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Save the date for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Program’s (DDAP) 2024 Recovery Month kickoff event “Share the Hope: A Recovery Story,” featuring guest speaker DDAP Secretary Latika Davis-Jones. The event will take place from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on September 12 at Sailors and Soldiers Grove, Capitol Complex, 531 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, PA. More details will be provided soon.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the opening of nominations for the inaugural SAMHSA Trailblazers in Advancing Recovery (STAR) Awards. These awards aim to recognize individuals, including youth and family members, with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use conditions for their contributions. Additionally, the awards will honor organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting equitable access to wellness and recovery supports. Nominations can be submitted through the official nomination page. This initiative marks a significant step in acknowledging leaders and organizations dedicated to advancing mental health and substance use recovery efforts.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, you can complete our Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers Brochure or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator. Spaces are filling up, so don’t delay!
We look forward to sharing more details in the near future and would like to extend a thank you to those organizations who have already pledged support for the conference! View our current sponsors and exhibitors on the RCPA Conference website!
Happy July! Share these important workshops and Good Life Groups with your network! Register for upcoming events on the PA Family Network website.
Support Groups
LifeCourse Workshops
Waiver Workshops
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!
Understanding Trauma: From Theory to Practice
This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal addresses the approach to trauma and its role in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental illness from a variety of perspectives. Just as trauma arises from a variety of sources and experiences, addressing it in a meaningful, accessible way requires that each voice is heard, valued, and respected.
There are foundational principles that are vital in determining the best path forward in a trauma-informed manner, and we can and should learn from and leverage these principles and best practices. The goal of this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal is to present diverse, expert voices in understanding trauma from theory to practice.
This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP’s website.
To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.
Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.
The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP electronically.
After reviewing hundreds of comments from stakeholders, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has made some initial adjustments to the proposed Performance-Based Contracting waiver for Residential Services. Areas with high volumes of comments included:
ODP is now offering Residential providers a choice of when they are assigned into a tier. This will be based on which data they chose for ODP to review and make a tier determination upon. The choices will be:
ODP plans to continue their review of public comments and intends to publish additional information. On July 19, ODP hopes to submit amended the 1915(c) waivers and 1915(b)4 waiver as well as publish the following supporting documents:
On January 1, 2025, ODP intends to begin Performance-Based Contracting (pending CMS approval).
ODP will conduct a webinar for residential providers on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, to review publications, changes made as a result of public comment, and instructions for tier determination and data submission. Register here. This webinar will be posted on the PBC Resource Page located on the MyODP website.