Fall 2008

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

National Benefit Fund Unveils2.2% Cost Trend Well BelowNational Average and Inflation . . . 2

Obama Senior Healthcare AdvisorIs Keynote Speaker for AnnualTrustee Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Strategic Support DivisionStreamlines Operations andImproves Our Funds’ Deliveryof Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds Host Statewide Conferenceon Nursing Shortage . . . . . . . . 4-5

1199SEIU Employer Child CareCorporation’s “Care for Kids”Gala Provides Funding for2008 Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Child Care Registration Is OpenThrough October 31 . . . . . . . . . . . 8

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSThis issue of 1199SEIU Employer News highlights some of the work the1199SEIU Family of Funds is involved in on many of the pressing issuesfacing the healthcare industry and its workers.

In this issue you’ll read about how the effective cost controls in theNational Benefit Fund kept our 2007 trend well below the nationalaverage – and even below inflation for the first time – after taking intoaccount the results of the new cost-savings programs. You’ll alsoread about the ways that the Strategic Support Division is streamliningour administrative functions across the Benefit, Pension, Training andEmployment and Child Care Funds.

We’ll give you a look into the 1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds’ work toward responding to the statewide nursing shortage.You’ll see how the Child Care Fund is making it easier for your employeesto register for the many valuable child care programs that we provide,and how the 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation’s Annual “Care forKids” Gala has benefited so many working parents and their children byproviding funding to expand many of these programs.

We hope you find this newsletter informative, and as always, we welcomeyour feedback. We’re looking forward to continuing our successfulpartnership with you to strengthen the workforce, our institutions andthe quality of patient care.

Mitra BehrooziExecutive Director

Benefit and Pension Funds

Deborah KingExecutive Director

Training and Employment Funds

Vivian FoxExecutive DirectorChild Care Funds

First ClassU.S. Postage

PAIDNew York, NY

Permit No. 3700

1199SEIU Family of Funds330 West 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10036-6977

In this issue you’ll read

about how the effective

cost controls in the

National Benefit Fund

kept our 2007 trend

well below the

national average

Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 7

Each year the Trustees of the eight 1199SEIUBenefit and Pension Funds meet to review theperformance of the Funds and to map out thedirection and goals for the years ahead. This year,despite the continued rising costs of healthcoverage and a difficult economic climate, theFunds were able to report on our successes inpreserving benefits and keeping costs far belownational averages.

The Bottom Line

Our administrative practices and ongoing cost-savings programs have had a tremendous impacton controlling healthcare spending in theNational Benefit Fund. The impact can be seenin our cost trends. Between 2006 and 2007, thecost trend for the National Benefit Fund startedat an already impressive 4.6%, just over half ofthe national average of 8.4%.* But the impact

of our new cost-saving programs, reported in thelast employer newsletter, brought it down evenfurther, to only 2.2%.

So, while the average cost to cover a family offour in New York City last year was among thehighest in the nation – $16,542 per year, or 14%above the national average – we were able tocover our members for far less. In a comparableanalysis performed by the Fund’s actuaries, theNational Benefit Fund provided coverage for afamily of four during 2007 for only $11,269. Ofcourse, our actual per member cost is even lowerat $9,083, because it includes both single membersand all sizes of families.

As a result of the cost-savings programs, plus ourexisting lean administration and efficiencies, weare able to continue providing our 155,0001199SEIU healthcare workers and retirees in theNational Benefit Fund and their 143,000 familymembers with comprehensive healthcare withno deductibles and virtually no co-pays morecost-effectively than comparable plans andpayers nationwide.

*Milliman Medical Index, 2007

At Annual Trustees Meeting, 1199SEIUNational Benefit Fund Unveils 2.2% Cost TrendWell Below National Average and Inflation

2 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008

In order to accommodate as many members as possible whowish to register for next year’s child care programs, theChild Care Fund is offering multiple registration options andlocations through October 31st. Members can register atFund offices and worksites around New York City duringextended hours, or register conveniently online. Theseexpanded services, built around healthcare workers’schedules, make it easy for 1199SEIU members to accessthe services and programs your contributions pay for.

