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Authors Posts by Emma Sharp

Emma Sharp

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RCPA will reengage with all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition. The Coalition is focused on developing strategies, activities, and engagement opportunities to support behavioral health funding in the Commonwealth.

The Coalition will have its first meeting on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. This meeting will give the group an opportunity to review last year’s budget, Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget, and initial strategies for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27. It will also give us an opportunity to develop questions for legislators for the DHS budget hearings in late February and early March. Register for the meeting by contacting Emma Sharp, RCPA Policy Associate.

As the group continues to meet, we will develop our overall advocacy blueprint to ensure the communication of our message and stakeholder engagement is focused on protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams; information will be sent to those interested in the Coalition. RCPA invites all to participate. If you would like to join the Coalition or have any questions, please contact Emma Sharp.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced that WellKids by RCPA Member PA Health & Wellness will join the network of managed care organizations that offer health coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This marks the first CHIP re-procurement since 2013, expanding the number of affordable health coverage options for children and teens in Pennsylvania. Effective January 2026, CHIP will operate a network of nine managed care organizations, providing comprehensive health coverage for eligible children across the state.

CHIP serves children and teenagers up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid, offering health coverage for free or at a low cost based on family income and providing a variety of insurance plans to best meet a family’s needs. WellKids by PA Health & Wellness will provide a full range of services, including preventative, routine, urgent, and emergency care for physical and behavioral health, as well as coverage for dental, vision, and pharmacy services.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is excited to announce the Third Annual Pediatric Capacity Building Institute (PCBI). PCBI is a unique, interactive, educational experience which will occur monthly from March 2026 to October 2026. DHS strives to bring exceptional speakers who engage participants in a wide range of topics designed to better support children and families with complex needs across the Commonwealth. Some of the topics include infant mental health, leading through change, multisystemic planning, impact of trauma on children and families, vicarious trauma among professionals, expressive therapies and much more. PCBI also strives to incorporate the voices and experience of the children and families using these supports and services at every juncture. PCBI is open to professionals across systems with an interest in learning more about supporting children with complex needs and system change.

Please review the invitation to apply for more details and to complete the interest survey. Interest surveys must be completed by January 29, 2026. Applicants will be notified of their selection status by February 5, 2026 via email. Contact RCPA Behavioral Health Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) is excited to announce the release of the 2026 Staff Development Schedule Booklet. This booklet includes a list of in-person and virtual workshops currently scheduled in the JCJC Event Management System (JEMS) for the entire year. The booklet workshops will contain engaging, informative, and valuable training opportunities for juvenile justice professionals.

Additional workshops will be added to the JEMS schedule throughout the year; RCPA will send updates as they occur.

For questions regarding the Staff Development Schedule or suggestions for future workshops, please contact Sonya Stokes, Coordinator of Professional Development.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any additional questions.

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The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), in partnership with the WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center (JPRC), has received funding from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop a statewide Continuum of Care for Communities model for Pennsylvania. This initiative aims to provide actionable recommendations for diverting youth from the juvenile justice system toward community-based services and alternatives to detention.

To inform this statewide model, WestEd is seeking collaboration with Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice stakeholder groups to gather insights and evidence-based recommendations.

Their goal is to develop actionable recommendations for diverting youth from formal justice system involvement and to strengthen community-based services, drawing on the expertise and experience of local stakeholders. As someone involved in juvenile justice and juvenile justice-adjacent systems, your insights will be invaluable in shaping recommendations and identifying promising local practices.

What’s Involved: You are invited to join an engagement session to discuss:

  • Local prevention and diversion strategies, strengths, and gaps; and
  • Recommendations and best practices for serving youth and families across the continuum of care.

Session Details:

  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Format: Virtual (calendar invite and Zoom link to be provided upon RSVP)

Session Options

  • Community Service Providers: January 8, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Violence Intervention Programs, Restorative Justice organizations, Faith-based organizations, Foster Care Agencies, Housing and Homelessness Services, Workforce Development Agencies, Child and Family Advocacy – Rights and Policy Reform, Residential Placement staff, etc.
    • Register Here
  • Courts and Related Departments: January 9, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Judges, Magistrates, District Attorneys, Public Defenders, Probation, Children and Youth, CASA, Youth Aid Panels, etc.
    • Register Here
  • Victims’ Services: January 23, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
  • Education: January 27, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: School and District-level Administration, Faculty, Psychologists, Counselors and Social Workers, Student Assistance Programs, and School Security Personnel
    • Register Here
  • Mental and Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment: January 30, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Treatment Providers, Residential or Community-based
    • Register Here
  • Law Enforcement & Crisis Response: February 4, 2026, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Police Officers, School Resource Officers, Detectives, Emergency Responders, Crisis Responders, Medical Personnel
    • Register Here
  • Families & Loved Ones with Experience Supporting Youth in the Juvenile Justice System (Past or Present): February 4, 2026, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Family members, friends, caregivers, and loved ones with past or present experience supporting their youth navigate the juvenile justice system
    • Register Here
  • Youth with Lived Experience Navigating the Juvenile Justice System: February 11, 2026, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Youth with juvenile justice or children and youth/foster care experience, ages 25 and under
    • Register Here

Your participation will not only contribute to improving outcomes for youth and families but also ensure that the report and recommendations reflect the needs and realities of your community.

