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Authors Posts by Emma Sharp

Emma Sharp

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Kehinde “Kenny” Solanke, MSW, LSW, will become Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), effective September 2. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the selection of Solanke for the role on July 30. Solanke succeeds Interim Commissioner Marquita Williams and former Commissioner Jill Bowen.

As Commissioner, Solanke sets the vision and direction for the entire department. She administers all six DBHIDS divisions and is responsible for aligning priorities, coordinating efforts, and ensuring that everything the 1,000-plus team members do reflects the DBHIDS mission, vision, and values.

Solanke oversees a vast network of providers offering treatment and services to address mental health challenges, substance misuse, and the impact of social determinants of health on behavioral health and wellness.

Solanke most recently served as Senior Director of Operations for Crisis Services at DBHIDS, where she led transformative citywide initiatives, including the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, expansion of 24/7 mobile crisis teams, and the launch of Philadelphia’s first Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center. She has also overseen critical city responses, including DBHIDS’s behavioral health strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, managed multi-million-dollar funding portfolios, and championed the department’s equity framework to align services with community needs.

Throughout her career, Solanke has been a respected thought leader and advocate for transforming public behavioral health systems. She has testified before City Council, chaired statewide policy work groups, and represented Philadelphia at national forums — including coordinating with the US Secretary of Health and Human Services to mark the national rollout of 988. Her work has positioned Philadelphia as a leader in crisis system transformation while deepening public trust and strengthening the behavioral health safety net for thousands of residents.

A licensed social worker, Solanke holds a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University and has spent her career within the city’s behavioral health ecosystem, serving previously as Director of Policy and Planning at DBHIDS and Director of Clinical Management at the DBHIDS Division of Community Behavioral Health (CBH).

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The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has made significant changes to Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Medicare, with strict requirements to maintain Federal support and criteria to qualify and maintain enrollment in Federal healthcare programs. There are several key provisions that will result in hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians losing access to healthcare:

  • “Community Engagement” Requirements which will require able-bodied adults to study, work, or volunteer for a minimum of 80 hours per month for expansion enrollees aged 19 – 64.
    • There are exceptions to these work requirements for people who are: enrolled in Medicare; incarcerated (and for 90 days following incarceration); pregnant or receiving postpartum coverage; Urban and California Indians; are caretakers of dependents under the age of 14; veterans with a total disability rating; are “medically frail”; participate in SNAP and are not exempt from its work requirements; or who have a substance use disorder or a disabling mental disorder (though neither of those exemptions are clearly defined). In addition, individuals who are participating in a drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program (as defined in section 3(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act [FNA] of 2008) are exempt. However, FNA defines drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation programs as “any such program conducted by a private nonprofit organization or institution.” With no clear guidance at this point on how an individual is determined to qualify as having an SUD, the definition of drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program could be an issue for for-profit providers.
    • States may request an exemption for 2027 and 2028 if they show a “good faith” effort to implement the program.
  • Limits to certain non-citizen access to federal health services, which will prevent certain individuals from enrolling in or receiving Medicaid or CHIP benefits. Medicaid will no longer be available to refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, or other people under temporary protected status, with certain exceptions.
  • Eligibility redeterminations must be made every six months for Expansion enrollees. Individuals who are exempt from the community engagement requirements are also exempt from the bi-annual eligibility redeterminations.

Additional Resources:

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The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency is seeking participation and input from JJDPC Subcommittee members to help shape the next iteration of Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Plan. This survey is anonymous and confidential to encourage your candid feedback. Individuals are asked to complete the survey before Monday, July 21, 2025, as results will be presented in the aggregate to members of the JJDPC and PCCD staff to help inform initial strategic planning discussions at the JJDPC’s quarterly meeting on August 7, 2025.

Please find the survey link here. If you have any questions regarding this survey or need assistance, please contact Greg Young electronically.

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This week’s Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition weekly advocacy communication focuses on the Commonwealth’s need for an increase in funding for children’s mental health services. The full advocacy letter can be read here.

The MHSN Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with questions or if you would like to join the coalition.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) July 2025 Stakeholder Webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: (562) 247-8321
Access Code:  289-226-375

Please contact Emma Sharp, Behavioral Health Policy Associate, with any questions.

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The Senate today approved the “Big Beautiful Bill” with the collateral impact of taking away health care from hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. The bill will now return to the House for a final vote before it goes to the President’s desk for signature and approval. The House is expected to act quickly.

The Senate bill makes even more drastic cuts to health coverage than the House version, totaling over $1 trillion, including Medicaid. Millions of Americans will lose access to health care; specifically, these cuts will take away health care from more than 600,000 Pennsylvanians and could double health insurance premiums for many more. In addition, the bill adds trillions to the growing Federal deficit by way of sizable tax cuts.

This will deeply impact our most vulnerable individuals and families that our members serve in the Commonwealth. We must act now to save access to health care. Find your legislator and their contact information here to let them know that you do not support the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

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The Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition’s weekly advocacy communication focused this week on the Commonwealth’s need for an increase in Behavioral Health Capitation to ensure sound rates to sustain providers and access to services. The full advocacy letter can be read here.

The Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the MHSN Coalition meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with questions or if you would like to join the coalition.

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Earlier this week, the Senate Parliamentarian advised lawmakers that several provisions in the budget reconciliation bill will not be able to pass with a simple majority vote. This includes the Senate’s proposed reductions to state provider taxes that were expected to result in billions of cost savings to the federal government. Senate Republicans now have several options to consider before moving forward, including removing key Medicaid provisions in the bill or re-drafting and re-submitting them to try to earn Parliamentarian approval. Other policies that were ruled unallowable under the Byrd Rule included the exclusion of specific groups of immigrants from Medicaid and withholding federal funds from states that use their own funds to provide coverage.

Senators are expected to vote in the coming days. While Pennsylvania Federal legislators are hearing the message from RCPA and other state associations, they are hearing very little from the constituencies in their home districts.

To assist with outreach and to help tailor the letter provided above, National Council and RCPA have provided additional resources below:

  • Find your US legislators here.
  • Call or write to your legislators here.

Your outreach TODAY is critical. If hundreds of billions of dollars are cut:

  • Millions of people are expected to lose access to lifesaving care and services;
  • Community behavioral health providers, operating on the thinnest of margins already, will face additional financial hardship; and
  • The cuts are unlikely to save any money overall because costs will simply shift to states, who will be forced to try and make up the funding difference.

Specific proposals under consideration, like mandatory work requirements and provider tax policy changes, are expected to create huge administrative burdens that are likely to result in eligible people losing their coverage, plus massive funding losses for states that could result in reduced availability of mental health and SUD services.

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