At onsite registration, parents can learn about servicesoffered by the Fund’s Child Care Resource & Referral Services(CCR&R) and get more information on other programs, likeupcoming parenting seminars. Members who are not able toregister in person can simply visit the Fund’s website,www.1199SEIUFunds.org, to register online and to access astep-by-step tutorial of the online application process.

To register, members simply need to bring a completedapplication and the required documents (a list is availableonline at www.1199SEIUFunds.org) to a registration site. Alleligible members received registration packets, including theapplication, during August. If your Human Resourcesdepartment would like extra copies of the application,registration materials or a list of your eligible employees,contact the Child Care Fund at (212) 564-2220.

Child Care Registration Is OpenThrough October 31

Savings Programs Cut 2007 Costs

Both the original 2004 cost-saving programs and newer 2007 initiatives, including preferred radiology and laboratory

providers, prior authorization for high-end imaging, a maintenance drug access program

and new Preferred Drug List, exceeded projections. These programs have saved theBenefit Funds $261 million to date – $189.1

million for the National Benefit Fund alone.

Members Can Register Online or inPerson at Any Convenient Location Registration Sites Where

Members Live and Work

Main Child Care Fund Offices 330 West 42nd Street, 18th Floor

Manhattan

Monday – Wednesday8:30 am – 6:00 pm

Thursday – Friday8:30 am – 8:00 pm

Saturday10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Onsite registration will also be available at the following locations:

• Albany • Queens• Bronx • Rochester• Brooklyn • Staten Island• Hicksville • White Plains

For location details or to registeronline, members can visitwww.1199SEIUFunds.org.

Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 3 6 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008

The Trustees were honored this year to haveDemocratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’ssenior healthcare policy advisor, Dr. David Cutler,as our keynote speaker. Dr. Cutler shared his ownand Senator Obama’s ideas for healthcare reformand had the opportunity to hear the concerns ofour industry leaders.

During his keynote address, he outlinedSenator Obama’s three points for reform:ensuring coverage for all Americans, making

healthcare affordable and protecting thepublic’s health – goals very much in line withNew York’s healthcare industry.

Dr. Cutler is also a strong believer in preventivecare, including the same type of wellness initiativesthe National Benefit Fund offers through theProtecting Our Health program, which is reachingout to greater numbers of members to help themmanage costly chronic conditions and encouragehealthy living habits.

Obama Senior Healthcare Advisor Is KeynoteSpeaker for Annual Trustee Meeting

1199SEIU Employer Child CareCorporation’s “Care for Kids” GalaProvides Funding for 2008 ProgramsThe 1199SEIU Employer Child Care Corporation(CCC) is gearing up for the third annual “Care forKids” Gala. The gala’s mission is to raise money tosupport affordable child care programs for low-income families who live in the communities thatour institutions serve, but who do not have thecollectively-bargained child care benefits that mostof our members enjoy. In just two years, the galahas grown with an attendance of nearly 400,raising close to $400,000 last year.

As a result of the 2006 and 2007 galas, the1199SEIU Employer Child Care Corporation wasable to provide subsidies to home care workersand other members who formerly received themthrough the Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF) grant.

The CCC was also able to offer more scholarshipfunding for other families in need. Families wereawarded scholarships to attend summer camp,enabling them to send their children to six- toeight-week sleep-away camps.

Finally, the CCC provided seed money for anendowment fund for the Future of AmericaLearning Centers, which provide accredited, high-quality early childhood education and develop-ment with trained and licensed staff, to ensuretheir sustainability.

This year’s event is expected to be the mostsuccessful yet. With the funds raised in 2008, theCCC plans to provide more financial incentives toworking families to enable them to take advantageof program offerings. In addition, the Child CareCorporation plans to support the next generationof 1199SEIU members by expanding the nursingtrack to increase awareness of opportunities inthe healthcare field and support young peopleinterested in entering the profession.

Keep an eye out for your invitation

to the 2008 CCC Gala. You can also get

more information about supporting

the Child Care Corporation

by calling (718) 562-2915 or by visiting

www.1199SEIUFunds.org.

Strategic Support Division Streamlines Operationsand Improves Our Funds’ Delivery of Services The Benefit and Pension Funds’ Annual Trusteesmeeting also featured the first progress report fromthe Strategic Support Division. Mandated by theTrustees in October 2006, this cross-funds initiativeconsolidates the administrative operations of theBenefit and Pension Funds, Training and EmploymentFunds and Child Care Funds under the NationalBenefit Fund to reduce duplication of work,implement new controls and improve our workflowand the efficiency with which we deliver our services.

