As people are preparing for holiday gatherings this season, the PA Department of Health (PDH) is offering free COVID-19 testing and take-home tests at nearly a dozen locations across the state.  

The testing is free and open to everyone. COVID-19 community-based testing sites are operated in partnership with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI) offering three forms of testing:    
-point of care tests where tests are performed and results are analyzed on-site,   
-distribution of at-home COVID-19 antigen tests, and   
-administration of the mid-nasal passage swab PCR testing.  

Individuals do not need to be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo ID, but ID is not required to be tested. Appointments are not necessary as registration will be completed on-site. 

Tests can be picked up at the following IUs: 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, and 19

On November 28, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf announced ​the availability of more than $9 million in state grant funding for Single County Authorities (SCAs) to establish or expand crisis stabilization services for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (SUD).

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for enhanced and coordinated behavioral health services in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “This funding opportunity will make use of Pennsylvania’s share of the federal Opioid Distributor Settlement to build on our existing programs and initiatives.”

Grants of up to $3 million will be awarded to eligible SCAs and can be applied toward a range of activities including construction and building infrastructure, staffing, and programming.

“These grants will help expand or establish services to provide a much-needed component to the continuum of care; reduce the burden on first responders, law enforcement, and emergency departments, and provide timely care to individuals in need,” said state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Secretary Jen Smith.

The administration’s goal in offering this funding opportunity is to provide an additional mechanism for counties to invest in infrastructure, staffing, programming, and other necessary components to establish or expand crisis stabilization services.

SUD crisis stabilization services must have the capacity to recognize and manage individuals presenting with a wide range of SUD-related symptoms, mental health disorders, and developmental disabilities. Additionally, services include assessment and stabilization of acute physical and psychiatric symptoms which may include medical management and behavioral interventions, induction on medication-assisted treatment, level of care assessments, short-term stays, and connections to supportive services.

For more information on this Grant Initiative Funding Application, visit the Funding Opportunities page on the DDAP website. Applications must be submitted to [email protected] by 12 PM on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Questions regarding the funding and the application process should be emailed to [email protected]

PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently kicked off an Ag Workforce Tour during a visit to Pequea Valley High School in Kinzers, PA, and farms in Chester and Lancaster counties. The tour celebrates the agriculture jobs that will be available post-graduation and Pennsylvania’s programs preparing them for these in-demand, rewarding careers.

“It’s not a surprise that Pennsylvania has the highest percentage of agricultural producers under 35 years old in the nation,” said Redding. “You can’t feed the world without first nourishing young minds. That starts with solid agriculture education that inspires students to apply their interests in a field that has plentiful opportunities for meaningful, rewarding careers, then connecting them with those opportunities through hands-on experiences in the classroom and in learn-while-you-earn apprenticeships.”

At Pequea Valley High School in Kinzers, he toured a hands-on, award-winning program with classes in ag mechanics, animal science, plant science, food science, and environmental science.

Then at the creamery at Birchrun Hill Farm in Chester Springs, the tour demonstrated sustainable crop production and innovative, processing supported by training through AgConnect Industry Partnerships.

Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry fuels more than 593,000 jobs across the commonwealth, paying nearly $33 billion in wages each year. As the industry innovates, and current workers retire, new opportunities are continually available, with jobs ranging from farm managers to high-tech equipment mechanics, and from field biologists to entomologists to veterinarians. All must be equipped to adapt to changing consumer needs, new technology, and climate challenges.

Through the Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Education have produced a comprehensive agricultural education report for schools across the commonwealth. In coordination with the Departments of Agriculture and Education, the 15-member commission is charged developing a statewide plan for agricultural education. In addition to the commission, the Wolf Administration invests in future generations of agriculturalists through Pennsylvania Farm Bill programs, including the Ag & Youth Grant Program, Farm to School Program, and Farm Vitality Grant Program.

“During our first Ag Workforce Week, we honor the individuals and families involved in agriculture throughout the state and also the programs that help support the industry,” Redding continued. “Programs like Industry Partnerships and state registered apprenticeship programs are critical to building stronger, more competitive industry through training, networking, recruitment, and collaboration – taking careers in ag to the next level.”

At one point, Pennsylvania anticipated a workforce deficit of 75,000 workers as farmers and laborers retire and new technology-based positions become available. This concern was addressed by creating and funding agriculture education opportunities through the PA Farm Bill and supporting agricultural apprenticeships that are preparing the next generation of agriculture and food workers. Also, as part of the PAsmart initiative, seven state-certified agriculture apprenticeships, two pre-apprenticeships were created.

Farmworkers are the backbone of the agricultural industry. Learn about Pennsylvania’s farmworker data through this new tool from the Department of Agriculture, Team Pennsylvania, and Econsult. Data from this tool are intended to help guide policy decisions and also inform diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the department.

To learn more about ag workforce development and related programs, visit the department’s website.