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Children's Services

RCPA is pleased to announce a new program for RCPA members, one that will help you save on your health insurance while providing access to quality care for your employees: Introducing the RCPA Captive Health Plan.

Join RCPA as we host the 2023 Annual Conference, A Decade of Unity: Enhancing Lives and Shaping the Future, October 10–13, at the Hershey Lodge. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to release this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers brochure, with new opportunities to get in on the action. Booth self-selection will be available for exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Don’t miss your chance to be seen and to support the work of this dynamic organization at our 10 year anniversary! The event is a highlight for the Pennsylvania behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children’s, brain injury, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities.

Celebrate, Communicate, and Compete in Connections Hall
Exhibit activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, with many networking opportunities throughout the event. You’ll also be able to compete and have a chance to win “Best of Show!”

Exciting New Sponsorship Opportunities
The association is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations.

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 September 8. 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. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

IPRC Webinar Transition Readiness: Strategies to Prepare Pediatric Patients and Their Families for the Next Steps
Thursday, April 6, 2023
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MDT; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
REGISTER

Speakers and Panelists:
Carrie Cuomo, DNP, CPNP
Julie H. Corder, RN, MSN, CNP
Tim Flynn, PT
Kara M. Pickering, MA, CCC-SLP

Speaker Bios:

Carrie Cuomo
Carrie Cuomo, DNP, CPNP, is the Director of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse services in the Pediatric Institute at Cleveland Clinic. She is a clinical provider in the Department of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Cuomo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, a Master’s Degree from The University of Akron, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from The University of Akron. She has experience in teaching, nursing leadership, and clinical practice. She was a fellow in the Duke Johnson and Johnson Nurse Leadership program 2014–2015 and 2020–2021. Dr. Cuomo is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurses Practitioners and Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses. She is a Co-Investigator on the Project IMPACTT grant sponsored by HRSA. She serves on the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Council and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Preceptor Council. Dr. Cuomo’s professional interests are in the area of pediatric to adult transition.

Julie H. Corder
Julie H. Corder is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Complex Care Clinic at the Cleveland Clinic. This multidisciplinary program cares for pediatric patients with multiple chronic conditions with a dependence on technology. A primary interest and passion for Julie is developing processes to ensure high level care for this population throughout their lifespan as they transition from pediatric to adult care. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from The University of Akron, a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and was a fellow in the Duke Johnson and Johnson Nurse Leadership program from 2020–2021. Julie is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurses Practitioners. She is a Co-Investigator on the Project IMPACTT grant sponsored by HRSA. She serves on the Advanced Practice Credentialing and Privileging Committee for the Cleveland Clinic.

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

  • Define the (6) core elements of transition and review how they can be incorporated into practice;
  • Identify tools available to assist providers and examine ways to incorporate them into clinical workflow;
  • Explore one organization’s process to enhance care and assist with the transition of care for young adults to adult providers; and
  • Discuss tools to utilize with clients and families to support transition of services.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all members of the rehabilitation team, including medical staff, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, licensed psychologists, mental health professionals, and other interested professionals.

Level: Intermediate

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

Registration: Registration is complimentary for members of IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today. Multiple registrations per organization are permitted.

REGISTER

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash

The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking 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 telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/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 agencies; 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 to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

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 13, 2023, 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.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

Folders with the label Applications and Grants

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced a grant opportunity from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) specific to Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs.

SAMHSA will award approximately 7 applicants up to $678,000 each. The purpose of this program is to establish or expand and maintain ACT programs for transition-aged youth and adults with a serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbance (SED). Recipients are expected to implement an ACT program to fidelity and provide ACT services to the population of focus. With this program, SAMHSA aims to improve behavioral health outcomes for individuals by reducing rates of hospitalization, mortality, substance use, homelessness, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

Please visit here for additional information. Applications are due by April 10, 2023.

Contact Information:

Program Issues:
Dawnielle Tillman, Public Health Advisor
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(240) 276-1572

Grants Management and Budget Issues:
Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(240) 276-1400

If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

RCPA will be hosting our 2023 Capitol Day on Monday, April 24 and will hold a press conference and rally between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on the front steps of the State Capitol (outside the Main Rotunda). This is your opportunity to show a shared voice to the legislature, administration, and governor’s office on matters that impact providers and those they serve. Members from all RCPA divisions are requested to attend and schedule appointments with their Senate and House legislators to discuss the state budget, legislation, and regulations that impact the services of our members.

Detailed information will follow, but if you have questions or suggestions regarding our 2023 Capitol Day, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.