The Division brings together the Finance, InformationTechnology, Information Security, Human Resources,Facilities Management, Legal Operations andEligibility functions of all of our Funds to shareresources and streamline operations. Since itsinception, the Strategic Support Division has focusedon three main objectives. First, it has expandedNational Benefit Fund administrative services to theTraining and Employment Funds and Child CareFunds; second, it has improved and enhanced theadministrative services that currently serve all of theFunds; and finally, it has added new services toimprove efficiencies, accountability and oversight.Look for more details on our achievements so far inthe next edition of 1199SEIU Employer News.

Since its inception, the Strategic

Support Division has focused on

three main objectives. First, it has

expanded National Benefit Fund

administrative services to the

Training and Employment Funds

and Child Care Funds;

second, it has improved and

enhanced the administrative services

that currently serve all of the Funds;

and finally, it has added new

services to improve efficiencies,

accountability and oversight.

NCLEX prep classes. The Funds have a 100% NCLEXpass rate for nursing graduates supported byTEF funding.

The panel on Enhancing the Clinical Experience ofNursing Students shared some of the healthcarepartnerships that are geared toward improving theclinical portion of nursing education so thatgraduates are able to meet the rigorous demandsof the workplace. These programs are aimed at:(1) reducing the amount of time hospitals spendon orienting new nurses, and (2) retaining newnurses. Models presented included internshipsduring the summer, creation of student-centeredunits where an entire hospital unit is dedicated toclinical instruction, and partnering of new nurseswith designated mentors or other well-trained,experienced nurses.

A third panel, Ways to Help Create More NurseFaculty, presented two programs targeting waysto create more nursing faculty through helpingnurses earn advanced degrees and/or collaboratingwith hospitals to share staff. Nursing program

capacity is a major barrier since many students areturned away because of insufficient places. The1199SEIU RN Training and Job Security Fund (RNTJSF)is supporting current RNs to earn MSNs with aminor in education; over 100 RNs have graduatedand are working part-time as adjunct faculty andclinical instructors. CUNY’s Distinguished LecturerProgram provides part-time faculty positions for upto five years for nurses as they continue to work intheir institution.

Rick Cook, Deputy Director of the Office of HealthSystems Management for the New York stateDepartment of Health, was a luncheon speakerand commended the Funds for creating a platformto develop statewide strategies to address thenursing shortages.

4 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008 Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 5

1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds Host StatewideConference on Nursing ShortageIn the last four years 45 new employers in

upstate New York joined the Training and

Employment Funds (TEF), including major

medical systems in Buffalo, Rochester and

Syracuse. This geographic expansion has

given TEF a platform to address critical work-

force issues on a statewide basis. In July 2008

TEF sponsored its first statewide conference,

“Responding to the Nursing Shortage –

Creative Practice and Partnerships in New

York State,” bringing together representatives

from CUNY and SUNY schools, hospital and

1199SEIU leaders, TEF staff and representa-

tives of the New York state Departments of

Health and Labor.

The conference participants discussed the criticalissues facing New York state in addressing thenursing shortage and explored best practiceswhich have the potential to be adopted statewide.

Three panels explored different aspects of theproblem. In Challenges/Barriers to IncumbentWorkers Becoming RNs, a panel explored some ofthe Training and Employment Funds’ programsthat help students successfully return to schooland succeed in college and nursing programs.College Prep prepares students that need academ-ic support to pass the CUNY entrance exam. HC4(Health Care College Core Curriculum) provides asupported entry into college where students takeprerequisites in cohort classes with other 1199SEIUmembers. HC4 has a retention rate of greater than95%, which is outstanding for a college programof working adults. Other successful programsinclude provision of stipends to support students inthe clinical phase of the nursing program and

For more information

about the Training and

Employment Funds’

programs, visit

www.1199SEIUFunds.org

or contact Executive

Director Deborah King

at (212) 494-0524.

The conference participants

discussed the critical issues

facing New York state in

addressing the nursing

shortage and explored

best practices which

have the potential to be

adopted statewide.

