';
CLOSE
Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

1069 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

0 1254

RCPA members in the Behavioral Health and Drug and Alcohol Divisions recently participated in a survey to gauge their organization’s readiness and potential impacts as the current Alternative Payment Agreements/Arrangements (APAs) are set to end on June 30, 2021.

This is the second RCPA APA survey, as the last one conducted in the late summer of 2020 was instrumental in discussions related to the continuation of the payment agreements/arrangements at a previous expiration deadline. The data we collected will once again be instrumental in our discussions and efforts with DHS and our HealthChoices Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations regarding strategic fiscal considerations for RCPA members.

To view the survey summary overview and individual question analysis, please visit this link.

If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Division Director.

0 1326

The Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) is pleased to announce the release of the Pennsylvania Citizen Review Panels’ 2020 Annual Report. The report, which includes Citizen Review Panel recommendations for improvements to our child welfare system and OCYF responses to those recommendations, can be found here.

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

0 1268

The Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, the PA Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers, and the JCJC Awards Committee are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2021 JCJC Awards Program. Award nomination forms can be found on the JCJC website. This year’s program categories for which your program may be eligible include:

Residential Program of the Year Award: Available to any public or private sector program serving alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth in a residential setting. This includes foster homes, group homes, residential treatment programs, general childcare facilities, shelter care facilities, detention centers, independent living programs, and other programs providing out-of-home, overnight care to children. Award Winners prior to 2016 are eligible for nomination.

Community-Based Program of the Year Award: Available to any public or private sector program, not operated by the court, which provides community based, non-residential services to alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth including, but not limited to, day treatment programs, in-home services, Boys and Girls Clubs, Education Services, and out-patient services

Meritorious Service Award: Available to a volunteer committed to furthering the development of at-risk, alleged and/or delinquent youth (Examples of volunteer work may include youth aid panels, youth commissions, anti-violence programs, school-based programs, diversionary programs, mentoring programs, faith-based programs, community centers or other similar programming).

As in previous years, all nominations must be submitted by county juvenile probation departments. Therefore, if you would like to have your program or volunteer nominated, please contact a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer to discuss the possibility of submitting a nomination. Formal professional award nomination materials must be submitted via email by Monday August 16, 2021.

Youth Awards: In addition, the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission will once again sponsor a Youth Awards Program as part of this year’s Annual Awards Program to honor the youth selected as winners.  The Youth Awards Committee is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Contest and the Creative Expression Contest both of which are described below.

Please note that in an effort to recognize the expanding and creative artistic talent of youth, the Creative Expression Contest category will once again include either a Written, Poster, or Video entry in two age categories, fifteen (15) and under and sixteen (16) and over. The requirements of each nomination are listed below and included in the attached nomination forms. Please note that these forms will also be available on the JCJC website. This year’s theme is “Moving Forward in Unity”. The winners and their chaperones will be honored guests at the 2021 Youth Awards Program and Dinner. Individuals submitting nominations will be responsible for ensuring that winners attend the Youth Awards Program. Winners will have the opportunity to say a few words upon receiving their award. All youth award nominations must be postmarked by Monday August 16, 2021.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT CONTEST:

The Outstanding Achievement Contest consists of a narrative description of a youth’s outstanding qualities of community service, victim reparation, academic accomplishments, citizenship, attitude, extra-curricular activities, peer relationships and positive changes in behavior, submitted by a counselor, teacher, or juvenile probation officer.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION CONTEST:

The Creative Expression Contest submission consists of a Poster, no larger than 22” H X 28” W with a 1” border as a picture, drawing, painting, or collage; or a Written essay, poem, story, etc. entry typed and limited to one page in length; or a Video entry on a USB Flash Drive, DVD or CD, in a mpeg, mov, wmv, mp3, or avi format of no longer than 2 minutes. This contest has a fifteen (15) and under category and a sixteen (16) and over category.

The Awards Committee encourages you to present the Youth Awards theme and requirements to the youth in your program for their participation in the contest.

Thank you for your interest and support of the 2021 JCJC Awards Program. Please contact JCJC Awards Liaison Angel R. Stewart at 717-783-7835 or via email or contact Keysla Rodriguez at 717-783-6263 or via email for questions or further assistance.

If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Children Director Jim Sharp.

0 1574

Today, Governor Tom Wolf signed a renewal of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 vaccinations have increased dramatically in recent weeks, and we are making significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Wolf. “As previously announced, we are lifting all mitigation measures on Memorial Day, but we need just a little more time under this current disaster declaration to ensure that we do not risk valuable resources that will help Pennsylvania recover from the pandemic.

