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Criminal Justice

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RCPA was approached by a coalition of organizations in support of federal nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community, including Freedom for All Americans, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center of Allentown, and other state and local partners.

The RCPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee purpose statement reads that the committee will actively challenge systemic racism and social injustice through advocacy for legislation, policies, and practices that promote equity, providing guidance and support for DEI initiatives within RCPA member organizations…” This initiative is in alignment with RCPA DEI efforts.

Currently, federal law lacks explicit nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community in housing, credit, lending, federally funded programs, and public spaces like restaurants, stores, theaters, and hospitals. Additionally, 29 states, including Pennsylvania, lack state laws that explicitly protect LGBT people from discrimination.

This coalition is soliciting supporters from Pennsylvania’s community of service providers — those who support and care for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, including LGBT Pennsylvanians who face additional challenges due to the lack of nondiscrimination protections. Service providers are an important and trusted voice in Pennsylvania, and your inclusion will help to demonstrate the broad level of support for nondiscrimination statewide.

By signing on you to this initiative, your organization will join a diverse coalition of service providers supporting the nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community. Your organization’s name will be shared publicly and will also be shared with Pennsylvania’s US Senators.

To offer your organization’s support, follow this link to join Pennsylvania Service Providers for LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections and make your voice heard.

Please reach out to Jack Phillips or Cindi Hobbes with any questions.

In addition to the general sessions, including national updates that will provide valuable information to all, we have several break-out sessions that will be offered live each day during our 2021 Conference. These sessions include:

Tuesday September 28, 2021

  • Preparing Infrastructure for Managed Care in ID/DD Providers
  • Coordinating Measurement-Based Care: How the Maryland Community Behavioral Health Association Improved Treatment Outcomes and Leveraged Their Data
  • Leadership in Technology for a New Era
  • The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Regional Approach to Address Healthy Equity
  • Magical Metaphors: Creating a Shared Language Within a CBT Treatment Setting
  • Without a Playbook: Navigating the Pandemic While Still Moving Forward
  • Enhancing Whole Health and Wellness: Working Works When Using Social Security Work Incentives
  • Linking Up! CANS Across the Tristate Area, and How This Can Optimize Care
  • Creating an Employee-Centered Culture to Attract & Retain Staff
  • Mobile Buprenorphine: A Novel Method for Engaging Populations in Substance Use Disorder Care
  • Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services For OUR Older Adults. YOU Can Help!

Wednesday September 29, 2021

  • Top Funding Resources for Assistive Technology in Pennsylvania
  • Measuring What Matters Most: Leveraging the Power of Business Intelligence to Drive Organizational Improvements
  • People Like Me: Working with Vulnerable Populations Using an Integrated Model to Behavioral Health Care
  • How COVID-19 Changes Our View of Emergency Preparedness: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 and Key Strategies for Preparedness Moving Forward
  • The Great Reset: Leadership Beyond the Pandemic
  • “Link Outside the Box”: Using Remote Services and Technology to Provide Support Services For Individuals With IDD
  • Promoting Motivational Interviewing Spirit and Skills with Paraprofessional Staff
  • COVID-19 at 18 Months: How the Pandemic Has Changed Us and Society
  • Strategies for Reducing Screen Time Fatigue

Thursday September 30, 2021

  • A Collaborative Agency-Based Approach to Implementing a Pandemic-Induced Practice-Based Change to Telehealth
  • Concussion (TBI) and Behavioral Health (The Missing Peace): Where Are We Now?
  • Trauma-Informed Support for People with Intellectual Disabilities
  • No Longer Just a Plan — Value Based Payments in Community HealthChoices in 2022
  • The Cultural Competency in the Clinical Assessment & Treatment of Adults with IDD and Co-Occurring Mental Illness
  • The Path to VBP is Paved With Quality: A National Perspective on Measures of Quality in IDD Services
  • Post-Incarceration Care: How to Create an Effective Transitional Model
  • Implementing Trauma-Informed PA (TIPA): PRTFs Becoming Trauma-Informed
  • We Hear You!
  • Expanding Integrated Primary Care for People with IDD: Replicable Models and Policy Implications
  • The Unexpected Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Time Banking: A Grassroots Resource for Increased Personal Outcomes and Community Development

There will also be over 20 “on-demand” sessions on many timely subjects and topics, such as Leadership, Diversity, and Remote Supports and Services.

Visit the RCPA Conference website for specific updates to the schedule, posted as they become finalized.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that the Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for September 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. This public meeting will focus on the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from OLTL and the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. The meeting details are below:

Join from the meeting link

Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 132 810 8394
Meeting password: wyB6SHMKn33

Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-408-418-9388,,1328108394## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,1328108394## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Join by phone
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Global call-in numbers

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1328108394@pa-hhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

Image by Shotkitimages from Pixabay

This three-hour virtual training is approved by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and State and meets all requirements for training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (to include Act 126 for school employees).

It is also approved for continuing education credits under Act 31 (Department of State for health-related licenses) and Act 48 (Department of Education for teachers) at no cost. PFSA will submit your training verification to the Department of State or Education as appropriate on your behalf (details provided during training).

Please register for your preferred training date and time by clicking one of the session links below. Each person must log in through separate devices, using the unique access link emailed to them after registration to receive credit.

Wednesday, Sept. 1 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 1 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 2 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 2 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 2 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 3 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 7 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tuesday. Sept. 7 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 8 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 8 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 9 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 9 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 10 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 10 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Saturday, Sept 11 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 13 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 13 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 15 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 15 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 16 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 16 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 17 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 17 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 20 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 20 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 21 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 21 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 23 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 23 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 24 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Friday, Sept. 24 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Saturday, Sept. 25 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 27 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Monday, Sept. 27 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 28 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 28 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 30 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Thursday, Sept. 30 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm

For questions or to schedule a session specifically for your organization, please email PFSA.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda for the upcoming Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2021 from 10:00 am–1:00 pm and will be held via webinar and remote streaming.

The call information, including links to the webinar and remote streaming, are provided below:

Conference line- Bridge Number: 415-655-0060 PIN: 512-693-809
Webinar link
Remote streaming link

Comments and questions should be sent here.