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Last week, House Bill 2300 was referred to the House Professional Licensure Committee. HB 2300: Legislative Package to Join the National Counseling Compact & Changes to Behavioral Specialists (Former HB 2852), allows Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact, enabling Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) to practice across state lines without needing additional licenses. This change aims to improve access to mental health services by supporting telehealth, allowing LPCs to provide remote counseling. The compact also mandates standardized licensure requirements, including a 60 semester-hour master’s degree, a nationally recognized exam, and supervised postgraduate experience. RCPA is seeking member input as we develop our position on the legislation.
The Compact establishes a data system for sharing licensure and disciplinary information among member states, enhancing oversight and public safety. It mentions granting authority to member states to take actions against LPCs who violate regulations and creates the Counseling Compact Commission to oversee the implementation and administration. These changes ensure consistent standards for mental and behavioral health providers, increasing mobility and the availability of BH services.
As RCPA reviewed the details of this piece of legislation, one item of interest was that the bill entails the creation of a commission in Pennsylvania that will need to be funded. In the past, portions of commission operating costs have been realized by an increase in licensing fees. It is important to note that RCPA has not yet seen any fiscal package associated with the bill.
We ask that members review the bill and provide commentary as well as an organizational position of support, neutrality, or non-support. Please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp with any feedback or questions.
You’re invited to a free webinar hosted by William Rizzo, Managing Partner & Chief Strategist for Quantum Strategies!
As a professional in the Health and Human Services Community, you understand the importance of staying informed and making strategic business decisions. Quantum Strategies will be addressing those common misconceptions that HR Consulting and Managed Services companies are a threat to job security.
Quantum Strategies’ expert speaker will delve into how HR Consulting and Managed Services will partner with you to support your organization’s workforce, boost employee engagement, and drive business growth to overall success. By attending this online seminar, you will gain valuable insights that will empower you to make informed decisions that benefit both your company and its employees.
The webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 25, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EDT).
If you register today, Quantum Strategies will send the recording as a bonus for free.
Through this partnership created exclusively for RPCA members, organizations interested in partnering with ADP can take advantage of pre-established, preferred pricing and monthly promotions designed specifically for our valued RCPA members. Our partner program also includes:
Currently, ADP has over 45,000 health care & 21,000 nonprofit organization clients. No matter your human services setting – extended care, mental health, substance use disorder, IDD, brain injury, criminal and juvenile justice, medical and pediatric rehabilitation, or physical disabilities and aging services – health care professionals face unique payroll and HR challenges. With ADP, you get comprehensive solutions that can help you find and retain the best talent, support your people, and manage compliance obligations. Spend less time on manual processes and transform your HR operations. ADP’s solutions help you integrate HR systems, time and labor, and payroll so you can focus on what matters: aligning labor, productivity, and patient care.
Your dedicated ADP contact is Brett Ruina, who has been with ADP for the last 7 years, and has worked in the human capital management space for 16.
Brett is based out of Blue Bell, PA and the human services/health care space is near and dear to his heart as he is surrounded by medical professionals in his family. His wife is a nurse practitioner at a local university, his mother-in-law is a dental hygienist (yes, she is his hygienist as well 😊), and his sister-in-law is an ER nurse in the neurotrauma unit of a local hospital. This close to home experience, coupled with the expertise of working with human services/health care organizations over the last 7 years, has him excited to partner with RCPA to help its members navigate all of the challenges that exist in your space today. Below is Brett’s direct contact information, should you want to connect, and he will plan to introduce himself to the membership in the upcoming weeks!
Brett Ruina
ADP Human Capital Management Consultant
brett.ruina@adp.com
267-481-2932 (direct)
The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced some upcoming changes to their website that will change the way individuals access licensing resources online. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website is undergoing a wholesale redesign and migration in stages. The redesign is intended to highlight and create ease of access for all Commonwealth of Pennsylvania resources. The launch date for the DHS site is tentatively scheduled for May 28, 2024.
Due to the nature of the redesign/migration, all web addresses (URL) will change. Most of the web links you currently use to access licensing resources will automatically redirect, but some links, particularly those linking to or from PDF documents, may cease to work. A search function is included in the new website to assist in locating resources that may be lost due to URL changes.
The Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL) will send additional communication after the full impact of changes related to the new website have been assessed. In the meantime, online search engines can help locate resources. You can also email for assistance.
Juneteenth is Wednesday, June 19, 2024, just four weeks away, meaning it’s time to start planning for your organization’s celebration! Recognizing and acknowledging the day and its significance goes a long way to creating a culture of belonging within your organization. There are many ways to celebrate, and we have listed below some suggestions and ideas for your agency.
First, understand the background and history. What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on the nineteenth day of June to commemorate the emancipation of African-Americans who were enslaved in the United States. It memorializes the end of slavery and has been observed annually since 1865. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law Senate Bill 475, making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.
Juneteenth is often celebrated under several names, including National Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, and Juneteenth Independence Day.
In early 1863, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of more than three million slaves living in the Confederate states. More than two years later, on June 19, 1865, this news finally reached people living in Texas with the arrival of Union soldiers. When African Americans living in Texas learned that slavery had been abolished, they immediately began to celebrate with prayer, feasting, song, and dance — the foundation of Juneteenth.
The following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas. Original observances included prayer meetings and the singing of spirituals. Celebrants wore new clothes as a way of representing their newfound freedom. Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, and several other states followed suit. Within a few years, African Americans in many other states were celebrating the day as well, making it an annual tradition.
How is Juneteenth celebrated?
Today, many Juneteenth celebrations include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with music, food, and dancing. In some places, demonstrations and parades commemorate the day. These celebrations often include ways to honor aspects of African-American culture.
While Juneteenth has immense meaning for the African-American community, there is value for every person — regardless of race, culture, or background — to observe this holiday. A celebration of freedom for any group is a celebration of the ideals that we value as a nation.
Juneteenth is a day for all Americans to celebrate liberty, resilience, and strength. While participating and commemorating, all should pause to acknowledge the historical and somber importance of the day.
Why should we celebrate Juneteenth in the workplace?
Celebrating Juneteenth in the workplace sends a strong message to African-American employees, clients, and community members that the black experience, black history, and the struggles endured are worth acknowledging.
What are some ideas for planning a Juneteenth celebration at work?
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-048. The purpose of this communication is to announce the availability of the recording of the General Overview Webinar for the Provider Preparedness Summits.
Visit here to access the recorded webinar. You can also access the Residential Provider Performance-Based Contracting Self-Assessment resource here.
All content for the provider preparedness toolkit is available on MyODP.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the Invitation to Apply for the Capacity Building Institute (Year 8). The Capacity Building Institute (CBI), offered by ODP and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), provides an in-depth learning opportunity to professionals across the entire service partnership, including direct support staff and supervisors, supports coordinators/case managers and supervisors, agency trainers, managed care organizations, behavior specialists, psychiatrists, professional counselors and therapists, and dual diagnosis treatment teams.
The Capacity Building Institute will meet for nine two-day sessions, beginning September 2024 and ending April 2025. These sessions will present current best practices and supportive models to best provide support to individuals with a dual diagnosis (individuals with an Intellectual Disability and Autism with co-occurring mental health issues and challenging behaviors) to lead healthy, happy, and meaningful lives.
Please refer to the invitation for information on how to express interest in participating, session information, and requirements.