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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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The recently released Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Bulletin #00-20-01, 3130-20-03, 3350-20-02, 3490-20-03, 3680-20-01, 3700-20-02, 3800-20-02, entitled “Notification Protocol for Formal Licensing Actions and Incidents” can be found here.

The purpose of this bulletin is to revise the OCYF procedures for sending notification of critical events that have occurred in a child residential or day treatment facility, an approved foster and pre-adoptive home, or a Youth Development Center or a Youth Forestry Camp that may represent a risk of harm to the children and youth placed in those settings. This bulletin rescinds and replaces OCYF Bulletin #00-19-02, entitled “Notification Protocol for Formal Licensing Actions and Incidents,” which was issued in August 2019.

The revisions to this bulletin were previously communicated via the above announcement on January 16, 2020, and include removing the issuance of notifications regarding removal of staff under an approved plan of supervision and any notifications which were duplicative of one another, specifically those that would already require a notification and result in citation(s) and/or issuance of a licensing inspection summary.

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

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In an effort to provide temporary relief for individuals in need of FBI fingerprinting as part of the Child Protective Services Law, Governor Wolf has approved legislation — formerly HB 360 and now ACT 18 — that allows temporary fingerprinting flexibility where Identogo sites are not available. In a phone call today with the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Planning Committee, it was discussed that OCYF expects to release the guidance this week with some noted limitations as outlined below.

Existing Employees – Have until December 31 to get fingerprints for those whose checks have expired since March 2020. Still need PSP and Child Abuse Checks completed.

For new employees, if you have not been a resident in PA within the past 10 years, you must also provide Child Abuse clearances from prior states of residence. New hires also sign a disclosure statement (attestation form).

New hires have until December 31, or 60 days from end date of state of emergency as directed by Governor Wolf, to get fingerprinting done. Individuals must still make reasonable efforts to complete checks at your local Identogo site if it is open.

Further direction and comment will be forthcoming from RCPA after the OCYF guidance is released. If your agency or staff are having difficulty in obtaining fingerprints, or if you are looking for Identogo mobile sites or resources, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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Harrisburg, PA – As child care providers across Pennsylvania reopen in counties transitioning to the yellow phase in Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to supporting this crucial industry and the families of young children who depend on it.

To slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and prevent loss of life, Governor Wolf issued a statewide stay-at-home order April 1; however, the order allowed DHS’ Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to implement a waiver process for child care centers serving families of essential workers. Family and group child care homes operating in a home setting were also allowed to remain in operation under the governor’s order.

As of May 5, approximately 1,529 child care providers continue to operate in Pennsylvania. This includes 626 child care centers and 903 group and family child care homes.

When a county moves to the yellow phase in the governor’s plan, all child care providers are permitted to reopen without a waiver. The Department of Human Services is prepared to support child care providers and Pennsylvania families throughout the reopening process.

Child care providers preparing to open must familiarize themselves with and be prepared to implement guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which outlines the steps providers should take to keep child care spaces safe and to properly monitor staff and children for potential exposure to and symptoms of COVID-19.

The Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) also remain available to families throughout Pennsylvania during this period. ELRCs can help families locate an operating child care provider in the community, determine eligibility for the Child Care Works subsidy program, and provide referrals to other supportive programs and services.

Child Care Works payments will continue to providers with active enrollments through the end of May. These payments will be made based on active enrollment, not child attendance.

OCDEL will continue to communicate regularly with providers. Communications from OCDEL can be found on the DHS website or through the Pennsylvania Key.

“Child care providers in counties moving to the yellow phase are not required to open, and families may still choose to keep their child at home,” Secretary Miller said.

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The Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) has released two separate guidances related to Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) services during the Corona Pandemic. The purpose of these communications are to advise all county administrators, brokers, and all contracted transit agencies (collectively referred to as MATP agencies) of the precautions necessary to ensure safe provision of non-emergency medical transportation services to Medical Assistance beneficiaries while the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on March 6, 2020, remains in effect.

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Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced that approval was received from the United States Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to delay opting into full implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act until July 1, 2021, to give child welfare stakeholders the necessary time to implement these critical reforms.

The Family First Prevention Services Act is a federal law that prioritizes providing services to children in families in the least restrictive manner and with their families as much as safely possible. It allows states to use federal payments for trauma-informed evidence-based prevention services to allow children who may otherwise be placed in congregate settings care to stay with their parents or relatives. In the event placement outside the home occurs, the law directs federal funding towards family-like settings or other specialized settings that are best suited to a child’s individual needs.

The additional time will allow for interested providers for specialized settings to apply or to adjust their programs under the Family First Prevention Services Act. Specialized settings are trauma-informed child residential facilities or supervised independent living programs specializing in providing care and treatment for children and youth with special circumstances.

Furthermore, the delay will support our efforts to build additional evidence-based prevention programs used by counties in a way that safely keeps families together, allows for staffing and data needs to be met, and will not result in the loss of federal funds.

DHS previously released a bulletin with guidance and requirements for providers that wish to become a specialized setting.

RCPA will continue to be represented on the Statewide Family First Task Force and will continue to update members on the new implementation process, timelines, and progress status. If you would like to discuss your organization’s Family First plan or if you have questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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“Making Tough Decisions In Turbulent Times: 12 Steps To Creating Your Data-Driven Organization”

Does Your Executive Team Have the Data Needed For Nimble Decision Making?

Join Monica E. Oss, the Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS and Carol Clayton, PhD, the Chief, Translational Neuroscience of Relias for a briefing on surviving the current unexpected financial disruption.

Executives of specialty provider organizations need to embrace a new approach for developing a strategy to move forward. Executives need the right information, on a timely basis, to navigate times of economic turbulence — both now and in the future. Often this vital information exists somewhere in the organization, but it is not integrated for reporting in a format to help drive decision making.

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Register online today.

In this session, we will take executives through a rapid-fire process of becoming a data-driven organization.

During this session attendees will review:

  • The types of information that are most useful for strategic decision making;
  • A field-tested, twelve-step process to move your executive team and your entire organization to data-driven decision making; and
  • A case study and examples of best practice performance reporting.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released a set of guidelines and an updated COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to stakeholders on May 5, 2020.

The BHRS/IBHS Telehealth Guidance outlines the steps necessary for these services to be provided through the telehealth platform.

It should be noted that if a BHRS/IBHS provider has already submitted their attestation for the delivery of telehealth services to this population; they WILL NOT need to submit further attestations or program descriptions. It is important for all providers to review your current telehealth service delivery as it relates to the telehealth expansion guidance provided by OMHSAS on March 15, 2020.

OMHSAS released the initial Telehealth Bulletin on February 20, 2020.

After reviewing the FAQs and guidance, please email the IBHS account or contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp or Courtney Malecki at OMHSAS, to talk through the questions regarding BHRS/IBHS.

OMHSAS also released a COVID-19 FAQs that outlines questions and OMHSAS recommendations to questions and queries that have been submitted during the pandemic. The purpose of the memorandum is to issue additional FAQs for delivery of behavioral health services in the Medical Assistance (MA) program during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disaster emergency declaration period.

This memorandum supplements the initial set of COVID-19 FAQs issued by the OMHSAS on March 25, 2020.

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

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As providers prepare for the plan of reengaging site-based services, RCPA has created a PowerPoint overview with resource guidance for consideration. The presentation frames the guidance information within Governor Wolf’s three phase plan.

Also included are links to resources and guidance from the CDC, PA Department of Health, and the Department of Human Services entities.

Access the Provider Resource Guidance here. If you have questions, please contact Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

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