“The disaster declaration allows more medical professionals to administer vaccines, ensures families harmed financially by the pandemic have access to healthy food through SNAP benefits, and ensures Pennsylvania counties and businesses remain eligible for federal disaster recovery dollars.

“We will continue to monitor vaccination rates and adjust mitigation orders accordingly. I have been in touch with the General Assembly regarding this extension, and we will continue to collaborate on the future of this disaster declaration and any future declarations that become necessary to help Pennsylvanians in the midst of an emergency.”

The emergency disaster declaration renewed today provides for increased support to state agencies involved in the continued response to the virus and recovery for the state during reopening.

The disaster declaration has allowed for waivers and extensions to continue to provide for Pennsylvanians and businesses under the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, including the ability to waive the one-week waiting period to receive unemployment compensation and the registration requirement with PA CareerLink for applicants and allowing the commonwealth to suspend numerous training requirements and certification and licensure renewals for health care professionals, child care workers, direct care workers, direct support professionals, among other professional groups who provide life-sustaining services to our children, seniors, and vulnerable residents. The flexibilities available because of the disaster declaration have allowed many more health care professionals to provide services virtually during the pandemic, expanding opportunities for individuals to seek needed physical and mental health services. It allows the commonwealth to increase the number of vaccine providers and improve vaccine distribution.

Through the disaster declaration, PEMA has been able to assign the National Guard to provide various types of support for long term care facilities, including providing direct patient care support, ancillary support, and testing, and at community-based testing sites. It also provides PEMA with the ability to leverage continued federal support such as non-congregate sheltering.

You can view the announcement at the Governor’s website. If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

0 941

As part of RCPA’s ongoing effort with members and stakeholders regarding the Alternative Pay Arrangements/Agreements (APAs), we are asking members to complete this brief APA survey.

Today will be the final day to submit your survey responses. We respectfully request that the survey be completed as the APAs apply to your Drug & Alcohol, Children’s, and Adult Mental Health services continuum. The data we collect will be instrumental in our collective efforts with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and managed care organizations regarding strategic fiscal considerations, as the current APAs are set to end on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Thank you, and if you have questions, please contact RCPA Director of Children’s Division Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

0 945
Image by Katja Fuhlert from Pixabay

Yesterday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12–15. This follows an expanded emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this week.

Parents can now begin to schedule their children ages 12 and up through any vaccine provider administering Pfizer. You can find a vaccine provider administering Pfizer near you.

The authorization follows a Phase 3 clinical trial with 2,260 participants. Data from this trial showed that the vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing cases of COVID-19, and the immune response was just as strong, and potentially stronger, when compared to clinical trial participants aged 16 through 25 years considered in the vaccine’s initial authorization. Side effects experienced by some participants in the clinical trial were similar to what was experienced by older teenagers and adults — tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, and fever. As with all other vaccines, Pfizer, the FDA, and the CDC will continue to monitor for safety moving forward.

While children and adolescents are not as likely to experience severe effects from COVID-19 as older adults, they are still able to transmit the virus if they contract it. Vaccine uptake in children and teenagers and protecting them from catching and further spreading the virus can help reduce community transmission and protect more vulnerable people. There is also still great risk and uncertainty surrounding this virus and its long-term effects, and this vaccine is a way to help keep more people safe from COVID-19. More information about the Pfizer vaccine’s extended emergency authorization is available from the FDA and through a fact sheet for recipients and caregivers.

We understand that there may be questions as children and their caregivers consider their options regarding these vaccines. We hope that families and caregivers will continue to trust the rigorous testing and scrutiny these vaccines undergo before emergency authorization and choose this option to protect their children from COVID-19. If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

0 687

As part of RPCA’s ongoing effort with members and stakeholders regarding the Alternative Pay Arrangements/Agreements (APAs), we are asking members to complete this brief APA survey.

We respectfully request that the survey be completed as the APAs apply to your Drug & Alcohol, Children’s, and Adult Mental Health services continuum. The data we collect will be instrumental in our collective efforts with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and managed care organizations regarding strategic fiscal considerations, as the current APAs are set to end on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

It has been requested we extend the survey date. The survey will now be available until close of business Thursday, May 20, 2021. Thank you, and if you have questions, please contact RCPA Director of Children’s Division Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

0 1690
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to share the 2020 Behavioral Health Telehealth Report, developed in collaboration with the OMHSAS Telehealth Steering Committee and Mercer Government Services Consulting. This report provides recommendations for the future of telehealth after the resolution of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The work of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders has been and will continue to be vital in ensuring that the behavioral health needs of Pennsylvanians continue to be met. The report is available on the OMHSAS website.

If you have questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp. If you have questions regarding this report, please email OMHSAS directly.

Prev1...565758...107Next Page 57 of 107
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association