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Children's Services

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) April 2025 Stakeholder webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: (562) 247-8422
Access Code: 757-198-515

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Part 1: Motivational Interviewing in Pediatric Therapy
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT
Register Here

Part 2: Beyond Motivational Interviewing: Additional Strategies to Improve Engagement in Pediatric Therapy
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT
Register Here

Presenter Bios:

Alison Heinekamp, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS
Alison Heinekamp is an Occupational Therapist and certified brain injury specialist. She currently works as an inpatient occupational therapist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center practicing in the areas of neurology/neurosurgery and pulmonology. Ali serves on the disorders of consciousness subcommittee of the Ohio Brain Injury Program. She has presented both locally and nationally on topics related to best occupational therapy practices in pediatric brain injury and motivational interviewing in pediatrics.

Heather Blackburn, PT, MPT, CBIS
Heather Blackburn is a pediatric physical therapist who specializes in neuro-rehabilitation, serial casting, and treating children with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injuries. She has presented at OPTA, OPC, Ohio Brain Injury Association, APTA Peds Annual Conference, and AACPDM Annual Conferences on her evidence-based practice work in the areas of serial casting, pediatric brain injury treatment, and aquatic therapy. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and the leader of the Moderate-Severe Brain Injury Translational Research and Clinical Knowledge Team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Heather holds a Masters in Physical Therapy from Ohio University and was LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) certified through Ohio State University.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will be able to:

PART 1

  • Define self-management and describe motivational interviewing (MI) skills;
  • Apply MI strategies to facilitate meaningful conversations with patients and/or caregivers to maximize collaboration; and
  • Apply MI strategies to improve participation in therapy sessions to maximize outcomes.

PART 2

  • Describe the clinician’s role in improving child/adolescent’s participation with collaborative goal setting; and
  • Identify strategies to improve patient engagement with therapy evaluations, treatment sessions, and home exercise programs.

Audience: This webinar series is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

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

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) will be holding a quarterly public meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, for anyone interested in discussing the topic of peer support services (PSS) while working in the mental health field. In particular, OMHSAS will be providing updates on staffing and the release of frequently asked questions.

The Microsoft TEAMS link for this meeting can be found below.

Please send any discussion topics, questions, or agenda items via email by April 7. The email account will be monitored, and the sender will receive a reply only if more information is needed.

If you or your colleagues would like to be added to an OMHSAS Listserv to receive the quarterly invitations, please visit this website and then click on the “join or leave the list” link.

Meeting Date/Time:                 Agenda Topics Due By:
Tuesday, 1/14/25, 10:00 am     December 30, 2024
Tuesday, 4/8/25, 10:00 am       April 7, 2025
Tuesday, 7/8/25, 10:00 am       June 24, 2025
Tuesday, 10/14/25,10:00 am    September 30, 2025

OMHSAS is open to ideas and suggestions on maximizing the effectiveness of these meetings.

These quarterly meetings are not a replacement for the Mental Health Planning Council quarterly meetings; those will continue in addition to these newly established meetings.

Questions pertaining to these meetings should be submitted via email.

TEAMS MEETING INFORMATION:
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 223 156 162 141
Passcode: QkkY9M

Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions or concerns.

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RCPA is excited to share the growing list of sponsors and exhibitors who are committed to supporting our 2025 Conference Strive to Thrive! This event, which will be held September 9 – 12 at the Hershey Lodge, is a highlight for the PA health and human services fields. We would like to thank the organizations who have committed their support already; you can view them below and on our Conference website!

There are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths, and we encourage your organization to view this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers Brochure, which features detailed lists of all the ways your organization can thrive at our conference. These include networking opportunities in Connections Hall and new sponsorship items. Please be aware booth self-selection will also be available for exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Sign Up Now!
Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by August 20. The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference! Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. Please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions.

View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!

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HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers joined members of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), the Commonwealth’s largest health and human services trade association, at a press conference at the state Capitol in support of vital disability and human service programs. These programs serve millions of Pennsylvanians annually and play a transformative role in their lives.

At the March 26 press conference, RCPA and lawmakers pushed for continued funding and improved payment models, including Medicaid capitation, as well as decreasing administrative burden in the safety net system, as part of any final 2025/26 budget adopted by the General Assembly. These initiatives will help improve services and make the system work better for everyone. They also highlighted the need to invest in the workforce, ensuring strong support for licensed clinicians, direct support professionals, counselors, case managers and support/service coordinators, and peers.

Richard S. Edley, PhD, President and CEO of RCPA, spoke on behalf of members and those who rely on health and human services. Fady Sahhar, MBA, PhD, RCPA Director of Physical Disabilities & Aging, also communicated the need for Medicaid preservation and continued funding.

Richard S. Edley, PhD, President & CEO Fady Sahhar, MBA, PhD, Director of PD&A

RCPA members also raised their voices to stress the importance of not only maintaining but improving the systems in place. Speakers included Melva Fair, an RCPA Board Member and CEO of Community Living and Support Services (CLASS), and Annie Smith, Director of Early Intervention at RCPA member Strawberry Fields. Also in attendance were RCPA Board Members Susan Coyle of Chartiers Center and Gretchen Kelly of PLEA.

Melva Fair Annie Smith Susan Coyle and Gretchen Kelly

Representatives from both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate spoke in agreement with RCPA’s message, voicing continued support for vital services in Pennsylvania.

Representative Doyle Heffley Representative Joseph Hohenstein Senator Tim Kearney

Last but not least, RCPA thanks everyone who attended this year’s Capitol Day. Your support and presence made this year one of our most successful press conferences to date!

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

CARF International requests feedback on their newly released standards for disorders of consciousness. These standards were created with input from the field, and CARF is interested in feedback from providers and other stakeholders. You are invited to share within your network including with families/caregivers and those with lived experience.

Questions can be directed to:
Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA
Managing Director | Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services
CARF International

Provide Feedback Here

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) conducted Technical Assistance (TA) sessions regarding the updated Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) regulations outlined in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5230. These sessions were held in November 2024 for licensed PRS providers and Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations (BH-MCO). The revised regulations became effective on January 18, 2025. To further support licensed PRS providers and BH-MCOs in implementing the new regulatory requirements, OMHSAS has released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document addressing common questions identified during those sessions. The FAQ document is now available; you can view the document here.

The FAQ document can also be found at the links below.

Comments and questions regarding this memorandum should be submitted via email to the DHS Psych Rehab inbox. You can also contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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