';
Children's Services

RCPA is continuing to accept proposals for our 2024 Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success, which will be held September 24 – 27 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. Our Conference Committee seeks workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as the use of artificial intelligence, telehealth innovations, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices and suicide prevention;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, performance-based contracting, acquisitions and mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective businesses; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting, and we highly encourage you to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share. Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Notification of inclusion for the conference will be made via email by Friday, May 17, 2024. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

RCPA invites you to join us and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) for a free webinar on creating equitable planes for access to care in physical and behavioral health settings. The webinar will be held March 12 at 12:00 pm and will feature William Seto, Chief Diversity Officer from the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. You can register for the webinar here.

This webinar will focus on addressing diversity and health disparities that lead to health inequities within both the physical and behavioral health spaces that you work in on a daily basis. It has been designed for members of both organizations and supports equity work our organizations have undertaken the last three years as a Delta Center grantee. We are appreciative of your support and look forward to you joining us in the webinar.

Register here. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

PA Family Support Alliance (PFSA) offers virtual mandated reporter training for Pennsylvania’s mandated reporters, with three options available. Approved by the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of State for health-related licenses, these three-hour sessions cover recognizing and reporting child abuse, responding to disclosures, and understanding neglect. They’re also eligible for Act 31 and Act 48 credits.

Visit here to register for a preferred training date and time. Each participant must log in separately to receive credit. For inquiries or to schedule an organization-specific session, contact PFSA via email. You can also contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp with any further questions.

Engagement: The Biggest Predictor of Success
Christopher M. Owens, MA, LPC, CCTP, C-DBT
March 7, 2024
1:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA

Research clearly demonstrates that the single biggest predictor of therapeutic success is the strength of the clinical relationship. The helper’s ongoing focus on engagement is central to this alliance. Awareness of the importance of engagement, however, does not mitigate the myriad obstacles that interfere with developing and maintaining rapport. This course will define the concept of engagement and highlight its significance in clinical settings. Additionally, barriers will be discussed from the practitioner’s perspective. Strategies will also be provided to assist helpers in improving engagement with those they serve.

Register on the BHE website.


The BHE Toolkit 2: Specific Practices for the Art of Helping People With Anxiety
Christopher M. Owens, MA, LPC, CCTP, C-DBT
March 8, 2024
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA

This course focuses on specific interventions of use to the professional helper when providing therapeutic services in behavioral healthcare. The aim of this workshop is to add to the helper’s “bag of tricks” or “toolkit” pertaining to assisting people with anxiety. Participants engage in didactic and experiential learning related to several anxiety-specific interventions. Participants also dialogue in small groups to share creative and effective interventions they have used in their various practice settings.

Register on the BHE website.

Thursday, April 11, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CDT;
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT
Register Here

Please join us as IPRC hosts Terrence Carolan from CARF International to share the new Concussion Rehabilitation Program Standards.

Terrence Carolan 
Terrence Carolan is the current Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services for CARF International after having been a CARF surveyor for 10 years. Prior to his role as Managing Director, Terrence worked at Select Medical and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation for 20 years as a physical therapist, clinical manager, Director of Education, and Assistant Vice President of Program Development and Education for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Division.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Describe the interdisciplinary approach to care in Concussion Rehabilitation Programs;
  • Define how field-driven Concussion Rehabilitation Program standards can be used to create, support, and maintain the team approach to care; and
  • Demonstrate how peer-led surveys can support the growth and development of Concussion Rehab Programs.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team; attendees do not need to be CARF Accredited in order to attend.

Level: Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Mental Health Planning Council (MHPC) will host its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The meeting will feature committee meetings for adults, older adults, and children, as well as a joint session. Details for accessing each session remotely are provided below:

  • Children’s Committee:
    • Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    • Access Code: 2631 909 4263
    • Webex Link
    • Password: fnQK8Tvb2w4
    • Phone: 1-415-655-0001
  • Adult Committee:
    • Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    • Access Code: 2633 120 2679
    • Webex Link
    • Password: q7NFKxgYp72
    • Phone: 1-415-655-0001
  • Older Adult Committee:
    • Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    • Access Code: 2631 734 4409
    • Webex Link
    • Password: ASnju542NBg
    • Phone: 1-415-655-0001
  • Networking Lunch:
    • Time: 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
    • Note: Each Committee Session meeting (Older Adult, Adult, and Children’s) will remain open until 12:45 pm for optional networking. Please note, OMHSAS staff may not be available consistently throughout the entire networking time.
  • Joint Session:
    • Time: 12:45 pm – 3:00 pm
    • Access Code: 2634 353 5963
    • Webex Link
    • Password: BJjxPx6FP53
    • Phone: 1-415-655-0001

Attendees are not required to pre-register or create an account to attend the MHPC meetings. However, it’s recommended to test the Webex program prior to the meeting and log in 10 minutes early. Phone-only participants can use *6 to mute/unmute and *9 to “raise their hand” to speak. For any questions, please email OMHSAS. If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.