Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Orders Statewide Shutdown Over Coronavirus
OMHSAS to Release Service Provision FAQ
OMHSAS and RPCA continue to work together to offer guidance to our provider community in ensuring we are all meeting the community’s needs. OMHSAS and RCPA have been working with the Behavioral HealthChoices partners to further coordinate care for all, and providers should continue to coordinate with their partners to jointly decide what services and modalities are needed to serve our behavioral health community. OMHSAS will be releasing an FAQ shortly to assist behavioral health partners and stakeholders. If you have questions, concerns, or feedback please contact RCPA Policy Directors Sarah Eyster or Jim Sharp.
Gov. Wolf Offers COVID-19 Community Preparedness and Procedures Materials
Harrisburg, PA – To help make the public aware of COVID-19 preparedness and procedures, the Wolf Administration has created a library of free outreach materials for businesses, organizations, and anyone interested in displaying important messaging on COVID-19.
The materials are available at PAcast.
“The goal is for everyone to have access to and be encouraged to share the information important to stopping the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “Please help us share awareness while using caution and protecting yourself.”
Posters are available in multiple sizes and every Pennsylvanian is encouraged to make them accessible to their community of friends, community or religious group members, and business associates to print and post. The administration also expects the posters to be available in newspapers across the state for residents to tear out and post throughout their communities.
Properly sized graphics are available at PAcast for social media. Gov. Wolf also encourages everyone to make use of COVID-19 social media content on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
The most up-to-date information, including video graphics, footage of all of the governor’s press conferences and b-roll, is also available at 08PAcast. Additional materials will be added to the library as they become available and as the situation evolves.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lyndsay Kensinger, 717-783-1116
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Department of Labor Guidance During National Emergencies
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to influenza, pandemics, or other public health emergencies, and their effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Use this link to view the recently posted guidance on WHD’s website.
- COVID-19 or Other Public Health Emergencies and the Fair Labor Standards Act: Questions and Answers
- COVID-19 or Other Public Health Emergencies and the Family and Medical Leave Act: Questions and Answers
Also, the Department issued a press release with links to this guidance, as well as guidance from OSHA and OWCP.
RCPA Outreach and Crisis Proposals to DHS
Over the past several days, RCPA has been in contact with numerous DHS and Department officials to brainstorm issues and ideas in this time of crisis. There have been some emergency relief efforts already released (e.g., ODP, OCYF), and there are no doubt more to come from other departments.
Many providers have also brought their ideas to RCPA and we have, in turn, incorporated them in submissions to DHS.
Most importantly, we are emphasizing the following:
- This is not “business as usual.” If there was ever a time to put aside standard rules and operations, it is now.
- The Governor has declared this an “emergency.” So let’s take emergent action.
- Waive rules around alternative ways to reach out to individuals, such as paying for all telehealth and telephonic contact.
- Implement alternative payment mechanisms (e.g., via BH-MCOs) to allow providers to do what is necessary to outreach to individuals and keep them engaged.
- Understand that if traditional services decrease (e.g., program closures, increased no- shows), then billable units disappear along with cash flow. Measures need to be taken immediately to ensure that agencies are solvent and services – even non-traditional – are available for consumers.
We are also urging as streamlined an approval process as possible. It is a fluid situation and we cannot wait days, let alone weeks, to discuss these ideas.
If any providers have specific ideas or suggestions, please reach out to RCPA and we can, in turn, bring them forward. We are hopeful that our discussions with DHS will lead to some creative and critically needed solutions.
DHS Releases COVID-19 Operational Recommendations for Child Welfare, ID/A Providers
RCPA Meetings Through March 31 To Be Held Via Webcast/Conference Call Only
While we all know there are times when interactive, in-person discussions are preferable, we also understand the sensitivity required at this time and want to take proper precautions, to help protect our members and those you serve. In light of the current situation, RCPA is eliminating in-person meetings for the month of March, and will be offering them all exclusively via webcast or conference call. We will make sure that participants will still have the opportunity to ask questions, comment, etc.
PLEASE NOTE:
Webcast/conference call instructions will be sent 24 hours before each meeting. If you already registered, no action is needed.
As everyone is doing, we are also monitoring instructions received from such sources as the PA Department of Health. Please let us know if you have any questions. RCPA will continue to keep you all informed of any developments as they come about. Thank you for your continued flexibility and understanding.
