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Brain Injury

You don’t need to wait for election day to have your voice heard.

State lawmakers wrapped up business in Harrisburg and returned home last week to campaign in earnest for the May 17 primary election. Because every vote counts, every voice matters. Especially now, in the weeks leading up to the election, lawmakers are sensitive to constituents’ concerns and want to hear from you.

Take advantage of this opportunity to reach out and urge lawmakers to increase funding to support human services professionals, so individuals and families in need get the assistance and care they deserve.

So far, the outpouring of support has been incredible. Since the governor unveiled his 2022/23 budget proposal in February, more than 4,000 individuals have contacted their local lawmakers urging them to act. We need to build on this momentum.

Once the election finishes, lawmakers will begin crafting a final budget before the end of the fiscal year, June 30. Pennsylvania is sitting on billions of federal dollars and state “rainy day” funds that could increase wages to help us attract and retain human service professionals.

It’s critical that our senators and representatives understand how this workforce crisis is affecting our most vulnerable individuals and families, as well as the providers and professionals who serve them.

Please USE THIS LINK to learn how you can help and urge your networks to do the same. Most importantly, TAKE ACTION TODAY. Tell lawmakers to increase funding to address the workforce crisis facing Pennsylvania’s health and human services.

Beginning on May 10, 2022, and continuing throughout the month into early June, Tempus and the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be holding in-person drop-in sessions across the state to assist participants in completing Common Law Employer (CLE) and Direct Care Worker (DCW) packets. They will also be providing training on how to use the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system. Tempus will be taking over as the Fiscal/Employer Agent Services for CHC Participant-Directed Services; therefore, participants and DCWs must complete transition packets and attend EVV training. The chart below provides the dates, times, and locations of these drop-in sessions. Attendees do not need to set up an appointment to attend, and the sessions should take approximately one hour. Staff from Tempus and the CHC MCOs will be at each session to answer questions.

Date Location Address Time
Tuesday, May 10    York  

Hampton Inn
1550 Mt. Zion Rd.
York, PA 17402

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 12 Harrisburg  

TEF Office
1500 N. 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Monday, May 16 Williamsport  

Genetti Hotel
200 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 18 Philadelphia  

Deliverance Church
2001 W. Lehigh Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19132

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
 

Tuesday, May 24                                  

Reading  

DoubleTree by Hilton
701 Penn Street
Reading, PA 19601

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 25 Allentown  

Renaissance Allentown
12 North 7th Street
Allentown, PA 18101

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, June 1 Pittsburgh  

UPMC Harbor Gardens
1650 Metropolitan Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233

 

10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 2 Altoona  

Altoona Public Library
1600 5th Ave.
Altoona, PA 16602

10:00 am – 7:00 pm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) will host a call on May 5, 2022, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm that will focus on and discuss post-COVID conditions (PCC), specifically cognitive symptoms or “brain fog” following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) has recently published a Multi-Disciplinary Collaborative Consensus Guidance Statement on the Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Symptoms in PCC that provides practical guidance to clinicians in the assessment and treatment of individuals with cognitive symptoms and a history consistent with PCC.

To participate, use the provided Zoom link. The passcode is: 828356.
Or dial 699-254-5252. Webinar ID: 160 331 6732. The call will be recorded and will be available on the COCA Call web page a few hours after the live event ends. Registration is not required to participate.

The slide set will be available on the day of the call on the COCA Call web page under Call Materials. Free Continuing Education (CE) will be offered for this COCA Call.

RCPA is pleased to support and celebrate Pennsylvania’s participation in the #WeHealUS national campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month.

#WeHealUS is a grassroots campaign that honors May as Mental Health Awareness Month by amplifying the hard work of individuals, organizations, and local/state governments building resilience and healing. Nationwide, more states and municipalities are embracing trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices because resilience grows through healthy and informed relationships.

#WeHealUS was the brain child of stakeholders in Illinois and Pennsylvania — pioneering states that have become “healing-centered” with public and private partnerships working outside the box to promote trauma awareness. The Illinois Light Initiative has launched an Illinois Healing Capacity Building Center to unify trauma education, training, and programming. HEAL PA is an innovative mix of state agency representatives and community stakeholders tasked with implementing the Trauma-Informed PA Plan across the commonwealth. #WeHealUS is further supported by the national Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP).

Take a look at the Pennsylvania calendar of #WeHealUS activities as well as the #WeHealUS campaign toolkit for this month. We encourage everyone to share this information widely with your networks, as the events are open for all to attend! Sample social media posts are included in the toolkit.

RCPA remains an active member of the Heal PA trauma-informed initiative. You can contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp with any questions or comments regarding this initiative.