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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

As RCPA continues to serve our members’ needs across the behavioral health service continuum, we will be convening an Adult Mental Health Residential Work Group. This committee will be structured and function in a similar manner to our other work groups, with the goal being to address the outlying barriers providers face within the residential services arena.

RCPA is at its best with committed partnership and collaboration; therefore, the committee will be open to all RCPA members. We will tentatively have our first meeting in late April or early May, after we develop our participant list. The early work will include the development of a strategic agenda that begins to address the challenges related to regulations, workforce, program sustainability, and operations.

If you are interested in participating, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp via email.

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As the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) prepares for the upcoming changes in the federal Medicaid standards set for implementation in January 2027, DHS has convened a statewide HR1 Steering Committee. This group is tasked with reviewing policy and practice drafts from the Department as it relates to their response to the pending Medicaid changes, including new eligibility and work requirements for recipients and communicating the implementation of Pennsylvania’s overall plan.

The steering committee is comprised of state leadership, advocates, and payers. RCPA providers will be represented by RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley. RCPA’s involvement will bolster our role as a lead advocate for members and stakeholders as it relates to Medicaid HR 1 activities. Additionally, RCPA has contracted with former Pennsylvania Medicaid Director Leesa Allen to assist in developing our internal strategies and advocacy platform.

The steering committee had its initial meeting yesterday, March 5, 2026, to lay out the groundwork for the group and presented an initial PowerPoint presentation that looks at some of the foundational information around Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP changes.

If you have questions or feedback, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director or COO Jim Sharp.

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RCPA has been a long-time partner of the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), a policy design and implementation organization devoted to improving outcomes for people enrolled in Medicaid. Our collaborative efforts across the arena of Medicaid and the pending impacts of HR 1 remain a critical connection point to ensure access in Pennsylvania.

On behalf of CHCS, RCPA would like to share this update on resources related to the Rural Health Transformation Project. Per the update:

The federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), authorized under the 2025 budget reconciliation act (P.L. 119-21), will distribute $50 billion to all 50 states from 2026 to 2030 — serving as a partial offset to Medicaid cuts. In designing and launching RHTP plans, state agencies must meet ambitious federal expectations and timelines. Experiences from other large-scale statewide efforts — such as the American Rescue Plan Act, Opioid Settlement Funds, multisector plans for aging (MPA), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) State Innovation Models (SIM) demonstration — can help inform state planning.

This brief provides practical recommendations to help states establish the administrative infrastructure needed to implement their RHTP plans. Drawing on insights from state officials involved with similar transformation efforts, as well as the Center for Health Care Strategies’ (CHCS) experience supporting this work, the brief highlights best practices and common pitfalls across four core domains:

  1. Governance;
  2. Stakeholder engagement and communications;
  3. Budget tracking, reporting, and contracting; and
  4. Data and evaluation.

While not exhaustive, this brief outlines practical lessons that state staff can use to guide RHTP activities during the critical first six to nine months of program design and implementation, helping states build a strong foundation for long-term success.

Additionally, CHCS published a series of tip sheets to aid stakeholders in exploring strategies and initiatives within the project. The tip sheets offer resources for strengthening rural health, including workforce and access issues.

If members have any questions regarding this update or the Rural Health Transformation Plan, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp.

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With support from the Preschool Development Grant, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is supporting a training initiative to help build a cross-disciplinary workforce across Pennsylvania that understands very young children’s mental health and development and can provide better, more informed support to families and caregivers.

You, or a Children First PA representative(s) of your choosing, are invited to participate in an upcoming DC:0–5™: Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood Overview webinar. This 90-minute session is designed for policy leaders, advocates, and human services administrators who play a pivotal role in shaping systems that support the mental health and well-being of our youngest children.

About the Training:

The DC:0–5™ framework provides a developmentally sensitive approach to understanding and classifying mental health and developmental disorders in children from birth through age five. The overview will:

  • Introduce the purpose and structure of the DC:0–5™;
  • Highlight its role in transforming early identification and intervention practices; and
  • Explore implications for policy, advocacy, and service delivery.

Why Your Participation Matters:

Your leadership and expertise are essential in ensuring that policies and programs reflect the latest understanding of infant/early childhood mental health. By engaging in this training, you will be better equipped to:

  • Inform policy decisions with evidence-based practices;
  • Strengthen cross-sector collaboration; and
  • Support equitable access to infant/early childhood mental health services and supports.

DATE: February 18, 2026, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST

REGISTER HERE

Participants will need to create a free eLearn account with ZERO TO THREE if they do not already have one to complete their registration.

Priority registration is available through February 11, 2026, before the training announcement is made public the following day. Space is limited to 100 attendees.

We look forward to your participation in this important conversation and to working together to advance the well-being of young children and their families.  If you cannot attend this session, there will be additional opportunities in 2027, as this initiative also includes a Training of Trainers strategy.

If you have any additional questions, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp.

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