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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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From Data to Decisions: Optimizing EHR Success Through Data Governance and Change Management
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Thursday, August 21, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Effective data governance and organizational change management (OCM) are critical for the long-term success and maintenance of your EHR system. These processes ensure data integrity, streamline system changes, and enhance overall project outcomes. In this session, we will detail how agencies can leverage OCM to assure these positive outcomes for your agency as well as overall effectiveness of your EHR initiative.

Presenters:

  • Theresa Yera, BA, MA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Tina Kirkpatrick, BA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Aaron Rogers, MRT, ATP, Electronic Health Record Administrator, Partners for Quality

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Explain the importance of data governance and organizational change management;
  • Discover the phases of EHR maintenance required for effective data governance; and
  • Examine data accuracy for funding success.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

From Risk to Reward: Strengthening Your Hiring Process
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Register Here

In this session, we will review how introducing value-based tools early in the hiring process has shown to reduce an employer’s risk for turnover, safety incidents, counterproductive employee behavior, and workers compensation claims. We will review recent case studies showing the measurable impact of this process.

Presenter: Mark Walker, MBA, Managing Partner, Safer Hire LLC

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify a value-based hiring process;
  • Describe how this hiring process can reduce risk of turnover; and
  • Describe how the hiring process can reduce risk of safety & claims.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

RCPA’s 2025 Conference Strive to Thrive will be held in Hershey September 9 – 12, 2025. Early bird rates for registration end August 8! Be sure to register today and take advantage of the early bird rates!

RCPA is proud to host those who lead PA in health and human services at our Annual Conference. This year, DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh will be presenting as our kickoff plenary speaker on September 9. Throughout the week, we will hear updates from various departments and leaders of DHS, including:

  • ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens;
  • OLTL Deputy Secretary Juliet Marsala;
  • DDAP Deputy Secretary Kelly Primus; and
  • OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Jennifer Smith.

View our Registration Brochure for complete details of the conference schedule and speakers. You can also register directly here. Be sure to check the RCPA Conference website regularly for details and updates to the schedule, registration, and sponsors/exhibitors.

In addition to registration, there are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths, so don’t delay! We are grateful to all our sponsors and exhibitors who help make the conference happen. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, all information is available in our Sponsor, Exhibit, and Advertise Brochure. You can contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors! We thank you for your support!

Hearing All Perspectives: The Development of a Multi-State, Multi-Diagnosis Youth Advisory Council
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Wednesday, August 6, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here

This presentation will discuss the formation of a novel and innovative version of a standard Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This particular YAC adds a twist to the traditional means of involving youth by creating a council combining voices of individuals served who have two very different diagnoses: those with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) and those with an autism/intellectual disability (ASD/IDD). Spanning across three states, this internal YAC has been established to hear the voices of and to teach leadership principles and skills to those who are receiving the services offered by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

Presenters:

  • Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, National Director of Family Engagement, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
  • Judy Starr, JD, Deputy General Counsel, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Describe the value of constituents’ voices from services and programs provided, regardless of individual communication type, cognitive ability, or diagnosis;
  • Discuss how to engage leadership and staff to support and sponsor a youth/constituent advisory council; and
  • List some “lessons from the journey” with do’s and don’ts when developing a youth advisory council.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

Businessman and team work using a Laptop Computer with Webinar E-business Browsing Connection and cloud online technology webcast concept, business concept

From Data to Decisions: Optimizing EHR Success Through Data Governance and Change Management
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Thursday, August 21, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Effective data governance and organizational change management (OCM) are critical for the long-term success and maintenance of your EHR system. These processes ensure data integrity, streamline system changes, and enhance overall project outcomes. In this session, we will detail how agencies can leverage OCM to assure these positive outcomes for your agency as well as overall effectiveness of your EHR initiative.

