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Substance Use Disorder

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Are They Always Listening? How Secure is My Smart Speaker?

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 12:00 pm–12:45 pm
30 minutes of interactive learning, 15 minutes for questions

This presentation will answer questions related to privacy and security with smart speakers such as Amazon Alexa and Google Nest. Attendees will learn:

  • How smart speakers work;
  • How their security compares to other everyday devices like cell phones;
  • How smart speakers “listen” and “understand”;
  • What information speakers retain; and
  • How you can protect yourself.

Learn more and register here.

This webinar is hosted by Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) as part of the Smart Homes Made Simple project. Learn more about the project at SmartHomesMadeSimple.org.
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Toll Free Voice 888.744.1938 | Voice 484.674.0506 | Fax 484.674.0510 | Email patf@patf.us | www.patf.us

This project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council; in part by grant number 1901PASCDD-02 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

This session will be fully accessible, and the recording, transcript, and slides will be made available. If you have any questions or need assistance with registering, please contact Susie Daily at 888-744-1938 or by email.

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Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Education (PDE) and Montgomery County Officials highlighted the importance of utilizing effective, evidence-based prevention efforts for reducing substance use disorder among youth across the commonwealth.

“Prevention is our first line of defense in assuring our children grow up to live healthy, productive lives,” said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith. “With increases in substance use, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and other risk factors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying our prevention efforts to address these risk factors is absolutely critical.”

Read the full press release here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2021

Harrisburg, PA – The Departments of Human Services, Labor & Industry, and Education today announced the availability of the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a program that will assist eligible households in paying for internet service and certain electronic devices.

The EBB, which is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is a temporary program that provides a discount of up to $50 per month off a qualifying household’s internet bill and associated equipment rental. Additionally, eligible households can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 towards a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, provided that the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The EBB is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household, and the discount will be provided by the FCC directly to the service provider.

“The past year has shown us just how essential internet access is in order to connect with our loved ones, our workplaces and schools, and even to basic needs like telehealth and grocery delivery. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many to keep up with bills and expenses, so we are glad that the FCC is providing this benefit to people who need it,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “Assistance programs like this exist to help get you through tough times. I encourage anybody who has struggled to pay their internet bills to apply for this benefit.”

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

  • Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019–2020 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers;
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating internet provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program; or,
  • Qualifies for the FCC’s Lifeline program.
    • Households qualify for the federal Lifeline program if their income is less than 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or if they or their child participate in programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), or other federal programs. Eligible participants can receive Lifeline and EBB at the same time.
    • DHS has partnered with the FCC to provide a real time data exchange that verifies whether an individual is already receiving SNAP, Medicaid or SSI so that individuals receiving these programs will be able to more easily qualify for this new benefit as well as Lifeline.

“Strong, reliable access to the internet is a necessity for workers because today’s job search and hiring process is conducted almost exclusively online,” said L&I Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “The Emergency Broadband Benefit will help struggling Pennsylvanians apply for jobs, communicate with hiring managers, and engage in online training programs that will help lift them out of poverty.”

“Access to the internet could be considered a school supply; a critical resource that supports learning beyond classroom walls,” said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “The Emergency Broadband Benefit serves as another means to bridge the digital divide and create digital equity for students and families across the state.”

Applications for this program open today and will end once the funds are exhausted or six months after the federal Department of Health and Human Services declares the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Service providers will be required to give notice on the last date when the EBB program will end.

To apply for the EBB program, contact your participating broadband service provider, or visit Get Emergency Broadband to apply online or print a paper application to mail in.

More information on the EBB can be found here. For more information on other public assistance programs, visit the DHS website.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erin James, DHS
Sarah DeSantis, L&I
Kendall Alexander, PDE

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Improving Outcomes by Recognizing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Presented by Dan Dubovsky — Part One
This training addresses the importance of recognizing an FASD in those with whom we work or live. The brain damage seen in FASD is examined, along with common behaviors that result from this damage and that may result in misdiagnoses such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder in the individual and neglect and sabotaging treatment in family members. Methods to identify those with a possible FASD are identified.
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021, 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
Register now.

Improving Outcomes by Modifying Approaches for Those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Presented by Dan Dubovsky — Part Two
This training builds on the first FASD training provided. Due to the brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, which spans the intellectual spectrum, evidence-based practices that rely on verbal interactions and reward and consequence approaches such as point, level, and privilege systems are often not successful with them and set them up to fail.
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021, 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
Register now.

Law Enforcement-Led Diversion and Mental Health and Opioid Outreach Innovations
The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the significant impact first responder-led diversion can have in connecting overdose survivors and those with mental health disorders to treatment. Retired Deputy Chief Mitch Cunningham from the Wilmington, North Carolina Police Department and Sheriff Daron Hall from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee will highlight the need for diversion and cite examples of the successful programs they have implemented.
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021, 2:00 pm
Register now.

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Governor Tom Wolf today signed the 14th renewal of his January 2018 opioid disaster declaration to help the state fight the opioid and heroin epidemic. This declaration was the first of its kind for a public health emergency in Pennsylvania that proves to be an important tool to allow the state to respond quickly, adapt to developing needs, increase access to treatment, and save lives.

The declaration allows the state to loosen regulations and work outside of typical procedures to expedite aid and initiatives to help those suffering from opioid use disorder and those who work to prevent and treat this medical condition. It also allows agencies more flexibility to coordinate and share resources to address the changing needs of communities throughout the commonwealth.

Read the full press release here.

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As part of RPCA’s ongoing effort with members and stakeholders regarding the Alternative Pay Arrangements/Agreements (APAs), we are asking members to complete this brief APA survey.

We respectfully request that the survey be completed as the APAs apply to your Drug & Alcohol, Children’s, and Adult Mental Health services continuum. The data we collect will be instrumental in our collective efforts with DHS and managed care organizations regarding strategic fiscal considerations, as the current APAs are set to end on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

It has been requested we extend the survey date. The survey will now be available until close of business Monday, May 10, 2021. Thank you, and if you have questions, please contact RCPA Director of Children’s Division Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

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