GoToMeeting Offering Emergency Licenses
GoToMeeting is offering emergency licenses to help people to work from home:
Free Emergency Remote Work Kits for Health Care Providers, Educational Institutions, Municipalities, & Nonprofit Organizations
Starting immediately, we will be offering our critical front-line service providers with free, organization-wide use of many LogMeIn products for 3 months through the availability of Emergency Remote Work Kits.
These kits will include solutions for meetings and video conferencing, webinars and virtual events, IT support and management of remote employee devices and apps, as well as remote access to devices in multiple locations. For example, the “Meet” Emergency Remote Work Kit will provide eligible organizations with a free site-wide license of GoToMeeting for 3 months. Eligible organizations include health care providers, educational institutions, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations.
Additionally, we have learned that Clocktree.com is a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform that is also offering a free 90-day trial membership.
Juvenile Court Judges Commission Awards Nominations
The Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission and the JCJC Awards Committee are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 JCJC Awards Program. This year’s categories for which your program may be eligible include:
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OF THE YEAR – a public or private sector program serving alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth in a residential setting. This includes foster homes, group homes, residential treatment programs, general child care facilities, shelter care facilities, detention centers, independent living programs, and other programs providing out-of-home, overnight care to children. Please note that previous award winners, with respect to this category only, became eligible for nomination beginning in 2015. Access the nomination form.
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM OF THE YEAR – a public or private sector program, not operated by the Court, which provides community-based, non-residential care to alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth, including but not limited to, day treatment programs, in-home services, Boys and Girls Clubs, and outpatient services. Access the nomination form.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD – a volunteer committed to furthering the development of youth in the juvenile justice system who is not receiving remuneration for working with alleged and/or delinquent children. Access the nomination form.
As in previous years, all nominations must be submitted by county juvenile probation departments. Therefore, if you would like to have your program or volunteer nominated, please contact a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer to discuss the possibility of submitting a nomination. Formal nomination materials must be postmarked by May 1, 2020.
YOUTH AWARDS
In addition, the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission will once again sponsor a Youth Awards Program as part of this year’s Annual Training and Awards Program to honor the youth selected as winners. The Youth Awards Committee is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Contest and the Creative Expression Contest, both of which are described below. Please note that in an effort to recognize the expanding and creative artistic talent of youth, the Creative Expression Contest category will once again include either a Written, Poster, or Video entry in two age categories; 15 & under, and 16 & over. The requirements of each nomination are listed below and included in the nomination forms. Please note that these forms will also be available shortly on the JCJC website. This year’s theme is “2020 I Can See Change.” The winners and their chaperones will be honored guests at the 2020 Youth Awards Program and Dinner. Individuals submitting nominations will be responsible for ensuring that winners attend the Youth Awards Program. Winners will have the opportunity to say a few words upon receiving their awards. All nominations must be postmarked by May 1, 2020.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT CONTEST:
The Outstanding Achievement Contest consists of a narrative description of a youth’s outstanding qualities of community service, victim reparation, academic accomplishments, citizenship, attitude, extra-curricular activities, peer relationships, and positive changes in behavior, submitted by a counselor, teacher, or juvenile probation officer. Access the entry form.
CREATIVE EXPRESSION CONTEST:
The Creative Expression Contest submission consists of a Poster, no larger than 22” H X 28” W with a 1” border as a picture, drawing, painting, or collage; or a Written essay, poem, story, etc. entry typed and limited to one page in length; or a Video entry on a USB Flash Drive, DVD, or CD, in an mpeg, mov, wmv, mp3, or avi format of no longer than 2 minutes. This contest has a 15 & under category and a 16 & over category. Access the entry form.
The Awards Committee encourages you to present the Youth Awards theme and requirements to the youth in your program for their participation in the contest.
Thank you for your interest and support of the 2020 JCJC Awards Program. Please contact Keysla Rodriguez at 717-783-8960 or by email if you have any questions or need assistance.
If you have any further questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.
Family First Specialized Setting Certification UPDATE
As part of the ongoing implementation process for the Family First Specialized Setting, this alert serves as a reminder that if you are planning to request certification as a Specialized Setting Provider for FY 2020–21, the following due dates apply:
- March 15: Letter of intent is due to this email from the legal entity with the following:
- Certificate of Compliance Number(s) for each facility requesting a certification
- The category(ies) of specialized setting certificate that is being requested
- April 15:
- Application package is due to this email which includes all referenced items in Appendix B of the bulletin.
- Pre-contractual budget documentation due to this email.
For your reference, the OCYF Family First Specialized Setting bulletin can be found here, and the Q&A from the Specialized Settings webinar from last week is available here.
If you have questions related to Family First implementation in PA, please send via email. If you have any other questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.
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