. 

Caring for their grandchildren can have life altering consequences for the grandparents.  Many grandparents have not planned to raise a second family or may be retired and living on a fixed income.  Having sufficient income or resources to provide housing, food, clothing, medicine, and school supplies for their grandchildren may be of critical concern.  Research indicates that children raised by their grandparents are more likely than children in traditional foster care to live in poverty, to have special health and educational needs, and to lack access to health care. 

To let their voices be heard thousands of grandparents raising grandchildren travel to Washington, DC, from countless states to: participate in the National GrandRally, meet with their elected officials, and make their voices heard in support of the needs of kids and their caregivers. 

08/21/2011

According to the 10th International Conference website, “the Martin Fishbein Commemorative Symposium will precede the Opening of AIDSImpact on the first day of the Conference.  This day session will be devoted to the memory of Professor Martin Fishbein, who passed away unexpectedly last year. [ Professor Fishbein] was a long-term member of the AIDSImpact International Board and [a] strong advocate [of the organization of] the first USA-based AIDSImpact Conference in Santa Fe.  Registration for AIDSImpact includes complimentary attendance at this event. “ 

ISHHR functions as a supporting association to regional grassroots organizations and has members in almost 50 countries worldwide.  The human rights issue is a very important one for health workers, and as health professionals we deal with this in many different ways.  We live in a world where these rights are being violated and abused every single day, and where health workers and human rights defenders face enormous challenges in their work to address the consequences of these acts on the health of individuals and communities.  ISHHR’s plays an active role in helping to address these challenges by strengthening the communication between professionals in this area, by promoting the exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills and expertise, and by emphasizing the need for an active defense of human rights. – ISHHR

Organized by: International Society of Health and Human Rights (ISHHR)

08/15/2011

We live in very dangerous times.  There is violence in the streets and for some theviolence continues in their home.  For far too many women/men, violence anddanger are their constant companions.  Despite concerted efforts to eradicatedomestic violence, data indicates that intimate partner violence continues topose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of countlesspersons.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), intimate partner violence results in an estimated (1,200) deaths and two (2) million injuriesamong women and nearly 600,000 injuries among men annually.  Twenty-three (23) percent of women and eleven (11) percent of men aged 18 years or more have a lifetimehistory of intimate partner violence victimization. 

Indigent young women are more vulnerable to domestic violence than women with more personal resources.  Women who are between the ages of 20-24 years old are at thegreatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.  Research indicates thatmost incidents of domestic violence are not reported to the police.  The dearthof safe, decent, affordable housing causes many poor and some middle income womento confront the unenviable choice of homelessness or remaining in a home plaguedby violence and turmoil resulting from domestic violence. 

Prevention is integral in ending domestic violence.  With that understanding, this post discusses the importance of creating a safety plan and where you can find very necessary information on this topic.  In addition to reading this post on the importance of a safety plan, I would recommend that you also read my earlier post entitled, “He Loves Me…He Loves Me Not…He Loves Me?  which discusses the characteristics of both healthy and unhealthy relationships. 

Everyone has a right to be safe.  Toward that goal, it is important to create a safetyplan.  There are many helpful safety planning websites for adult and teenagevictims of domestic as well as elder abuse victims.  If you are in an abusiverelationship, it is particularly important to create a personal safety plan andto share it with others.  Research indicates that if you have been battered inyour present relationship, you should understand that you are never safe. Perhaps, you may feel that the abuse has ceased and the relationship isimproving because the batterer promised to change.  You may even convinceyourself that the abuse will end if you are the “perfect” partner.  Persons whoabuse their partners do not just “stop” the battering behavior.  In fact, researchindicates that often abusive behavior increases over time.  The abusiveincidents tend to occur more frequently and the level of violence escalates.  Asa result, it is critical to create a safety plan. 

Victims of domestic violence do not have control over their partner’s behavior, but theydo have a choice about how to respond.  It is very difficult to decide to leavea relationship and seek safety either with someone they know or in a domesticviolence shelter.  It might take several attempts before battered person canpermanently leave.  In fact, it has been reported that on average it takes sevenattempts to leave an abusive relationship before the victim elects to leavepermanently.  And once they decide that leaving is in their best interest, theystill need to cope with the emotional, physical, and financial issues thatarise.  It is strongly recommend that the victim make a safety plan.  The safetyplan addresses the victim’s and her/his family’s individual situation and helpsto ensure that if she/he decides to leave that she/he is as safe as she/he canbe and have everything that the person needs.