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Children's Services

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to ensure preparations for a response to a possible Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the state and as a result, has issued a Health Alert with pertinent information. DOH is the lead agency for the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19. At the time of this dissemination, Pennsylvania has zero confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Again, DHS is supporting DOH in the disseminating of information related to COVID-19 and all guidance is provided by, and should be sought through, DOH.

All providers are encouraged to:

  1. Review internal infection control protocols and emergency backup plans for events in which a provider does not have adequate staffing to meet individuals’ health and safety needs.
  2. Evaluate staff adherence to provider infection control protocols.
  3. Evaluate capacity to implement emergency backup plans in the event staffing is impacted by the COVID-19 virus.

While COVID-19 is raising international concern, it presents an opportunity to evaluate preventative infection control measures. Medically fragile individuals, those in congregate settings, and the staff that support/interact with them are all at increased risk for infections of all kinds, not just COVID-19. As always, the best response is prevention and the best prevention is good infection control.

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Nearly $25M Available to Substance Use Prevention Coalitions in New Partnership Between ONDCP and CDC: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which begins this year’s process of awarding funds to community coalitions focused on preventing youth substance use. For FY 2020, this will allow 200 new communities to receive direct financial help totaling $25 million from the White House to prevent illicit drug use and save lives. Community coalitions interested in applying to the DFC Program can learn more here.

ARC Announces $3.3 Million to Continue Economic Growth in Region’s Coal-Impacted Communities: On February 12, ARC announced nearly $3.3 million in investments through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative focusing on strengthening responses to substance abuse, improving broadband infrastructure, and supporting Opportunity Zone investments.

March deadline:

  • DOJ-BJA Stop School Violence Grant Program. DOJ is seeking applications for funding under the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting and assisting county, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions in improving efforts to reduce violent crime in and around schools. Deadline: March 3, 2020. Review application guidelines here.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grants SAMHSA is accepting applications for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Expansion Grants (CCBHC Expansion Grants). The purpose of this program is to increase access to, and improve the quality of community mental and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services through the expansion of CCBHCs. SAMHSA expects that this program will provide comprehensive 24/7 access to community-based mental and SUD services; treatment of co-occurring disorders; and physical health care in one single location. Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Minority Fellowship Program SAMHSA is accepting applications for a Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) grant. The purpose of this program is to increase the knowledge of mental health professionals on issues related to prevention, treatment, and recovery support. The program aims to reach individuals who are from racial and ethnic minority populations and have a mental or co-occurring mental and substance use disorder, and to improve the quality of care provided to these individuals. Deadline: March 16, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers SAMHSA is accepting applications for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC) grants. The purpose of the program is the operation of comprehensive centers which provide a full spectrum of treatment and recovery support services to address the opioid epidemic. Deadline: March 17, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Grants to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention SAMHSA is accepting applications for Grants to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP). The purpose of this program is to support states and communities in advancing efforts to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among adults age 25 and older in order to reduce the overall suicide rate and number of suicides in the US nationally. Addressing suicide prevention among adults is imperative to decreasing the nation’s suicide rate. Deadline: March 23, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Services Grant Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women. SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant program (PPW). The purpose of this program is to provide pregnant and postpartum women with treatment for substance use disorders through programs in which, during the course of receiving treatment, 1) the women reside in or receive outpatient treatment services from facilities provided by the programs; 2) the minor children of the women reside with the women in such facilities, if the women so request; and 3) the services are available to or on behalf of the women. Deadline: March 30, 2020.

April deadline:

  • DOJ-BJA Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program. The RSAT for State Prisoners Program assists states with developing and implementing residential substance abuse treatment programs within state correctional facilities, as well as within local correctional and detention facilities, in which inmates are incarcerated for a period of time sufficient to permit substance abuse treatment. The program encourages the establishment and maintenance of drug-free prisons and jails and developing and implementing specialized residential substance abuse treatment programs that identify and provide appropriate treatment to inmates with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders or challenges. Deadline: April 6, 2020.
  • HHS-HRSA: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation. The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high risk rural communities. This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under RCORP-Implementation. Deadline: April 24, 2020.

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The 2020 Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Conference, “Adjusting our Lens: Gaining Perspective by Challenging Perceptions,” is planned for April 22–23, 2020 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Please see the conference brochure for details, along with registration information. This is a great training opportunity for county children and youth agency staff, the courts, private provider agencies, and other stakeholders who utilize FGDM with their populations.

Be sure to register as soon as possible and get your hotel accommodations reserved by March 20, 2020. If you have any further questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is releasing Bulletin #3680-20-02, 3800-20-03, titled “Specialized Residential Settings for Children and Youth.” The purpose of this bulletin is to release guidance to county and state officials, public and private children and youth social service agencies, and stakeholders regarding the Department of Human Services (DHS) OCYF voluntary certification process for child residential facilities or Supervised Independent Living (SIL) programs that provide specialized services to:

  • Pregnant, expecting, and parenting youth;
  • Youth who are transitioning to adulthood; or
  • Youth who are, or at risk of becoming, sex trafficking victims.

