TAKING A STAND – ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION

I believe with strong leadership, hard work and a dedication to problem solving, we can improve the lives of our society and create a new vision for Northern Virginia.The EconomyThere is an enormous need to improve the economic climate within our communities throughout northern Virginia. Thousands of families throughout NOVA are struggling to afford the expenses associated with life, including childcare. To help families within NOVA I support President Obama's strategy to expand the child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help provide relief for parents and care givers. Currently only 35 percent of the first $3,000 incurred from childcare expenses by a family with one child and a family with two or more children the first $6,000. The credit is not refundable, therefore upper-income families unreasonably benefit while families that earn less than $50,000 a year obtain less than a third of the tax credit. I advocate reforming the .. more »

HOW TO GET YOUR PRE-EXISTING CONDITION HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE APPROVED

Having pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart ailments usually put individuals at risk for losing their security since they are considered to be liabilities in the short and long term. You have to show the agencies that you can adequately pay for the premium, as well as stay healthy enough to give them their dues too. Here are some tips from the experts.People Unable to Get CoverageThere are plenty of individuals who are unable to purchase private health insurance because they have a known health condition or problem that is very expensive to treat. Insurance companies have the right to refuse to cover such individuals since they are considered as liabilities and may cost the company more than the actual premium that the individuals pay for. The insurer has to pay for medical fees expected from the individual.When individuals get sick while on a coverage from one insurance carrier, .. more »

PEER MENTORING AND MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY

A peer mentor is typically seen as someone to look up to in a professional sense; someone who knows the ropes, someone to guide you, someone to protect you from making the mistakes they made, and someone to go to when you are unsure or need advice. Peer mentors exist at the school level with upper classmen mentoring underclassmen, and are a well established institution in numerous professions. Recently, however, the use of peer mentors in the mental healthcare field has found its way into American practices. Interestingly enough, peer mentors for mental health recovery treatment plans differ quite remarkably in reference to their duties between the American model of support and that developed by practitioners in the United Kingdom.In cutting-edge American mental health facilities, one is beginning to notice the development of peer support groups and peer mentors. These peer mentors are mental healthcare consumers well on their way .. more »