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Children's Services

It’s your last chance to claim early bird registration for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity, as early bird rates end this Friday, September 8! Be sure to take a look at our registration brochure, where you’ll see our full lineup of speakers, sessions, and workshops as well as information on reserving your hotel room and more! You won’t want to miss earning CEs with workshops such as:

  • What We Know About the Effectiveness of FBMHS: Implications for Service Delivery
    • Discover how FBMHS improved functionality for adolescents with SED as well as how to use the ESFT Logic Model as a framework for discussing clinical implications.
  • Don’t Forget the Pharmacist! Impact of the Innovative Collaboration Between Woods Services and Synergy Pharmacy on Patients With ID/A
    • Learn about strategies that enhance quality of care and improve safety for a complex population through a dynamic panel discussion highlighting the work of Woods’ clinical teams and its partnership with Synergy.
  • Independence and Wellness Through Employment
    • Identify strategies of person-centered employment readiness and seeking, and deconstruct the complex process of identifying jobs beyond the “usual entry level” positions for a whole-person approach to employment.
  • Building the Framework: The Interactions of Ethics, Bias, & Cultural Humility
    • Create a foundation for client-centered care by taking an introspective exploration of ethical principles, bias, and cultural humility.
  • Sustainable Development Preventive Planning in Mental and Behavioral Health
    • Experience participatory planning by being grouped into simulated communities and analyzing risk factor data to inform decisions to protect children and youth from developing mental and behavioral disorders.
  • Moving From Great Resignation to Great Retention
    • Develop policies and procedures that support employee wellbeing while using behavioral assessments to improve talent management.
  • Adapting Interventions for Neurodiversity Effectiveness
    • Learn about interventions, modifications, and adaptations for family-based, PCIT, and education systems to improve outcomes for children affected by FASD, their families, and the support providers who work with them.
  • Suicide in a Chaotic World
    • Examine strategies and possible solutions to prevent suicide in the workplace as well as the general community, with an emphasis on the importance of conversation, language, and listening to help those who are having thoughts of suicide by connecting through hope.
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!

PA Family Support Alliance presents “Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect,” a virtual training program for all mandated reporters. This program, approved by various government departments, including Human Services and Education, meets Act 126 requirements for school employees. It also offers free continuing education credits under Act 31 and Act 48. Sessions are available throughout September 2023, offering flexibility in scheduling. The full schedule can be found on the PFSA website. Each participant should use a separate device to log in, and custom sessions can be arranged for organizations upon request via email. Furthermore, the initiative encourages participants to share this training opportunity with others who may find it beneficial, as collective efforts in recognizing and addressing child abuse and neglect are vital for the well-being of children and families.

RCPA continues to raise funds to support the RCPA PAC, which provides financial support to state legislators who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our issues and priorities.

We are excited to once again host the RCPA PAC silent auction to be held in conjunction with the RCPA conference. The silent auction will be held outside Connections Hall during the conference, and with over 700 attendees (registrants, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors), we are hoping to attract all to participate.

We are requesting your consideration in assisting us with providing a donation of an auction item. We are hoping to secure a variety of auction items that will be enticing to all members. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be something as simple as a gift certificate for a restaurant to a basket of sorts (candy, movie night, grilling items, cooking theme). We are also accepting items such as jewelry, designer handbags, tickets to college or professional sporting events, golf items, and sports memorabilia. We hope we can count on your support.

We would like to thank our donors to date, including the following:

  • Basket of Sorts — Venango Training & Development Center, Inc.
  • Pearl & Gemstone Cuff Bracelet — RCPA Staff
  • The 19th Hole Basket (Whiskey, Cigars & Golf Balls) — Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley, Inc.
  • Chocolate / Kate Space Basket — PLEA
  • Coach Denim Jacket — RCPA Staff
  • Hershey Lodge Stay — Hershey Resorts
  • Black & Gold Pendant Statement Necklace — RCPA Staff
  • Round of Golf for 4 People — Dauphin Highlands Golf Course
  • Victoria’s Secret Large Tote Bag & Wallet — RCPA Staff
  • 2 Steelers / Packers Football Tickets — Corporate Benefits Consultants, Inc.
  • Winter Basket — Wesley Family Services
  • Basket of Sorts — Hope Enterprises
  • 2 Branded Sweaters & 2 Yeti Coffee Mugs — Greenspace Health
  • Signed Football from #2 Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles — Success Rehabilitation, Inc.
  • Little League World Series Basket — Firetree, Ltd.

Please contact Christine Tartaglione before September 29, 2023, if you would like to donate any items. Thank you for your consideration of our request. We hope we can count on your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Don’t wait any longer — time is running out to take advantage of the early bird registration rate for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity! Early bird rates end Friday, September 8, 2023. You can view our registration brochure to see our exciting lineup of sessions, keynote speakers, and activities, including networking and Connections Hall events, as well as information on booking your hotel room. Complete the brochure and reserve your seat at the early bird discount rate today!

We also wish to extend our thanks to those organizations that have already contributed and shown their support! Please note that all exhibitor booths have been reserved! However, you can still sponsor and advertise by completing our sponsor/exhibitor brochure today! As a reminder, 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. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an updated HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Concussion Training for Coaches. The training provides important information to assist coaches identify signs and symptoms of possible concussions and steps to take if one occurs.

The objectives of the training include:

  • Describe what concussions are, how they occur, and at least one long-term and two short-term potential effect on an athlete’s physical and mental health;
  • Recognize at least two signs and two symptoms of a concussion you might observe during a practice or game;
  • Explain your role in determining if an athlete should be removed from a practice or game, and list four steps to take after a possible concussion occurs; and
  • Identify at least two ways you can prioritize concussion safety.

September is FASD Awareness Month (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder). This is an expansion of FASD Awareness Day that has been held each year on September 9 since 1999. People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol use during pregnancy and the challenges of individuals and families living with FASD. The first awareness day was celebrated on 9/9/99. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy, the safest option is to abstain from alcohol.

Statistics show that approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and the rates of drinking during childbearing age are substantial; thus, there is ongoing risk of having children born who are affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol (Finer & Zolna, 2011; Green, McKnight-Eily, Tan, Mejia, & Denny, 2016). The estimated prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is conservatively around 1%; however, a recent study in North America found rates as high as 4.8% of the school-age population is affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, indicating a significant public health concern (May et al., 2014; May et al., 2015). While research continues to be completed regarding this public health concern, September is a month we honor all who are living with FASD. We must remember to spread the word that the best information is 0-4-9. Zero alcohol four nine months. Please take time to join a social media group or an activity in your community to spread the word!

Please support RCPA and its members in celebrating FASD Month to bring awareness, education, and advocacy to this critical issue affecting children and families. If you have any questions or want to assist in promoting FASD Month, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

The Mental Health Planning Council, under the direction of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), has extended the survey on delivering Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) until September 22, 2023. Agencies may access the provider survey directly and view the flyer for more details. Feedback will be de-identified and compiled by the Family Satisfaction Team of Montgomery County to be shared with relevant stakeholders and survey participants.

RCPA, on behalf of our members and those they serve, continues our efforts advocating for children, families, and practitioners delivering IBHS services. We respectfully ask our members to share this survey with families they are currently serving. The information will be utilized to examine challenges and opportunities in creating more viable pathways to IBHS services. Feel free to also share this information with other providers in your network of stakeholders.

If you have questions, please contact Clare Higgins or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.