If you are able to attend, please take 2–3 minutes to fill out the RSVP link connected to the session you wish to attend — please plan to attend one session. This will ensure you a spot and send you a calendar invite and Zoom link.  Please feel free to share this email and flyer within any of your networks as well.

Lastly, if you have any questions, please reach out via email.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in partnership with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), is offering upcoming trainings focused on strengthening housing partnerships and improving coordinated responses for unsheltered individuals with behavioral health needs.

Partnership with Public Housing Authorities (PHA): Best Practice Strategies for Stronger Collaboration
Date/Time: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Registration Here

This 90-minute interactive training is designed for housing and service system leaders seeking to strengthen and sustain effective partnerships with Public Housing Authorities (PHA). This session will highlight strategies to improve communication and alignment between PHAs and county systems, approaches for sustaining partnerships during times of system change, and an overview of standard PHA regulations and available flexibilities. The training will include facilitated breakout discussions for participants to share real-world strategies, lessons learned, and best practices with colleagues across communities.

  • Trainers: Jim Yates (MPA), Liz Stewart, and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County Housing Coordinators­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Building Coordinated Responses for Unsheltered Individuals With Behavioral Health Needs
TAC will conduct two 90-minute trainings exploring best practices for coordinated, compassionate, and effective responses to support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness with significant behavioral health needs.

Session 1: Trauma-Informed Outreach, Collaboration, and Engagement Strategies
Date/Time: Monday, January 26, 2026, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Registration Here

The first session will highlight practical models and partnerships that enhance trauma-informed outreach, crisis diversion, and person-centered engagement. It will include approaches that reduce law enforcement interactions and improve cross-system coordination to ensure wraparound supports and an array of housing options for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and co-occurring conditions.

  • Trainers: Ashley Mann-McLellan (MPH) and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County staff overseeing direct care outreach and homelessness response providers; county supported housing and homelessness providers; PATH staff; outreach staff; county housing coordinators
  • To be announced: Regionally based Communities of Practice (CoP) will be announced following this training, focused on best-practice outreach/engagement strategies and cross-sector partnerships for staff providing direct care or supervising programs supporting unsheltered individuals.

Session 2: System Approaches to Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Responses
Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Registration Here

The second session will provide a foundational understanding of encampment dynamics and encampment resolution, including an overview of decommissioning practices. Emphasis will be placed on humane and coordinated approaches that prioritize connection to services and pathways to stable housing. The webinar will highlight the critical role of cross-sector partnerships (Continuum of Care (CoC), PATH, behavioral health, outreach teams, law enforcement, local government entities, advocates) and will explore targeted housing navigation strategies that support long-term stability beyond clearance efforts.

  • Trainers: Ashley Mann-McLellan (MPH) and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County and municipal leaders, including County Mental Health Administrators; County Human Services Directors; County Housing and Homelessness Service Administrators; Coordinated Entry Leads and Continuum of Care (CoC) leadership; PATH program staff; outreach providers and behavioral health directors; outreach supervisors; housing program managers; Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services-designated program leadership
  • To be announced: A statewide Community of Practice (CoP) will be scheduled following this training, focused on collaborative learning for county and municipal leaders implementing systemic responses to unsheltered homelessness for individuals with SMI. Dates will be announced soon.

Questions and Comments can be directed to the OMHSAS housing inbox.

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The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has published their comments on the proposed Licensure of Crisis Intervention Services regulations, summarizing the comments submitted by the stakeholder community during the public comment period. As part of the IRRC’s regulatory process, OMHSAS will have to address and clarify any questions that have been submitted.

Similar to RCPA’s public comments, the IRRC response highlights concerns regarding the proposed rulemaking in the following areas:

  • Potential issues with “one-size-fits-all” approach to crisis intervention.
  • Lack of availability of qualified staff and how to pay for them.
  • Elimination of an “in-between” level of care by imposing hospital-like standards that do not align with current outpatient structures.
  • Possibility of inadequate government funding to cover providers’ implementation costs.
  • Lack of inclusion and integration with law enforcement, first responders, 911 operators, and 988 lifeline centers.

In support of RCPA’s recommendation, the IRRC comments also urge the Department to reconvene the stakeholder work group that had been assembled in 2021, especially given the drastic shift in the mental health landscape that has occurred since the group last met.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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