Vermont women’s health, pension and employment rights
to be focus of April 28 conference in Montpelier

MONTPELIER, Vt. – “Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?,” a free half-day conference to help Vermont women identify and secure their health, pension and workplace rights, will be held Monday, April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center at 100 State St. in Montpelier.

Women’s lives are often impacted by such events as job loss, illness, widowhood, divorce, pregnancy, single parenthood, caring for an elderly parent, starting a first job and retirement. While numerous laws protect women’s rights, they are administered by different agencies of the government. Obtaining needed information and assistance can be challenging and confusing.

“Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?” seeks to minimize such difficulties by being a ‘one stop’ information source for service providers to women. Experts will discuss real-life stories of how women are impacted by health care, retirement savings and employment issues. Attendees will receive comprehensive information on those topics, and resource materials on services available to help Vermont’s women address health, financial security and workplace challenges.

The conference is designed for community workers, case managers, human resource professionals, counselors, Employee Assistance Program specialists, health care providers and advocates, legal advocates, faith community representatives, state and local agencies, labor union staff, legislators and their staff, and other concerned women and men. It is sponsored by the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.

Interested individuals should register for the free seminar by April 22 by contacting Angela Rizzolo at 617-565-1988 or rizzolo.angela@dol.gov.

Participating conference partners include: the Vermont Department of Labor, the Vermont Commission on Women, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Works for Women, the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, the University of Massachusetts Gerontology Institute, Vermont Business and Professional Women, the Vermont Women’s Fund, the Central Vermont Community Action Council, the Vermont Alliance of Non-Profit Organizations, JSI Research and Training Institute, Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center and the Vermont Women’s Business Center.