Focus: May is Mental Health Month
May is Mental Health Month and presents a great opportunity to offer practical tips that all people can use to help balance everyday stresses, increase their awareness of mental health issues, and improve their overall health. Visit the National Mental Health of America's website and get activity guides and fact sheets that you can use to promote mental health awareness throughout your community and in the workforce system.
Mental Health America founded May is Mental Health Month 50 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental health for all. This year's theme, "Get Connected" is focused on the important role social connectedness plays in maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness. More information.
Focus on Mental Health: Upcoming Events
- List of events happening statewide from Mental Health America of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin United for Mental Health Calendar of Events
- Mental Health America's 2008 Conference on June 4 to 7 in Washington, D.C. Promoting wellness across the nation at Mental Health America's 2008 Conference, "No Health Without Mental Health," featuring the Inaugural Promotion and Prevention Summit. To find out more about the program, our speakers and how to register today, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/conference. We have no doubt that each available space will be taken, so please sign up now.
- Children's Mental Health Awareness Week—Panel Discussion: On May 7, join the panel discussion with youth on their experiences with the mental health system and what interventions worked for them. Tally Moses, Assistant Professor, will facilitate the discussion. It will be held at the School of Social Work on May 7th from 12-1:30 in room 300. Continuing Education Units and Hours will be provided. For any questions or additional information, please contact Abby Sharpe at 608-250-6634 ext 112. Download a flyer (PDF).
- Med Get Depression Video: On May 21 from 11:30-1pm the DHFS will be presenting another in its series of Reaching Through Barriers webcasts, featuring a half-hour video on Men Get Depression. The video will focus on men from 30-55 years old. We are seeking men in this age range who have experienced depression who would be willing to be part of a panel that would follow the video. We would also like a psychiatrist who would be able to address questions on treatment experiences for men in this age group. Please contact Shel Gross, shelgross@tds.net or 608-250-4368; or Rebecca Cohen, cohenrw@dhfs.state.wi.us or 608-266-2712.
Focus on Mental Health: Resources
- More about May is Mental Health Month from Mental Health America
- Mental Health America of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin United for Mental Health
- Locate the local Mental Health America Affiliate: For a referral to local services, contact Mental Health America or your local Mental Health America affiliate at 800-969-6642.
- Wisconsin Navigators Toolkit Topic: Mental Health
Ticket Training Tuesday
Maximus provides Ticket Training every Tuesday on a variety of Ticket issues. With the new regulations on the brink of release, Maximus is revising their schedule for trainings after May 6, 2008. To receive updates from Maximus on scheduled Ticket Training Tuesdays, please email enoperations@yourtickettowork.com, subject: "Please add me to the Ticket Training Tuesday email announcements".
Dates:
- May 6, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. EDT to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Topic: Getting Started – Learn the basics of the Ticket to Work Program. Getting Involved – Learn about Ticket assignment and client screening
- May 13, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. EDT to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Topic: To be announced
- May 20, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. EDT to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Topic: To be announced
- May 27, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. EDT to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Topic: To be announced
Registration: There is no need to pre-register. To join the calls, simply dial into the toll-free number below and provide the participant code and your name and contact information to the operator. Note: The call number and participant code will be the same for each call. Check our website at www.yourtickettowork.com to download teleconference materials. For more information on Ticket Training Tuesdays, please contact Felix Stump, 1-866-968-7842 ext 3405 or TDD, 1-866-TDD2-WORK, or www.yourtickettowork.com.
Call-in Number: 1-800-480-6924
Participant Code: Ticket to Work
Over 1,000 EN and VR representatives have participated in the Ticket Training Tuesday's series! Recordings of select sessions are now available on CD-ROM. If you are an Employment Network or are considering becoming an Employment Network and would like a copy of this free CD, please email your request to enoperations@yourtickettowork.com, subject: "Ticket Training Tuesday CD".
Social Security Announces Benefit Increase for 2008
October 17, 2007: Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 54 million Americans will increase 2.3 percent in 2008, the Social Security Administration announced.
Here are the new figures:
- TWP – $670
- SGA – $940/$1,570
- SSI FBR – $637 for individuals and $956 for eligible couples.
Following is a link to the fact sheet with all of the 2008 changes on it:
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2008.htm
If you have any questions, contact your local Work Incentives Representative.
Reauthorization of Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (ETA) this week issued guidance in the form of Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL 5-07) to announce the reauthorization of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program under the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-28) and provide procedural guidance to the states for processing requests for certifications under the consolidated program. On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-432). The legislation extended the WOTC program retroactively to January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007 and merged the Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit (WtWTC) into WOTC and repealed Section 51(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-28) extending the WOTC program through August 31, 2011. TEGL 5-07 is available on ETA's website at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=2534