NCLEX prep classes. The Funds have a 100% NCLEXpass rate for nursing graduates supported byTEF funding.

The panel on Enhancing the Clinical Experience ofNursing Students shared some of the healthcarepartnerships that are geared toward improving theclinical portion of nursing education so thatgraduates are able to meet the rigorous demandsof the workplace. These programs are aimed at:(1) reducing the amount of time hospitals spendon orienting new nurses, and (2) retaining newnurses. Models presented included internshipsduring the summer, creation of student-centeredunits where an entire hospital unit is dedicated toclinical instruction, and partnering of new nurseswith designated mentors or other well-trained,experienced nurses.

A third panel, Ways to Help Create More NurseFaculty, presented two programs targeting waysto create more nursing faculty through helpingnurses earn advanced degrees and/or collaboratingwith hospitals to share staff. Nursing program

capacity is a major barrier since many students areturned away because of insufficient places. The1199SEIU RN Training and Job Security Fund (RNTJSF)is supporting current RNs to earn MSNs with aminor in education; over 100 RNs have graduatedand are working part-time as adjunct faculty andclinical instructors. CUNY’s Distinguished LecturerProgram provides part-time faculty positions for upto five years for nurses as they continue to work intheir institution.

Rick Cook, Deputy Director of the Office of HealthSystems Management for the New York stateDepartment of Health, was a luncheon speakerand commended the Funds for creating a platformto develop statewide strategies to address thenursing shortages.

4 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008 Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 5

1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds Host StatewideConference on Nursing ShortageIn the last four years 45 new employers in

upstate New York joined the Training and

Employment Funds (TEF), including major

medical systems in Buffalo, Rochester and

Syracuse. This geographic expansion has

given TEF a platform to address critical work-

force issues on a statewide basis. In July 2008

TEF sponsored its first statewide conference,

“Responding to the Nursing Shortage –

Creative Practice and Partnerships in New

York State,” bringing together representatives

from CUNY and SUNY schools, hospital and

1199SEIU leaders, TEF staff and representa-

tives of the New York state Departments of

Health and Labor.

The conference participants discussed the criticalissues facing New York state in addressing thenursing shortage and explored best practiceswhich have the potential to be adopted statewide.

Three panels explored different aspects of theproblem. In Challenges/Barriers to IncumbentWorkers Becoming RNs, a panel explored some ofthe Training and Employment Funds’ programsthat help students successfully return to schooland succeed in college and nursing programs.College Prep prepares students that need academ-ic support to pass the CUNY entrance exam. HC4(Health Care College Core Curriculum) provides asupported entry into college where students takeprerequisites in cohort classes with other 1199SEIUmembers. HC4 has a retention rate of greater than95%, which is outstanding for a college programof working adults. Other successful programsinclude provision of stipends to support students inthe clinical phase of the nursing program and

For more information

about the Training and

Employment Funds’

programs, visit

www.1199SEIUFunds.org

or contact Executive

Director Deborah King

at (212) 494-0524.

The conference participants

discussed the critical issues

facing New York state in

addressing the nursing

shortage and explored

best practices which

have the potential to be

adopted statewide.

Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 3 6 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008

The Trustees were honored this year to haveDemocratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’ssenior healthcare policy advisor, Dr. David Cutler,as our keynote speaker. Dr. Cutler shared his ownand Senator Obama’s ideas for healthcare reformand had the opportunity to hear the concerns ofour industry leaders.

During his keynote address, he outlinedSenator Obama’s three points for reform:ensuring coverage for all Americans, making

healthcare affordable and protecting thepublic’s health – goals very much in line withNew York’s healthcare industry.

Dr. Cutler is also a strong believer in preventivecare, including the same type of wellness initiativesthe National Benefit Fund offers through theProtecting Our Health program, which is reachingout to greater numbers of members to help themmanage costly chronic conditions and encouragehealthy living habits.

Obama Senior Healthcare Advisor Is KeynoteSpeaker for Annual Trustee Meeting

1199SEIU Employer Child CareCorporation’s “Care for Kids” GalaProvides Funding for 2008 ProgramsThe 1199SEIU Employer Child Care Corporation(CCC) is gearing up for the third annual “Care forKids” Gala. The gala’s mission is to raise money tosupport affordable child care programs for low-income families who live in the communities thatour institutions serve, but who do not have thecollectively-bargained child care benefits that mostof our members enjoy. In just two years, the galahas grown with an attendance of nearly 400,raising close to $400,000 last year.