Also, OCYF is hosting two separate WebEx meetings to review the attached bulletin and application process for child residential facilities or SIL programs providing or planning to provide services to the above identified populations. Session opportunities are 9:30 am to 12:00 pm on February 25 or 28. If interested, please register for one of the two sessions by sending an email with:

  • Name
  • Agency
  • Email
  • Meeting: OCYF – Specialized Settings Bulletin Discussion
  • Date

There are only 150 slots available per meeting so please only register for one session. Groups of people within the same organization should plan to join using one phone line. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your agency is – or is interested in – providing services for Family First Prevention Services Programming in Pennsylvania, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking information regarding the needs of diagnosed infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), and their families, after discharge from the hospital. For information about the incidence of NAS around the commonwealth, please see the attached report. Around the country, there are a few facilities referred to as Residential Pediatric Recovery Centers, that serve as a step-down for babies diagnosed with NAS from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or hospital prior to going home.

For information about some of these examples, please see:

For information about Residential Pediatric Recovery Centers generally, please see Section 1007 of the federal SUPPORT Act, accessible at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6/text. Please also see the CMS Informational Bulletin on the topic, accessible at: https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/Federal-Policy-Guidance/Downloads/cib072619-1007.pdf

While each model of residential pediatric recovery center is unique, they each provide 24/7 medical, nursing, and pharmacological services for infants diagnosed with NAS in a sub-acute setting. Most of these facilities allow mothers, and in some cases, fathers, to live in the same room as their baby. While there is only one facility that directly provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services for mothers, several of the RPRCs around the country connect mothers to treatment and arrange for their participation in outpatient programs provided by licensed drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Each RPRC provides case management that allows families to receive all necessary psychosocial supports to promote family unity. The purpose of this survey is to gather information on how to best meet the needs of babies and mothers as Pennsylvania looks to implement Section 1007 of the SUPPORT Act in the Commonwealth.

Please consider taking a few moments to respond to this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DG3XW7J. Your response will help inform the Commonwealth’s approach to implementation of Section 1007 of the federal SUPPORT Act, which allows for Medicaid coverage of residential pediatric recovery center services.

Thank you for your participation. Please find the 2018 NAS Report here.

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The Child Welfare Resource Center is pleased to offer “700: Foundations of Leadership,” a two-day course, to public and private agency leaders across Pennsylvania. The course is designed to introduce leadership and organizational effectiveness concepts that can be applied in organizations to develop continuous improvement plans to support agency outcomes. The prerequisite course, 9000 Leading with Strengths, must be completed online prior to attending the in-person course. Participants are encouraged to register for the courses together. The Foundations of Leadership course is approved for continuing education credit hours.

Please view this link for more information and instructions on how to register, via their registration line at 877-297-7488, email, or fax to Rachael Ickes at 717-795-8013. Space is limited.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released a bulletin today outlining Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) code clarification, rates, and MA Fee For Service (FFS) rates.

The bulletin outlines the IBHS overview, including the procedure codes for Individual Services, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Services, and Group Services. In addition to the rate fee schedule is language on prior authorization for services.

OMHSAS cites the following fiscal impact overview: the fiscal impact estimated for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019–20 is $11.1 million ($5.3 million in State funds). The estimated fiscal impact for FY 2020–21 is $38.5 million ($18.4 million in State funds). The estimated fiscal impact for FY 2021–22 is $45.8 million ($21.9 million in State funds).

RCPA recommends you review the rate schedule in accordance with your service delivery continuum as part of your implementation planning. RCPA will be reviewing the bulletin and working with RCPA members, OMHSAS, and the BH-MCOs on the fiscal and operational implementation of the IBHS regulations.

There will be a public comment period, whereby interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the changes to the MA Program Fee Schedule to the Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, c/o Deputy Secretary’s Office, Attention: Regulations Coordinator, 11th Floor, Commonwealth Towers, 303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120.

Comments may also be emailed. Comments received will be reviewed and considered for any subsequent revisions to the MA Program Fee Schedule. Please forward comments and feedback to RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp as part of your OMHSAS response.

The RCPA IBHS work group will have its regularly scheduled meeting this week and report out as per process. Please contact Jim Sharp with any questions or feedback.

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The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF), as a part of the ongoing revision process for the Regulatory Compliance Guide (RCG), is seeking feedback and comments on the most recent guide. The guide has been developed over the past year as part of summer providers’ convenings and other stakeholder forums.

It is important to note that this guide is to act as a companion to the Chapter 3800 regulations and not in place of the regulations. However, prior to finalization of this document, OCYF requests your feedback and comments in relation to the RCG document.

The department requests that all feedback and comments be submitted by Friday, February 14, 2020 to their established resource account.

The RCPA Children’s Residential Work Group will also be working on this area, and they are asking that RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp be included on the correspondence for the group’s information. The RCG guide link can be found here.

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