The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-076. This announcement informs all stakeholders that the 2023–2024 IM4Q Statewide Report and Facts and Resources for People with Disabilities, Family Members, and Advocates, has been added to the IM4Q section at MyODP’s website. Please review the announcement for information on how to access these reports.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting an in-person workshop “Implementing the Revised 42 CFR Part 8 Regulations in Opioid Treatment Programs,” from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Tuesday, August 12 at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, PA. Register online by Friday, August 8.
This full-day, in-person workshop will review the revised federal regulations for opioid treatment programs (OTP) and provide practical guidance for implementation. Topics will include:
Who should attend: Clinical, counseling, and administrative OTP staff
Continuing education: Eligible participants will receive a certificate for 8 CME/CEU credits (practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare providers).
If you have any questions, please send them electronically.
September 9 will be here before you know it — don’t miss your opportunity to register for the RCPA 2025 Conference Strive to Thrive and claim your early bird discount! By registering today, you guarantee your spot for over sixty workshops, live updates from both state and national partners, and inspiring keynote and plenary speakers. View our Registration Brochure for complete details of the conference schedule and speakers.
A limited number of exhibit booths and sponsorship opportunities remain! Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, ASAP for details if your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference. All information is available in our Sponsor, Exhibit, and Advertise Brochure. The deadline for being recognized in conference materials and onsite displays is August 10, so be sure to complete your contract as soon as possible!
View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!
Beyond Inclusion: Thriving in the Community
September 30 – October 1, 2025
Hosted Virtually
The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced that registration is now open for the 2025 Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC). The virtual conference will be hosted on September 30 and October 1. The theme for this year’s conference is Beyond Inclusion: Thriving in the Community. PATC will include presentations and panels from subject matter experts, providers, self-advocates, and families. This conference provides professionals working directly with individuals with autism across the lifespan with tools, strategies, and resources to help provide the most effective support.
Who Should Attend:
Professionals looking to increase their knowledge of and/or ability to support individuals with autism across the spectrum and the lifespan. PATC welcomes all professionals supporting individuals with autism in Pennsylvania, in all systems.
Register and Learn More:
*Please note: You may be prompted to create a MyODP account before you can register for the conference.
Call for Artists:
PATC is pleased to invite artists on the autism spectrum to exhibit their artwork virtually during the conference. They are looking for artists on the autism spectrum to showcase their art in a virtual “art gallery.” Artwork includes:
The art show will consist of artwork supplied by artists and will be linked to ODP’s website.
If you are interested in exhibiting your work, please submit your work here.
The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association (PRHA) has released the 2025–2030 Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan, which is a comprehensive roadmap to improve the health and well-being of rural residents across the state.
The plan was developed with input from rural community leaders, health professionals, academic institutions, and policymakers to identify key priority and action steps to address the unique health challenges and opportunities in Pennsylvania’s 48 rural counties. Primary focuses include access to care, behavioral health, oral health, maternal health, workforce development, broadband connectivity, and health equity.
The 2025–2030 Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan can be found here.
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is extending the pause on the implementation of OMHSAS-25-02 Bulletin: Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms, which was originally in place until August 27, 2025. OMHSAS is appreciative of all the stakeholders who took time to submit their comments and questions on the updated forms. Based on those comments, OMHSAS is planning to make further revisions to the MH 783 form that will require issuing a new bulletin.
The pause on the implementation of OMHSAS-25-02 will remain in effect until an updated bulletin is issued with the new MH 783 form. OMHSAS anticipates that the updated bulletin will be completed by the end of 2025, and the new bulletin will also have a separate effective date from the issue date to allow counties and providers to update their electronic systems, print new paper forms, and otherwise prepare for the transition to the updated forms. Counties continue to have the choice to use the prior forms or continue with the new forms issued in OMHSAS-25-02 until a new bulletin is issued. Providers, law enforcement, and other individuals using these forms should defer to their county mental health office in determining which version to use.
Along with the updated bulletin and MH 783 form, OMHSAS will be issuing an FAQ document to address questions they received on the forms more broadly and will be holding a Q&A session for stakeholders before the effective date of the new bulletin.
Questions may be sent electronically.
Overview
The Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (“Byrne SCIP”) is a grant administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). These are federal funds that Pennsylvania receives from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). State governments may use these monies to fund “state, local, and tribal efforts to prevent or reduce crime and violence” in accordance with an approved Byrne SCIP Plan.
This AOPC announcement briefly highlights several funding opportunities in Pennsylvania’s approved plan that relate to the intersection of courts and behavioral health, specifically “Priority Area #1: Equip Pennsylvania communities with training and resources to respond holistically to behavioral health crises.”
Please see PCCD’s entire funding announcement here. Grant application and administrative guides can be accessed on PCCD’s website under the Funding section.
Priority Area #1 Objectives:
The SCIP grant is an excellent opportunity for governmental agencies to obtain funding for specific behavioral health-related purposes that benefit citizens and criminal-legal system actors. Approved funding opportunities include:
Eligibility & Deadlines:
The deadline for applying is September 9, 2025.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an important announcement from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Manual Resuscitator Recall: SunMed Holdings, LLC Removes Adult Manual Resuscitator Devices Due to Incorrect Assembly of B/V Filter
SunMed Holdings, LLC is recalling this product due to a manufacturing issue where the B/V filter was assembled onto the patient port instead of the exhalation port. This incorrect configuration may result in a delay in therapy during emergency use.
The use of the affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including lack of oxygen to the body (hypoxia), build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood (hypercapnia), organ failure, and death.
There have been no reported injuries. There have been no reports of death.
Device Use
The manual resuscitator is used to provide emergency respiratory support to adult patients. It includes a face mask, bag reservoir, filter, manometer, and oxygen tubing, and is used during situations such as cardiac arrest or respiratory failure to manually deliver breaths.
Affected Product
What to Do
On May 1, 2025, SunMed Holdings, LLC sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Recall notice recommending the following actions:
Refer to the FDA Original Press Release for instructions on requesting a replacement and additional information.
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