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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is awarding more than $100,000 to community-based organizations serving 10 counties to assist with their efforts in reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD).

Pennsylvania’s statewide anti-stigma campaign, Life Unites Us, addresses stigma by investing in those who are doing the work at the local level. By prioritizing compassionate, judgment-free care, DDAP intends to help more Pennsylvanians access life-saving resources and achieve recovery.

Life Unites Us (LUU) is a research-driven campaign that uses social media to spread stories of individuals in recovery, their family members, and allies who support those with SUD. In addition to offering stigma reduction grants, LUU gives local organizations an opportunity to learn through webinars, fosters community partnerships to promote recovery-focused support at the local level, and maintains an interactive data dashboard detailing the campaign’s progress.

The following community-based organizations will receive up to $29,000 each to help fund stigma reduction:

Read the full press release.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), in partnership with the Department of Community Health and Prevention at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, has released a new report, “Housing Access Among People Who Use Drugs in Pennsylvania.” The report explores the intersection of homelessness and substance use across the Commonwealth.

Key topics include:

  • Prevalence of homelessness in the United States and Pennsylvania;
  • Substance use among people experiencing homelessness in the United States and Pennsylvania;
  • Housing availability;
  • Results from a survey of 137 housing providers assessing availability and barriers for people who use drugs; and
  • Best practices for increasing housing access for people who use drugs.

SEOW brings together governmental and non-governmental partners statewide to inform state and community decisions on substance use and behavioral health programs, practices, and policies across Pennsylvania. To view previous SEOW reports, visit DDAP’s Document Library.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is happy to announce a new resource: “Communicating with Individuals who are Blind or have a Vision Impairment.” This resource provides some basic information on vision, the most common eye disorders, and how they impact a person’s vision, as well as strategies for effective communication when supporting these individuals.

The key to achieving effective communication with a person with vision impairment is to consciously accept the responsibility for it. How an individual is impacted will vary and communication access depends on individual needs, looking different for each person. ODP hopes this resource will provide valuable information on communicating and supporting individuals with a visual impairment. Please contact the ODP Special Populations Unit with any questions.

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Advocate for yourselves and others by meeting with legislators directly! RCPA invites you to join us as we hold our annual Capitol Day this year on Wednesday, March 25. We will hold a press conference in the Main Rotunda between 10:00 am – 11:00 am, which will include legislators and leaders in human services.

You can register for our Capitol Day press conference by contacting Christine Tartaglione. We invite you to bring individuals and the families you support, additional staff, and colleagues to this advocacy event, and ask that you let us know if these individuals are planning to attend.

RCPA requests that members schedule appointments with their Senate and House legislators directly to discuss the state budget, legislation, and regulations either prior to or immediately after our press conference. For providers of IDD services, we are aware that PAR is also having a day of legislative meetings (non-Press Event) at the Capitol on the same day. If you are a member of both associations, please join our Press Conference as you attend other meetings with both associations. We will continue to coordinate with PAR to ensure that the events are seamless.

We highly encourage everyone who is attending to utilize RCPA’s 2026 legislative priorities during your legislative visits. As an additional resource, members can visit the Pennsylvania Capitol website to locate parking and view maps of the building, and you may use the following resources for coordinating your day at the Capitol:

If you have questions regarding our 2026 Capitol Day, including questions or concerns with scheduling an appointment with a legislator, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs. We look forward to seeing you at the Capitol!

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“My time at Strawberry Fields has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Working alongside a passionate and talented team of staff and board members, we have expanded opportunities, empowered individuals and strengthened a mission that changes lives every day. I am incredibly proud to have played such a part in shaping the organization Strawberry Fields has become”

– Strawberry Fields Chief Executive Officer Cynthia “Cindy” Pasquinelli

Throughout her decades-long career at Strawberry Fields Inc., an affiliate of Devereux, Pasquinelli has led with passion, purpose and an unyielding commitment to providing the highest quality programs and services for individuals and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges in Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Pasquinelli joined Strawberry Fields in 1985 as the director of mental health services. Two years later, she assumed the role of acting chief executive officer before being appointed to the position permanently.

On July 31, Pasquinelli will retire after 41 years of exceptional leadership and service to the organization.

“When I first joined Strawberry Fields, we offered just three programs. Today, we provide more than 20, including a variety of intellectual and developmental disability, mental health and early intervention services, along with two social enterprises that create employment opportunities for adults with disabilities,” said Pasquinelli. “We have always believed our role is to serve the community, and growing these programs, while witnessing the growth of the individuals in our care, has been extremely rewarding.”

Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II noted, “Cindy’s leadership has been truly transformative. Her vision, integrity and deep expertise have made a lasting impact on Strawberry Fields, and the individuals and families served by the organization. Through her steadfast focus on person-centered, community-driven care, she has positioned Strawberry Fields for long-term success. As a result of her tireless efforts to improve the lives of those in need, her legacy will be felt for years to come.”

Creating opportunities, transforming lives
During her tenure, Pasquinelli said one thing she is most proud of is opening Strawberry Fields’ social enterprises: Scraps and Skeins, a creative reuse store, in 2015, and Good Day Café, a coffee shop, in 2018.

“We employ approximately 20 adults with disabilities at Good Day Café and seven with mental health challenges at Scraps and Skeins,” explained Pasquinelli. “Working at these businesses provides our individuals an opportunity to showcase their unique skills and talents, build life and social skills, and engage in their community.”

Pasquinelli added that launching Scraps and Skeins and Good Day Café has also had a positive impact on the organization as a whole: “People can see, firsthand, the meaningful difference we are making. We have grown our base of supporters as a result, which has allowed us to start new endeavors.”

Ensuring long-term sustainability
In 2025, under Pasquinelli’s leadership, Strawberry Fields became an affiliate of Devereux. Pasquinelli said the partnership strengthens Strawberry Fields’ ability to serve its community while ensuring long-term sustainability.

“Through this partnership, we have exciting new opportunities to innovate and grow,” Pasquinelli shared. “With Devereux’s support, we are preparing to introduce a new family-based mental health service and expand our autism assessment services in rural areas outside of Centre County. These efforts will help us reach more people, address emerging needs and continue to build a stronger, more connected community.”

Future plans
After her retirement, Pasquinelli plans to continue supporting Devereux in its efforts to forge new partnerships with organizations like Strawberry Fields that share its dedication to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families in need.

Most importantly, she will focus on continuing to develop the David Pasquinelli Memorial Fund for Strawberry Fields, which was established by the organization’s Board of Directors in 2022 in memory of Pasquinelli’s son.

“The funds raised will support Scraps and Skeins and Good Day Café, as well as any new projects that may need seed money,” Pasquinelli noted. “While I will be stepping away from my full-time role, I am excited to work with Strawberry Fields as it enters its next chapter and continues to grow and evolve.”

Learn more about Strawberry Fields Inc., and learn more about Devereux.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-028. The purpose of this communication is to distribute the updated Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) Manual and the revised DP1055 – PUNS Form, effective February 2026, and to announce the implementation of related updates to the Emergency PUNS process.

These updates are part of the Office of Developmental Programs’ continued implementation of the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy and are intended to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and documentation of Emergency Need determinations statewide.

Please review the announcement for more details.

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