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Children's Services

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REMINDER — PLEASE DISREGARD IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THIS SURVEY

Pennsylvania’s General Assembly has not yet passed the budget for FY 2025/26, and we are already two months into this fiscal cycle. This delay is creating another crisis while communities grapple with the longer-term implications of the recently passed HR 1 Tax Reconciliation Bill at the federal level. We want to hear from you via this 2025 Budget Impasse Survey so that we can raise a collective nonprofit clamor about the impact this delay has on real people in every neighborhood and community in the Commonwealth.

We know — our organizations are over-surveyed during times of urgency!

So, to eliminate duplicative work, various associations and networks, including RCPA, have come together to collect data regarding both the current and projected impact on both for-profit and nonprofit financials, staffing, and ultimately those served. We will share information with everyone involved so that the survey results can be analyzed and disseminated to the media and legislative contacts most efficiently. Below are the organizations that are coming together to collect this data in order to show you the importance of this information.

For more details about the length of the survey and those best suited to complete it, please see this PDF version so you can prepare. The initial survey deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, September 15, 2025. For questions about the survey, please email Anne Gingerich, Executive Director, PANO.

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The following is a message from the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF):

Effective immediately, due to a federal funding pause, OCYF has been directed to halt work with Accenture, the System Integrator for the Child Welfare Case Management (CWCM) system. This pause is due to concern raised by our federal partners at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that must be resolved prior to our resuming work. The Department of Human Services/OCYF remains fully committed to developing a single case management solution to be used by both the state and all counties, rather than continuing to fund both the statewide Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) and the individual county systems.

As you know, Pennsylvania does not have a unified statewide case management system. Instead, we maintain a statewide repository that houses all reports of suspected child abuse (CPS), General Protective Services (GPS) reports, and the outcomes of those reports. Day-to-day case management and service information, however, resides within the counties’ own systems. Currently, five different county case management systems are in use across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Developing and implementing a CWCM system remains a top priority, as it will enhance data quality and accountability, improve efficiency, and support better outcomes.

The CWCM Steering Committee — which includes OCYF and county representatives — has been reviewing the multi-phase implementation plan to ensure a responsible rollout. There is consensus on the first two phases: (1) Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) compliance and (2) replacing CWIS. Next week’s Steering Committee meeting will still be held to gather participating county partner feedback. We believe strong partnership between county children and youth agencies and the state is essential to achieving our shared vision for CWCM.

To reiterate, this is a pause. We are committed to developing a path forward that will ultimately eliminate the need for counties to maintain and fund individual case management systems — freeing up resources for other critical needs. The current federated model is not sustainable given the costs and the time and effort required to update legacy systems.

This is all the information we can share at this time. We recognize counties may have additional questions about what this means, and we will continue to communicate more information about the next steps as it becomes available.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Jana Marie Foundation, Aevidum, Prevent Suicide PA, STAR-Center at the University of Pittsburgh, and Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Prevention Grant are pleased to share a resource guide for National Suicide Prevention Month. This September, the week of September 7 – 13 is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week, with Wednesday, September 10 marking World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is a continuation from last year’s theme of “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with a call to action to “Continue the Conversation.”

The guide provides a variety of suicide prevention resources and activities that you can implement in your organization or community to raise awareness about suicide prevention. This includes infographics, ideas for events, social media posts, virtual backgrounds, a sample proclamation, and more.

We encourage you to share this resource guide with partners in your communities that can work together to save lives.

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Young Girl Talking With Counselor At Home

The Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services are pleased to share a Dear Colleague letter regarding important updates to federal non-regulatory guidance for students in foster care placement.

This updated guidance, issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), represents the first significant update to federal guidance since the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015.

Please see the letter for details about this announcement, and thank you for your continued dedication to supporting students in foster care.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Intensive Model of Therapy for Children With Neurological or Movement Disorders

Thursday, September 4, 2025
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 Here

Presenter Bio: Amy O’Donnell
Amy O’Donnell is a pediatric physical therapist at The Children’s Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington & Jefferson College and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. Amy joined The Children’s Institute in 2012 and has since specialized in pediatric physical therapy care.

Her first exposure to the intensive therapy model came during her student training, and she became actively involved in the program following its expansion to her clinic location in 2014. In 2019, she was named the program coordinator. Amy has co-authored both qualitative and quantitative research articles on the Intensity Program at The Children’s Institute, with both publications appearing in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Define and discuss benefits of episodic care and family centered care;
  • Define and discuss benefits of intensive therapy model; and
  • Discuss different types of intensive therapy models and strategies to implement into your clinic.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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Today is your last chance to register online for the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive! Taking place at the Hershey Lodge September 9 – 12, the conference will bring you the latest in local, state, and federal policy updates, workforce trends, and technological developments in health and human services. Register now to ensure your access to:

  • The mobile app, which will be opening early next week for all attendees who have registered. By registering online, you will be contacted directly once the mobile app is available, granting you access to the full schedule, Connections Hall map/exhibitor listings, and more!
  • A seamless onsite registration experience. Simply show up at the front desk, and we’ll print your badge within seconds!
  • A head start on obtaining your CEs. RCPA is sharing our summer webinars on the mobile app. By registering online, you will be able to view these webinars when the mobile app launches, which count towards CE credits.
  • An informative and exciting conference! With over 60 workshops, including, state and federal keynote and plenary speakers, 90 exhibitors, and 110 CEUs available, our conference will help you and your organization prepare your next steps in the health and human services industry.

View our Registration Brochure for complete details, including booking your hotel room, event highlights, and networking opportunities!

Online Registration Closes TONIGHT!
Register Today!

We are grateful to all our sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who help make the conference happen. Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details. View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!

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