As a result of the 2006 and 2007 galas, the1199SEIU Employer Child Care Corporation wasable to provide subsidies to home care workersand other members who formerly received themthrough the Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF) grant.

The CCC was also able to offer more scholarshipfunding for other families in need. Families wereawarded scholarships to attend summer camp,enabling them to send their children to six- toeight-week sleep-away camps.

Finally, the CCC provided seed money for anendowment fund for the Future of AmericaLearning Centers, which provide accredited, high-quality early childhood education and develop-ment with trained and licensed staff, to ensuretheir sustainability.

This year’s event is expected to be the mostsuccessful yet. With the funds raised in 2008, theCCC plans to provide more financial incentives toworking families to enable them to take advantageof program offerings. In addition, the Child CareCorporation plans to support the next generationof 1199SEIU members by expanding the nursingtrack to increase awareness of opportunities inthe healthcare field and support young peopleinterested in entering the profession.

Keep an eye out for your invitation

to the 2008 CCC Gala. You can also get

more information about supporting

the Child Care Corporation

by calling (718) 562-2915 or by visiting

www.1199SEIUFunds.org.

Strategic Support Division Streamlines Operationsand Improves Our Funds’ Delivery of Services The Benefit and Pension Funds’ Annual Trusteesmeeting also featured the first progress report fromthe Strategic Support Division. Mandated by theTrustees in October 2006, this cross-funds initiativeconsolidates the administrative operations of theBenefit and Pension Funds, Training and EmploymentFunds and Child Care Funds under the NationalBenefit Fund to reduce duplication of work,implement new controls and improve our workflowand the efficiency with which we deliver our services.

The Division brings together the Finance, InformationTechnology, Information Security, Human Resources,Facilities Management, Legal Operations andEligibility functions of all of our Funds to shareresources and streamline operations. Since itsinception, the Strategic Support Division has focusedon three main objectives. First, it has expandedNational Benefit Fund administrative services to theTraining and Employment Funds and Child CareFunds; second, it has improved and enhanced theadministrative services that currently serve all of theFunds; and finally, it has added new services toimprove efficiencies, accountability and oversight.Look for more details on our achievements so far inthe next edition of 1199SEIU Employer News.

Since its inception, the Strategic

Support Division has focused on

three main objectives. First, it has

expanded National Benefit Fund

administrative services to the

Training and Employment Funds

and Child Care Funds;

second, it has improved and

enhanced the administrative services

that currently serve all of the Funds;

and finally, it has added new

services to improve efficiencies,

accountability and oversight.

Fall 2008 EMPLOYER NEWS 7

Each year the Trustees of the eight 1199SEIUBenefit and Pension Funds meet to review theperformance of the Funds and to map out thedirection and goals for the years ahead. This year,despite the continued rising costs of healthcoverage and a difficult economic climate, theFunds were able to report on our successes inpreserving benefits and keeping costs far belownational averages.

The Bottom Line

Our administrative practices and ongoing cost-savings programs have had a tremendous impacton controlling healthcare spending in theNational Benefit Fund. The impact can be seenin our cost trends. Between 2006 and 2007, thecost trend for the National Benefit Fund startedat an already impressive 4.6%, just over half ofthe national average of 8.4%.* But the impact

of our new cost-saving programs, reported in thelast employer newsletter, brought it down evenfurther, to only 2.2%.

So, while the average cost to cover a family offour in New York City last year was among thehighest in the nation – $16,542 per year, or 14%above the national average – we were able tocover our members for far less. In a comparableanalysis performed by the Fund’s actuaries, theNational Benefit Fund provided coverage for afamily of four during 2007 for only $11,269. Ofcourse, our actual per member cost is even lowerat $9,083, because it includes both single membersand all sizes of families.

As a result of the cost-savings programs, plus ourexisting lean administration and efficiencies, weare able to continue providing our 155,0001199SEIU healthcare workers and retirees in theNational Benefit Fund and their 143,000 familymembers with comprehensive healthcare withno deductibles and virtually no co-pays morecost-effectively than comparable plans andpayers nationwide.