Presenters:

  • Theresa Yera, BA, MA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Tina Kirkpatrick, BA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Aaron Rogers, MRT, ATP, Electronic Health Record Administrator, Partners for Quality

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Explain the importance of data governance and organizational change management;
  • Discover the phases of EHR maintenance required for effective data governance; and
  • Examine data accuracy for funding success.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

From Risk to Reward: Strengthening Your Hiring Process
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Register Here

In this session, we will review how introducing value-based tools early in the hiring process has shown to reduce an employer’s risk for turnover, safety incidents, counterproductive employee behavior, and workers compensation claims. We will review recent case studies showing the measurable impact of this process.

Presenter: Mark Walker, MBA, Managing Partner, Safer Hire LLC

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify a value-based hiring process;
  • Describe how this hiring process can reduce risk of turnover; and
  • Describe how the hiring process can reduce risk of safety & claims.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

SUD Workforce Trends in Pennsylvania: Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Tuesday, July 22, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here

The U.S. faces critical behavioral health workforce shortages, with HRSA projecting a 49% increase in demand for care alongside an 11% decrease in available clinical professionals. These shortages are particularly pronounced in the SUD workforce regarding access to essential treatments. Inevitability, workforce challenges impact patients, who may encounter restricted access in underserved areas and compromised care quality.

Shatterproof Treatment Atlas has collected data on SUD treatment delivery from over 4,500 facilities. This data offers insights into staff composition, clinical focus, and training, aiding efforts to strengthen the SUD workforce and ensure positive patient outcomes.

This workshop also analyzes SUD workforce trends in Pennsylvania and other states. Participants will engage in discussions on workforce challenges, existing models, and innovative solutions to support staff in delivering high-quality SUD care.

Presenter:
Lisa Kugler, PsyD, Senior Vice President, Shatterproof Treatment Atlas

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Explore staffing trends across Pennsylvania SUD treatment sites to understand areas of strength and opportunities for improvement;
  • Analyze and compare Pennsylvania SUD treatment staffing against other states to understand progress at the local and multi-state levels; and
  • Evaluate potential solutions to support and enhance SUD treatment staffing in Pennsylvania based on available data and their own experiences in the field.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

Hearing All Perspectives: The Development of a Multi-State, Multi-Diagnosis Youth Advisory Council
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Wednesday, August 6, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here

This presentation will discuss the formation of a novel and innovative version of a standard Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This particular YAC adds a twist to the traditional means of involving youth by creating a council combining voices of individuals served who have two very different diagnoses: those with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) and those with an autism/intellectual disability (ASD/IDD). Spanning across three states, this internal YAC has been established to hear the voices of and to teach leadership principles and skills to those who are receiving the services offered by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

Presenters:

  • Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, National Director of Family Engagement, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
  • Judy Starr, JD, Deputy General Counsel, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Describe the value of constituents’ voices from services and programs provided, regardless of individual communication type, cognitive ability, or diagnosis;
  • Discuss how to engage leadership and staff to support and sponsor a youth/constituent advisory council; and
  • List some “lessons from the journey” with do’s and don’ts when developing a youth advisory council.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

Registration is now officially open for the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive! The conference offers inspiring keynotes and plenaries, over sixty workshops, live updates from both state and national partners, and the ability to interact with exhibitors and sponsors in our Connections Hall! View our Registration Brochure for complete details of the conference schedule and speakers. You can also register directly here.

We are grateful to all of our sponsors who help make the conference happen. Be sure to check the RCPA Conference website regularly for details and updates to the schedule, registration, and sponsors/exhibitors. Our mobile app, which we are proud to share is once again being sponsored by Millin, will become available closer to the time of conference and will contain CE information, a detailed agenda, and more!

In addition to registration, there are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths, so don’t delay! Opportunities still available include but are not limited to our Hospitality Suite, our Awards Luncheon, entertainment, and meal sponsorships. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, all information is available in our Sponsor, Exhibit, and Advertise Brochure. You can contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details.

View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!