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Substance Use Disorder

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In response to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ (OMHSAS) proposed Regulation #14-558: Mental Health Procedure RCPA, in partnership with its members, has submitted public comments.

The proposed regulations align the Department’s regulations with the Mental Health Procedures Act by adding definitions of “business associate” and “covered entity,” and adding those entities to the list of parties to which the Department may disclose confidential information.

RCPA did request that OMHSAS provide further clarification on the impacts and intersects of the proposed standards for youth and parental consents outlined in Act 65.

RCPA fully supports the proposed regulations that will align departmental regulations with Act 32 of 2022 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requirements.

We look forward to working with the Department in the communication and ongoing implementation of the proposed regulatory changes, including the release of a Regulatory Compliance Guide after final promulgation. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Services Director Jim Sharp.

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From the National Council for Mental Wellbeing

As RCPA continues to support efforts to realign Pennsylvania’s integrated behavioral and physical health initiatives with the return to the CCBHC model, our partners at the National Council have issued this advocacy alert on recent legislation expanding States opportunities in serving our vulnerable communities.

This opportunity will focus member reach out to our Senators about a new bipartisan bill that would help sustain and expand access to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in Pennsylvania and across the country.

S 3402 would give states and organizations the ability to continue growing the behavioral health workforce, expand services for older adults and people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and help more communities establish CCBHCs.

Right now there are three co-sponsors in the Senate. If enough people contact their Senators, we can keep the momentum going!

TAKE ACTION

We also included some more detail about the legislation via the above “take action” link if you’d like to dive deeper. The letter takes about 1–2 minutes to send. If you want to call your Senators’ offices and  leave a message too, we made a script for you to use – just follow the prompts on the page.

If you have any questions please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Services Director Jim Sharp.

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The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) provides small grants to local community-based programs/services that prevent child abuse and neglect before an incident occurs. The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Request for Application (RFA) was posted on eMarketplace today, January 5, 2026. The press release is being shared through DHS comms, PA Key comms, and a special announcement in the e-News.

RCPA, as part of several statewide work groups and task forces, wishes to share this with members, though you may receive this through other communications networks. The RFA is only available for 30 days, due no later than February 5, 2026.

If an applicant has any questions regarding this RFA, the applicant must submit those questions via email, with the subject line “25-RFA-13772 Question” to the RFA Issuing Officer named in Part 1, Section I-2 of this RFA. The Issuing Officer shall post all written answers to the questions submitted on the Department of General Services (DGS) website at eMarketplace as an addendum to this RFA.

You may view the Request for Application online at eMarketplace.

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Following the creation of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut legislation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT). This new office will be located within the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) and will continue overseeing the RHT Program. The RHT Program is a $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to care nationwide. As noted in RCPA’s Alert from December 30, 2025, Pennsylvania will receive nearly $200 million in 2026.

ORHT, which announced approved awardees on December 29, 2025, will guide states in implementing their rural health transformation plans, provide technical assistance, coordinate federal and state partnerships, and ensure strong oversight and accountability throughout the five-year program, which will run through September 30, 2031.

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Press release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country. In 2026, states will receive first-year awards from CMS averaging $200 million, within a range of $147 million to $281 million. This unprecedented federal investment will help states expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.

Awardees and Funding Amounts

The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030. As directed by Public Law 119-21:

  • 50% of the funding is distributed equally among all approved states. This provides states with a strong foundation to begin implementing their Rural Health Transformation Plans; and
  • 50% is allocated based on a variety of factors. As described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, those factors include individual state metrics around rurality and a state’s rural health system, current or proposed state policy actions that enhance access and quality of care in rural communities, and application initiatives or activities that reflect the greatest potential for, and scale of, impact on the health of rural communities. All scoring factors are outlined further in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Read the full press release here.

Pennsylvania submitted their plan to CMS in November, and the plan is currently being evaluated. CMS made funding awards to all 50 states, with Pennsylvania receiving $193,294,054.

RCPA continues to work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) in answering questions from members as well as gaining an understanding on the implementation values for PA specific initiatives from both funding allocation pathways.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp.

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This is a reminder that RCPA will be holding a membership benefits webinar on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that are held throughout the year.

Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2026 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Council and ANCOR memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.

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The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), in partnership with the WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center (JPRC), has received funding from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop a statewide Continuum of Care for Communities model for Pennsylvania. This initiative aims to provide actionable recommendations for diverting youth from the juvenile justice system toward community-based services and alternatives to detention.

To inform this statewide model, WestEd is seeking collaboration with Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice stakeholder groups to gather insights and evidence-based recommendations.

