Pa.’s Telemedicine Waivers Create Confusion
Jim Sharp
PA Parent Alliance Offers IEP Bootcamp
You’re invited to sign up for the Parent Alliance’s IEP Bootcamp! It doesn’t matter if you’re considering asking for an IEP for your child or if you’ve been to more meetings than you can count — you will learn something new.
Each morning, for 21 days, you’ll receive information and tips about one section of the IEP to help create a plan day-by-day for reviewing, evaluating, and improving your child’s IEP. With a special focus on their behavior and emotional needs, you’ll be well prepared for every meeting.
Here is a link to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMHSAS Releases MH Bulletin for Older Adults
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to announce the issuance of Bulletin OMHSAS-22-06 titled “Revised Bulletin for Services to Older Adults.”
In 2019, Pennsylvania ranked 7th in the United States for the largest number of adults 65 and older. In the U.S., between 2020 and 2030, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million, a 39% increase. The fastest growing segment of the population during the next two decades is expected to be in the age 85 and older group. Social isolation and limited access to supports negatively impact the well-being of older adults.
Depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental illnesses are not a normal part of aging and should not be considered as such. As individuals age, the support networks utilized to help manage symptoms of a mental illness may change, resulting in individuals seeking services for the first time in their lives.
The development of depressive disorders occurs frequently in older adults, making it critical that comprehensive mental health evaluations are conducted based on presenting symptoms regardless of age. It is important for providers to evaluate for suicidality given that older adult males have the highest suicide completion rate of any age group.
Older persons diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder, including dementia, who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress syndromes, and behavioral agitation, are guaranteed access to mental health services under laws and regulations of the Commonwealth.
If you have questions or concerns related to this bulletin, please email OMHSAS or contact your RCPA Policy Director.
OMHSAS/OCDEL to Host County IECMH Funding Webinar Sept. 9
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in collaboration with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), will be hosting a webinar on September 9 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am to support counties in their use of annual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) funds. This webinar will include an overview of IECMH, organizations that host IECMH-related conferences, summits, and/or trainings that are preapproved for reimbursement, and instruction for counties on how to submit an IECMH funding request that is not preapproved.
See the Program Flyer for additional details.
MEETING REGISTRATION:
Please register for the IECMH Funding Webinar on September 9, 2022, 9:00 am EDT. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Call-in Number: 415-655-0052
Access Code: 733418631#
For questions regarding the webinar, please contact Amy Kabiru or RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.
New Clinical Guide From SMI Advisor for Criminal Justice Forensics Populations
Find ways to best support individuals who have serious mental illness (SMI) and are involved with the criminal justice process.
There is a trend toward collaboration among behavioral health clinicians and the criminal justice system. Yet studies show that individuals who have SMI interact with the criminal justice system at higher rates than the general public. In fact, about two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of SMI.
This guide for mental health clinicians helps you better understand the criminal justice system process as it relates to individuals who have SMI. Learn what happens after an individual in your care is arrested or incarcerated. Gather insight on how you can best support and advocate for them.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
DHS Releases New CRC Process for Licensed Facilities
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released a new Civil Righters Compliance (CRC) process for all facilities licensed by DHS. This process is effective Monday, August 22, 2022.
There are two changes to the Civil Rights Compliance process. First, there is a new Civil Rights Compliance form when submitting a new licensing application. There is also a new Civil Rights Compliance Attestation form when submitting a licensing renewal application. Second, the process of submitting the form has changed.
| If your license is issued by… | Submit your application AND your CRC form (if new license) or CRC Attestation (if license renewal) to: |
| The Bureau of Adult Residential Licensing | RA-PWLICADBHSLPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Children, Youth, and Families | RA-PWLICADOCYFPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services | RA-PWLICADOMHSASPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Developmental Programs* | RA-odplicensing@pa.gov |
| The Office of Child Development and Early Learning*
*Licensees who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. |
Child care providers should include their MPI number in the subject line and email the appropriate regional office:
Central Region Counties: Snyder, Perry, Juniata, Centre, Mifflin, Tioga, Lycoming, Northumberland, Union and Clinton |
| The Office of Child Development and Early Learning*
*Licensees who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. |
Western Region Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, Warren, Washington and WestmorelandCounties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset |
Entities seeking a new license will utilize a Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form (HS 2126). This form must be included in the packet submitted as part of any new license request. The new application, supporting documents, and CRC form must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart above. Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit new applications must submit the form by email. The CRC forms are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN new application process. The CRC form for new applications can be found at here.
For licensing renewals, a licensee will now submit a CRC Attestation form (HS 2125). The Attestation form must be submitted as part of a renewal licensing application. The renewal notice will still be sent out 130 days prior to expiration. The renewal application and attestation must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart above. Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. The CRC form for new applications can be found at here.
The DHS Bureau of Equal Opportunity currently issues you a letter verifying that a facility is in compliance with applicable civil rights laws. With the new process, a letter from BEO will no longer be sent out to licensed entities. Instead, the issuance of the new license or renewal license will indicate that your CRC form or Attestation form submission was approved. If there are issues and/or questions on the submitted CRC or Attestation form, a staff member from DHS will contact you.
The new process is effective on Monday, August 22, 2022. Existing licensees and applicants must begin following the new process on or before that date.
If you have any questions about the new process, please contact the applicable DHS office using the emails shown above or your respective RCPA Policy Director.
OMHSAS Releases Updated Telehealth FAQ
OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinar — August 19
The next Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Stakeholder Webinar will take place on Friday, August 19, 2022, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Visit here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Call-in Number:
562-247-8422
Access Code: 865972147#
In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for August’s webinar, please submit them via email by COB Wednesday, August 17, 2022. OMHSAS will monitor the account and will reply to the sender if more information is needed. Please be advised that responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.
If you have further questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
PDE Releases Guidance on Act 1 of 2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has released guidance on Act 1 of 2022, which promotes timely high school graduation, facilitates equal access to academics and extracurricular activities, and the removal of systemic barriers for students who experience education instability as defined by the legislation.
Additionally, Act 1 confers specific duties on all school entities, including school districts, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and career and technical schools. Act 1 does not in any way alter or undermine the rights of students with disabilities or abridge other state or federal laws that protect eligible students.
If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
PFSA Offers Free Virtual Mandated Reporter Training
PFSA is continuing to offer virtual Mandated Reporter Training at no cost to mandated reporters in Pennsylvania.
This three-hour virtual training is approved by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and State and meets all requirements for training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (to include Act 126 for school employees). It is also approved for continuing education credits under Act 31 (Department of State for health-related licenses) and Act 48 (Department of Education for teachers) at no cost. PFSA will submit your training verification to the Department of State or Education as appropriate on your behalf (details provided during training).
Please register for your preferred training date and time by selecting one of the session links below. Each person must log in through separate devices using the unique access link emailed to them after registration in order to receive credit.
For questions or to schedule a session specifically for your organization, please email PFSA. If you have further questions please contact, RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Monday. Aug. 8, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Friday, Aug. 12, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday, Aug. 13, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
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