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Children's Services

March to Promote Increased Funding for Mental Health Initiatives

We are just days away from the March on Harrisburg, and we cannot wait to advocate alongside you and our partner stakeholders on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, on the Capitol steps at 10:30 am. The t-shirts will be green, and while we would love to have enough to go around, there is a chance we will not. Everyone is hearing the call, and the number of registrants has grown in the past week! Please consider wearing green if you have it!

Please review the agenda for the day as well as march logistics regarding getting to Harrisburg, parking, and the march route. We have some amazing and inspirational speakers joining us, including Rep. Mike Schlossberg, as we all come together and raise our voices for a united message.

The flyer includes information for registering. Registration is for planning purposes as well as to help us understand how we can better support our CSPs and individuals who may need assistance with transportation. Everyone is encouraged to join us on the day of the event, even if you do not register. We encourage you to register here. You can also follow the Facebook event page for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at the March on Harrisburg on Wednesday, September 27 at 10:30 am. If you have any questions or need to make arrangements to attend, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

October is just around the corner, and that means the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity will be here before you know it! You’ll want to register today, as you’ll be able to reserve your seat in exciting, engaging workshops for CE credits as well as gain access to the mobile app when launched. Our mobile app will allow you to create your schedule, begin networking, and interact with sponsors and exhibitors up to a week prior to the first day of conference! View the registration brochure for full details, and note that hotel rooms are quickly filling, so if you have difficulties making your reservation, please contact Carol FerenzRegister directly to claim your seat at the conference today!

We also wish to extend our thanks to those organizations that have contributed and shown their support! View our full list of sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website! We look forward to seeing everyone at the Hershey Lodge!

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is calling for support to address the ongoing mental health and substance use crises. They are organizing a virtual advocacy event called Hill Day on October 18 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST, where participants can urge elected officials to focus on key issues such as the behavioral health workforce shortage, establishing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) into federal law, expanding access to substance use care, and investing in crisis care infrastructure. Register for the event today!

Don’t wait before it’s too late to register and claim your seat and more for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity! By registering today, you will reserve your spot in exciting, engaging workshops for CE credits. In addition, we will once again be launching our conference mobile app, which will allow you to create your schedule, begin networking, and interact with sponsors and exhibitors up to a week prior to the first day of conference! View the registration brochure for full details on workshops, keynote speakers, entertainment, and more so that you can begin planning your week with us at the Hershey Lodge! Note that hotel rooms are quickly filling, so if you have difficulties making your reservation, please contact Carol Ferenz.

Register today!

In addition to an impressive roster of speakers, our 2023 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have signed on thus far! **NOTE: EXHIBIT BOOTHS ARE SOLD OUT.** If you are interested in sponsoring, visit here for more details or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions you may have. Keep up-to-date and register today for #rcpaconf!

Young Girl Talking With Counselor At Home

The Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth and Families (PA OCYF) has announced  that the Pennsylvania 5-Year Prevention Plan for the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was officially approved by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on August 15, 2023. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance and strengthen our state’s child welfare and family support systems. This also brings to a close a two-year approval process toward the plan, which outlines the comprehensive framework that Pennsylvania will implement to fulfill the requirements and goals set forth by the Family First Prevention Services Act. This legislation seeks to prioritize family-based services aimed at preventing the unnecessary placement of children in foster care, promoting family stability, and improving overall outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

The effective dates of the Pennsylvania 5-year Prevention Plan for FFPSA will be from October 1, 2021, to October 1, 2026. As Pennsylvania moves forward with the implementation of this plan, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) is excited about the positive impact it will have on the lives of Pennsylvania’s children and families. PA OCYF acknowledges the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including partner agencies, community organizations, and dedicated professionals who have contributed to the development of this comprehensive strategy.

Should you have any inquiries or require further information regarding the approved Prevention Plan, its strategies, or the implementation timeline, please do not hesitate to visit Pennsylvania’s Family First website or submit an inquiry through the Pennsylvania Specific Family First Questions Form.

OCYF Leadership will be on the RCPA Children’s Division Meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm and will cover this and other topics. If you have questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Thursday, October 19, 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

Chani Traube, MD, FAAP, FCCM

Speaker/Panelist Bio:
Dr. Chani Traube is Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Director of Clinical Research Mentoring for the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is also Chair of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN). Dr. Traube is a clinical researcher with expertise in pediatrics, pediatric critical illness, delirium, sedation, and PICU outcomes. She is the Principal Investigator for several NIH-funded multi-site studies investigating the epidemiology of delirium, pharmacokinetics of sedatives, and long-term cognitive outcomes in critically ill children.

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

  • Define pediatric delirium and its associated morbidity;
  • Describe the prevalence and morbidity of delirium in seriously ill children;
  • Recognize that delirium occurs frequently in children with Acquired Brain Injury during inpatient rehabilitation; and
  • Verify that widespread screening for pediatric delirium is feasible.

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.