January 9

Alzheimer's and Dementia Bills Signed

Governor Scott Walker signed Assembly Bills 786, 787, and 790 into law at Options for Independent Living in Green Bay. All three bills focus on building dementia-friendly communities throughout Wisconsin.

Assembly Bill 786 – works to help counties create better response plans for people with dementia who experience a crisis. The bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to prepare a proposal for a pilot program for coalitions of two or more counties to create dementia crisis units. These crisis units will aim to assist county staff, including law enforcement and county health officials, in their ability to respond to people with dementia experiencing crisis. Successful crisis units can help reduce traumatic experience for individuals with dementia and save taxpayer money by avoiding both unnecessary emergency room visits and involuntary civil commitments at nearby psychiatric hospitals or the State of Wisconsin’s Winnebago Mental Health Institute. It is Act 272.

Assembly Bill 787 – provides $1 million of additional funding for respite care that is distributed to all 72 Wisconsin counties under the Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP). Caregivers often experience physical, emotional, and financial stress due to the many responsibilities of helping their loved ones with dementia maintain quality of life as their memory deteriorates. Respite care offers relief for caregivers, including adult day care, or short-term in-house assistance, which may allow caregivers to increase the length of time they are able to keep their loved ones at home, as opposed to a nursing home. The bill additionally raises the income eligibility limit under the AFCSP from $40,000 to $48,000 and extends access to all 11 of Wisconsin’s federally-recognized Indian tribes or bands. It is Act 273.

Assembly Bill 790 – provides $250,000 in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) for the Department of Health Services (DHS) to award grants to counties or regions to provide training for mobile crisis teams to better respond to people experiencing dementia-related crises. Mobile crisis teams may include local health practitioners, counselors and social workers, and other local staff who partner with local law enforcement to respond to a crisis. It is Act 274.

Veteran Unemployment Rate Decline

Wisconsin’s 2015 unemployment rate for military veterans declined to 3.6 percent and tied for 14th lowest in the country, according to data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The annual average unemployment rate for all veterans 18 years of age and older was a full percentage point below the national rate of 4.6 percent, according to the BLS report.

"In two years, Wisconsin's annual average unemployment rate for veterans has fallen by more than half,” Governor Walker said. “Since taking office, we have committed to helping those who have bravely served our country apply their tremendous skills and abilities toward family-supporting jobs when they return home. We encourage all Wisconsin employers who are seeking highly skilled, motivated team players and leaders to consider hiring veterans."

The state's veteran unemployment rate for veterans 18 years of age and older declined every year since 2011:

Year	WI Veterans	WI Nonveterans
2015	3.6	4.4
2014	4.1	5.4
2013	7.6	6.5
2012	8.4	6.8
2011	8.9	7.5

The source of the annual average veteran unemployment rate is the Current Population Survey and is based on surveys of 60,000 households. The annual average population of total veterans in Wisconsin was approximately 404,000 and its veteran labor force was about 214,000, according to the BLS report.

The BLS' Employment Situation of Veterans – 2015 is available online.

Income Tax Assistance

Income tax returns are due on April 18th this year, and you may be seeking assistance with filing your state and federal tax returns. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Wisconsin. Volunteers trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) prepare basic income tax returns for free. Most VITA sites also offer free electronic filing.
VITA income tax assistance is available for:
• Low-to-moderate income individuals (generally income of $53,000 or less)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Non-English speaking taxpayers
• Military personnel
• Elderly individuals
• Individuals who qualify for the homestead credit or the earned income credit
DOR sponsors five sites and there are dozens of other sites throughout the state. You can search for a VITA site near you and see the hours of operation. Many sites require an appointment and you should contact the site directly to schedule an appointment.
More information about the VITA program is available here.

Relay for Life-Capping Cancer on Main

A new exciting addition to the Relay for Life in Tomahawk on June 25th will be the Main Street Team Capping Cancer on Main. At the Kick-Off meeting at the American Legion, 60 feet of line with 40 Caps from just TWO men was unveiled. All men & women are encouraged to donate their caps to be a vivid physical reminder of all the folks that have battled cancer. 4 locations in Downtown Tomahawk to donate your caps will be at The Rodeo Saloon & Restaurant, Tomahawk Furniture & Gun, Bumper to Bumper or the American Legion. Donations to the Relay for Life Main Street Team will be accepted at the American Legion. Please make out Checks to Relay for Life of Tomahawk. The volunteers from the American Legion Auxiliary will be stringing the caps that will be hung from the light poles & buildings in downtown Tomahawk on the route of the Relay for Life the week prior to June 25th. Please be generous as you scour your shelves & closets looking for those caps; you certainly can donate them or Dollars In Memory Of or In Honor Of those significant in your lifetime. We can Paint the Town Purple … and this will be a visual reminder of the many people who stand with our Relay for Life Teams!!

For additional information contact Main Street Team Chairman Claudia Osero, 715-612-1161 or the Tomahawk Main Street 715-453-1090

Upcoming Events in Northern Wisconsin