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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash

To and Through: Creating Conditions that Support Higher Education Success for Youth with Experience in Foster Care
Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 10:00 am–11:30 am EDT

Register Here

Hear from members of the Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB) about their journey to and through higher education. The Pennsylvania YAB is comprised of current and former youth in foster care, ages 14-21. YAB youth leaders educate, advocate, and form partnerships to create positive change in the substitute care system.

This training will feature a moderated panel of YAB alumni that will discuss their experiences transitioning to higher education as well as how educators and child welfare professionals can create conditions that support youth who have experienced foster care to and through higher education. The webinar will also highlight key information pertaining to Pennsylvania’s new Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program (FosterEd).

Panelists:
Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Alumni    

Shayla Jones, Youth Quality Improvement Specialist, Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh                            

Teresa Musser, Human Services Program Specialist, Office of Children, Youth and Families, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Jillian Schreib, Human Services Program Specialist, Office of Children, Youth and Families, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Act 48 and NASW credits are available for those attending the webinar in its entirety.

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The Department of Human Services today announced that its Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP), a program that promotes integrated and meaningful employment for adults with autism, has been recognized by the Vienna, Austria-based Zero Project as a model deserving international attention and replication. ACAP was one of three American programs of 443 nominations from around the world to be honored by the Zero Project.

“DHS is committed to making a future that truly includes individuals with autism as fully integrated members of our communities. We work every day to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have what they need so they can live everyday lives, and I’m thankful to the Zero Project for recognizing DHS’ work,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is absolutely critical that people with autism have the opportunities they deserve in order take part in that recovery. I hope that with this recognition, other states and countries will look to Pennsylvania as a world leader in supporting people on the autism spectrum.”

ACAP is a comprehensive system of care for adults with autism that provides services and supports to help them participate in their communities in the way that they choose. It is a managed care program that includes access to physical and behavioral health professionals, transportation services, education, in-home and independent living supports, and more, all with the goal of fostering independence and increasing a person’s quality of life.

The program also connects participants with support coordinators in order to develop job skills and create tailored employment plans while offering job coaching and guidance and support to companies and employers. ACAP has an employment rate 2-3 times higher than other programs supporting adults with autism – more than 50% of participants were employed in 2020, with an average job retention rate of 4.25 years.

ACAP was created in 2010 and is funded and administered by DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs’ Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, in partnership with Keystone Human Services, a managed care organization and a provider of services. ACAP is currently only available in Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties. 

The Zero Project’s mission supports the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations by sharing programs and models that improve the daily lives and legal rights of all people with disabilities. More information on the Zero Project can be found here.

More information on DHS’ resources for people with disabilities seeking employment can be found here. More information on Keystone Human Services can be found here.

For additional info, please contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA Director of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

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This week’s resource update includes quick-links, hotlines, and detailed instructions to help you better serve families in preventing and reporting child abuse. For additional kinship related resources and tips, please visit www.kinconnector.org or call 866-546-2111 for support.


Child Abuse Prevention and Resource Links:

Thank you again for partnering with us to prevent child abuse and help families thrive!

Sincerely,
Your team at PA KinConnector

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In response to recent departmental updates, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports is releasing updated Early Intervention (EI) COVID resource materials, including FAQ, a flow chart for selecting Service Delivery Strategies, and a COVID screener for in-person EI services.

Highlights of the changes in the materials updated include:

  • Tele-intervention can continue to be used as a safe and effective Service Delivery Strategy when it best meets the needs for children and their families.
  • Families may request to resume their in-home (in-person) services but still must abide by the universal mask order and screening protocols.
  • The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams should problem solve how to support the request.
  • Changes to the materials are not guidance related to location of service but rather guidance regarding services that the team determined to be in-home.

Below are the following resource materials:

To respond to these changes, local program leaders will need to remove any decision-making procedures, beyond screening and abiding by the universal mask order, which would prevent families from receiving in-person service delivery. Everyone should continue to practice appropriate public health measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 such as masking, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.

If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) will host a statewide Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) webinar on May 11, 2021 at 1:00 pm–3:00 pm. The webinar will include helpful tips and reminders regarding Fee For Service prior authorization instructions, licensing and regulatory requirements, and department approved IBHS training. Questions regarding the webinar may be directed to the IBHS.

Please register here for the IBHS Updates webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any question for the webinar, please forward them to RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) has updated and released its Complex Case Bulletin and Referral Form. The Complex Case Planning Bulletin was originally disseminated in October 2020. Implementation of the bulletin has been continuously evaluated, and edits were made in coordination with program offices and the Complex Behavioral Health Steering Team to increase consistency and quality of planning. The bulletin provides a detailed overview for providers and county agencies on the county, regional, and state processes for planning these cases.

Please view the Complex Case Planning Bulletin and CY 1003. These documents can also be accessed at the DHS website.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash

The Office of Children Youth & Families (OCYF) has released a communication outlining the OCYF Title IV–E Invoicing system upgraded on April 12, 2021 to address changes that have been implemented due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. These changes are specifically addressing the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on older youth in placement. This communication is being sent in advance of the patch release in order to provide counties with an opportunity to review the changes and make any necessary modifications to their processes. Only Foster Care (CY–63 FC) invoices are impacted by these changes.

To view the full communication, please view the link here. These changes will be implemented on April 12, 2021 and are retroactive to April 1, 2020.

If you have any questions, please email OCYF or contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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