The Milwaukee Post

16 • Milwaukee Post • September 20, 2013 AREA BRIEFS Salvation Army collecting coats for kids SBA Wisconsin seeking 2014 award nominations WAUWATOSA – Parents in Milwaukee County are being encouraged to go through their closets and pull out any winter coats that no longer fit their children to donate to the Condella's Coats for Kids campaign. The slightly used children's coats will be cleaned and distributed to other children who need them. Children's coats in good condition can be donated until Oct. 12. Steinhafels, Johnson Bank, Subway Restaurants and The Salvation Army are all drop-off sites and The Salvation Army works with area schools to distribute coats to school children who need them. For more information visit www.SAmilwaukee.org. MILWAUKEE – The U.S. Small Business Administration's Wisconsin office is seeking nominees in 15 categories for its 2014 awards. The one-page nomination form is due Oct. 4, according to an SBA statement. Awards will be announced in the spring and celebrated at the annual awards breakfast in June. Business categories include small business person of the year and a runner up; export; emerging small business; young entrepreneur; family-owned small business; and entrepreneurial success. Champion categories are veterans' business champion; women in business champion; minority business champion; legal services champion; financial services champion; home-based business champion; small business development center service excellence; and women's business center of excellence. To fill out the nomination form, visit http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/201 4%20awards%20nomination%20w-criteria_0.pdf. Women's Center to host fundraiser at Lakefront Brewery MILWAUKEE – The Women's Center invites young professionals to attend an event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St. Futures Free From Violence will feature live music, heavy appetizers, a raffle and information on how The Women's Center works to counsel children and parents and prevent family violence. Tickets are $30 per person and $50 per couple in advance and $35 per person and $60 per couple at the door. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit www.twcwaukesha.org/Futures.html. Sensenbrenner accepting academy nominations WAUKESHA – U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Menomonee Falls is accepting nominations of youths interested in attending the U.S. Naval, Military, Air Force, or Merchant Marine academies beginning in the summer of 2014. U.S. citizens residing in Wisconsin's Fifth Congressional District who are at least 17 years old, but not past their 23rd birthday as of July 1, 2014, and who have reached their senior year in high school, are invited to apply The deadline for com. pleted applications is Oct. 15, 2013. Once a candidate has submitted an application, an interview will be conducted by a member of the Academy Selection Committee, which is comprised of community leaders from around the area. The interview will include a complete assessment of the candidate's character, motivation, interests, and leadership potential. The congressman will make his nominations to the academies based on the recommendations of his committee. Applications can be sent to Sensenbrenner's office at 120 Bishops Way, Room 154, Brookfield, WI 53005. County will help when Affordable Care Act rolled out Several departments ready to offer assistance, others training to help Special to The Post MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County is taking a proactive approach to help people understand and enroll in health plans as the Affordable Care Act is rolled out Oct. 1. The county's core services provide an opportunity to leverage contacts with the community into enrollment. Using existing resources and staff, county departments will help clients they are already serving understand and enroll in MILWAUKEE – The Consumer the ACA. Financial Protection Bureau released its Milwaukee County is also partnering list of most complained-about banks with the Milwaukee Enrollment Network Tuesday, with U.S. Bank receiving the most to educate and assist residents with complaints in Wisconsin. enrollment. The network is made up of According to its website, the CFPB was several organizations including the created in 2010 with the mission to identify Milwaukee Healthcare Partnership, the dangerous and unfair financial practices, state of Wisconsin, Covering Kids & to educate consumers about these pracFamilies and IMPACT 2-1-1. tices and to regulate the financial institu"When the healthcare exchanges tions that perpetuate them. The consumer open, we know there will be a lot of group created the Consumer Complaint questions. We've been working for Database, which has been used by thousands of Americans to settle disputes with months to make sure we can offer some their banks, according to a new report help and clarity," Milwaukee County from the WISPIRG Foundation. Executive Chris Abele said. "Taxpayers The report, "Big Banks, Big Complaints: should be assured that our efforts are CFPB's Consumer Complaints Database focused on leveraging resources to beneGets Real Results for Consumers," is the fit the community. We're using our existfirst in a series and focuses on the coming services and the cooperative relaplaints relating to bank accounts. tionships I've been building since taking Some of the findings included in the office as a platform to expand enrollreport were that the most complainedment." about bank in Wisconsin is U.S. Bancorp, Numerous Milwaukee County followed by Wells Fargo and JPMorgan departments are taking part in the Chase. effort. The banks that generated the most complaints nationally are also the ■ The Disabilities Services Division has largest banks in terms of billions of dol- trained 60 staff members to help clients lars deposited, according to the report, understand where to go and how to get which are Wells Fargo, Bank of America services through ACA exchanges. and JPMorgan Chase. On a per-dollar ■ The Behavioral Health Division basis, the banks that generated the most Community Services Branch has four complaints are TCF National Bank, Sovereign Bank and Capital One, accord- staff members trained as certified application counselors, and those staff meming to the report. Consumer group report: U.S. Bank receives most complaints in state bers will provide individuals every opportunity to understand and enroll in insurance they may be eligible for under the ACA. ■ Winged Victory, a program funded through the BHD, was developed to assist people living with mental illness in applying Abele for disability benefits and other entitlements available to them. ■ The Behavioral Health Division has trained an intake service manager and two administration coordinators to help patients enroll. These staff members will provide individuals every opportunity to understand and enroll in insurance they may be eligible for under the ACA. ■ The Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with IMPACT 2-1-1 to provide people with accurate information about health care benefit options and provide an over-the-phone screening to help make the most appropriate referral to an enrollment assistance provider or directly to an ACA marketplace website or call center. ■ The BHD Community Services Branch is requiring all central intake units to have trained certified application counselors on staff to assist with enrollment into ACA exchanges or Medicaid. ■ The Milwaukee County Department on Aging is providing training to senior advocates, staff and community service providers. ■ The MCDA is also partnering with SeniorLaw to provide information to people 60 to 64 years old on enrollment options. ■ Milwaukee County is working with the Community Justice Council to pursue options for people in the criminal justice system to get enrolled.

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