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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.
Arc of PA Releases Report on How Disability Community Suffered Disproportionately During COVID-19
FDA Moves to Make Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Available to Millions
Northampton Community College Offers Free Online Training for PCHs/ALRs
Northampton Community College is offering free online training programs in the fall 2022 for personal care homes (PCHs) and Assisted Living Residences (ALRs). There are a variety of training topics being offered, including Verbal De-escalation Redirection Techniques, Dementia Care in PCH, and Safe Medication Practices.
In the announcement, you can select the linked course titles to register. You may also visit the College’s website. If you have any questions about registering, please contact Northampton Community College via email or at (610) 332-6585.
Participation is limited for each course. If you register and later discover you are unavailable to participate, please cancel your registration to allow other individuals the opportunity to register.
If you need information about additional available training for administrators, please contact the Operator Support Hotline at (866) 503-3926 or electronically.
Values Into Action: Virtual “Finally Home” Housing Symposium September 7
Join us for a day of presentations and discussions about what Finally Home could mean for you, your loved ones, or those you support.
We will:
- Be energized by opening speaker Erica McFadden, Director of Independent Living at the Administration for Community Living;
- Hear the experiences of people on their Finally Home journey;
- Learn how you can get involved from David Gates;
- Discuss the role of technology in our Everyday Lives; and
- Be inspired by Kristin Ahrens, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Developmental Programs, as we close our day.
Registration is required. You can register for the event here. For questions or accessibility accommodation requests, please contact Maryann via email or (610) 565-5177.
Release of Training on Residential ISP Staffing: It’s About the Person, Not the Numbers
ODP Announcement 22-094 announces the release of the Residential Individual Support Plan (ISP) Staffing three-part webcast training located on MyODP.
The Residential ISP Staffing trainings described in ODP Announcement 22-017, which were provided virtually or in-person, have been completed. To ensure ongoing training is available for new staff or for current staff who may benefit from a review of the content, a three-part training webcast is now available.
The training covers the same content as the prior virtual or in-person sessions. The training includes opportunities for participants to apply the concepts through examples and can be taken at a pace appropriate to the needs of the participant and their agency.
Participants who complete all requirements will receive 4 hours of training credit. Certificates for past trainings on MyODP are still available in the course where you completed the requirements.
Any questions, please reach out to your regional office.
Open for Public Comment: PA’s Statewide Transition Plan for HCBS
ODP Announcement 22-092 announces that the Department of Human Services (Department) is accepting comments on Pennsylvania’s Final Statewide Transition Plan (STP) for Home and Community-Based Services, which can be accessed here. Comments received by 11:59 pm on September 22, 2022, will be reviewed and considered for revisions to Pennsylvania’s Final STP that will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
A webinar specific to STP Information for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will be held on September 8, 2022, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Please register for the webinar.
Stakeholders may provide public comment through one of the following methods:
- Electronic comments submitted via email. Stakeholders are asked to use the subject header “PA Final STP” when submitting comments.
- Written comments submitted via mail: Department of Human Services, Office of the Secretary, P. O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675.
- Verbal and written comments during public comment webinars.
Place Your Orders for the 2022 DSP Recognition Week
Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is September 11–17, and we have everything you need to plan your celebrations of the dedicated professionals who make up the backbone of disability supports and services!
Place your order by 11:59 pm PDT Wednesday, August 17 to avoid incurring extra shipping costs to receive your items prior to DSP Recognition Week. Orders will be accepted after August 17, but may incur additional shipping fees or may not arrive before the start of DSP Recognition Week on September 11.
We’ve updated the 2022 Direct Support Professional Recognition Week Store with several new selections, along with some of the most popular items from previous years. The items you see are just a sampling of the many options to choose from, so check out the store today!
BONUS: Once you’ve placed your order from the 2022 DSP Recognition Week Store, peruse the 2022 DSP Recognition Week Toolkit for celebration ideas and sample social media posts.
DSP Recognition Week is one of our favorite times of year, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you and see all of your celebrations! Thank you, DSPs!
Charting the LifeCourse Using Applying Principles and Using Tools to Support a Good Life
Charting the LifeCourse was created to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. This training series is for all professional stakeholders.
Participants in this training will:
- Learn about the National Charting the LifeCourse Community of Practice;
- Apply LifeCourse Principles and LifeCourse Framework; and
- Practice Using LifeCourse Tools.
Dates:
September 16, 2022, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration opens 8/10/22.
December 16, 2022, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration opens 11/10/22.
February 22, 2023, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Registration opens 1/18/23.
May 11, 2023, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration opens 4/6/23.
All dates are visible in the course, but registration links will open about 5 weeks in advance of each session.
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