*Milliman Medical Index, 2007

At Annual Trustees Meeting, 1199SEIUNational Benefit Fund Unveils 2.2% Cost TrendWell Below National Average and Inflation

2 EMPLOYER NEWS Fall 2008

In order to accommodate as many members as possible whowish to register for next year’s child care programs, theChild Care Fund is offering multiple registration options andlocations through October 31st. Members can register atFund offices and worksites around New York City duringextended hours, or register conveniently online. Theseexpanded services, built around healthcare workers’schedules, make it easy for 1199SEIU members to accessthe services and programs your contributions pay for.

At onsite registration, parents can learn about servicesoffered by the Fund’s Child Care Resource & Referral Services(CCR&R) and get more information on other programs, likeupcoming parenting seminars. Members who are not able toregister in person can simply visit the Fund’s website,www.1199SEIUFunds.org, to register online and to access astep-by-step tutorial of the online application process.

To register, members simply need to bring a completedapplication and the required documents (a list is availableonline at www.1199SEIUFunds.org) to a registration site. Alleligible members received registration packets, including theapplication, during August. If your Human Resourcesdepartment would like extra copies of the application,registration materials or a list of your eligible employees,contact the Child Care Fund at (212) 564-2220.

Child Care Registration Is OpenThrough October 31

Savings Programs Cut 2007 Costs

Both the original 2004 cost-saving programs and newer 2007 initiatives, including preferred radiology and laboratory

providers, prior authorization for high-end imaging, a maintenance drug access program

and new Preferred Drug List, exceeded projections. These programs have saved theBenefit Funds $261 million to date – $189.1

million for the National Benefit Fund alone.

Members Can Register Online or inPerson at Any Convenient Location Registration Sites Where

Members Live and Work

Main Child Care Fund Offices 330 West 42nd Street, 18th Floor

Manhattan

Monday – Wednesday8:30 am – 6:00 pm

Thursday – Friday8:30 am – 8:00 pm

Saturday10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Onsite registration will also be available at the following locations:

• Albany • Queens• Bronx • Rochester• Brooklyn • Staten Island• Hicksville • White Plains

For location details or to registeronline, members can visitwww.1199SEIUFunds.org.

Fall 2008

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

National Benefit Fund Unveils2.2% Cost Trend Well BelowNational Average and Inflation . . . 2

Obama Senior Healthcare AdvisorIs Keynote Speaker for AnnualTrustee Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Strategic Support DivisionStreamlines Operations andImproves Our Funds’ Deliveryof Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds Host Statewide Conferenceon Nursing Shortage . . . . . . . . 4-5

1199SEIU Employer Child CareCorporation’s “Care for Kids”Gala Provides Funding for2008 Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Child Care Registration Is OpenThrough October 31 . . . . . . . . . . . 8

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSThis issue of 1199SEIU Employer News highlights some of the work the1199SEIU Family of Funds is involved in on many of the pressing issuesfacing the healthcare industry and its workers.

In this issue you’ll read about how the effective cost controls in theNational Benefit Fund kept our 2007 trend well below the nationalaverage – and even below inflation for the first time – after taking intoaccount the results of the new cost-savings programs. You’ll alsoread about the ways that the Strategic Support Division is streamliningour administrative functions across the Benefit, Pension, Training andEmployment and Child Care Funds.

We’ll give you a look into the 1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds’ work toward responding to the statewide nursing shortage.You’ll see how the Child Care Fund is making it easier for your employeesto register for the many valuable child care programs that we provide,and how the 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation’s Annual “Care forKids” Gala has benefited so many working parents and their children byproviding funding to expand many of these programs.

We hope you find this newsletter informative, and as always, we welcomeyour feedback. We’re looking forward to continuing our successfulpartnership with you to strengthen the workforce, our institutions andthe quality of patient care.

Mitra BehrooziExecutive Director

Benefit and Pension Funds

Deborah KingExecutive Director

Training and Employment Funds

Vivian FoxExecutive DirectorChild Care Funds

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDNew York, NY

Permit No. 3700

1199SEIU Family of Funds330 West 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10036-6977

In this issue you’ll read

about how the effective

cost controls in the

National Benefit Fund

kept our 2007 trend

well below the

national average