Their goal is to develop actionable recommendations for diverting youth from formal justice system involvement and to strengthen community-based services, drawing on the expertise and experience of local stakeholders. As someone involved in juvenile justice and juvenile justice-adjacent systems, your insights will be invaluable in shaping recommendations and identifying promising local practices.

What’s Involved: You are invited to join an engagement session to discuss:

  • Local prevention and diversion strategies, strengths, and gaps; and
  • Recommendations and best practices for serving youth and families across the continuum of care.

Session Details:

  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Format: Virtual (calendar invite and Zoom link to be provided upon RSVP)

Session Options

  • Community Service Providers: January 8, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Violence Intervention Programs, Restorative Justice organizations, Faith-based organizations, Foster Care Agencies, Housing and Homelessness Services, Workforce Development Agencies, Child and Family Advocacy – Rights and Policy Reform, Residential Placement staff, etc.
    • Register Here
  • Courts and Related Departments: January 9, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Judges, Magistrates, District Attorneys, Public Defenders, Probation, Children and Youth, CASA, Youth Aid Panels, etc.
    • Register Here
  • Victims’ Services: January 23, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
  • Education: January 27, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: School and District-level Administration, Faculty, Psychologists, Counselors and Social Workers, Student Assistance Programs, and School Security Personnel
    • Register Here
  • Mental and Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment: January 30, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
    • Includes: Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Treatment Providers, Residential or Community-based
    • Register Here
  • Law Enforcement & Crisis Response: February 4, 2026, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Police Officers, School Resource Officers, Detectives, Emergency Responders, Crisis Responders, Medical Personnel
    • Register Here
  • Families & Loved Ones with Experience Supporting Youth in the Juvenile Justice System (Past or Present): February 4, 2026, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Family members, friends, caregivers, and loved ones with past or present experience supporting their youth navigate the juvenile justice system
    • Register Here
  • Youth with Lived Experience Navigating the Juvenile Justice System: February 11, 2026, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm EST
    • Includes: Youth with juvenile justice or children and youth/foster care experience, ages 25 and under
    • Register Here

Your participation will not only contribute to improving outcomes for youth and families but also ensure that the report and recommendations reflect the needs and realities of your community.

If you are able to attend, please take 2–3 minutes to fill out the RSVP link connected to the session you wish to attend — please plan to attend one session. This will ensure you a spot and send you a calendar invite and Zoom link.  Please feel free to share this email and flyer within any of your networks as well.

Lastly, if you have any questions, please reach out via email.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in partnership with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), is offering upcoming trainings focused on strengthening housing partnerships and improving coordinated responses for unsheltered individuals with behavioral health needs.

Partnership with Public Housing Authorities (PHA): Best Practice Strategies for Stronger Collaboration
Date/Time: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Registration Here

This 90-minute interactive training is designed for housing and service system leaders seeking to strengthen and sustain effective partnerships with Public Housing Authorities (PHA). This session will highlight strategies to improve communication and alignment between PHAs and county systems, approaches for sustaining partnerships during times of system change, and an overview of standard PHA regulations and available flexibilities. The training will include facilitated breakout discussions for participants to share real-world strategies, lessons learned, and best practices with colleagues across communities.

  • Trainers: Jim Yates (MPA), Liz Stewart, and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County Housing Coordinators­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Building Coordinated Responses for Unsheltered Individuals With Behavioral Health Needs
TAC will conduct two 90-minute trainings exploring best practices for coordinated, compassionate, and effective responses to support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness with significant behavioral health needs.

Session 1: Trauma-Informed Outreach, Collaboration, and Engagement Strategies
Date/Time: Monday, January 26, 2026, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Registration Here

The first session will highlight practical models and partnerships that enhance trauma-informed outreach, crisis diversion, and person-centered engagement. It will include approaches that reduce law enforcement interactions and improve cross-system coordination to ensure wraparound supports and an array of housing options for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and co-occurring conditions.

  • Trainers: Ashley Mann-McLellan (MPH) and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County staff overseeing direct care outreach and homelessness response providers; county supported housing and homelessness providers; PATH staff; outreach staff; county housing coordinators
  • To be announced: Regionally based Communities of Practice (CoP) will be announced following this training, focused on best-practice outreach/engagement strategies and cross-sector partnerships for staff providing direct care or supervising programs supporting unsheltered individuals.

Session 2: System Approaches to Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Responses
Date/Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Registration Here

The second session will provide a foundational understanding of encampment dynamics and encampment resolution, including an overview of decommissioning practices. Emphasis will be placed on humane and coordinated approaches that prioritize connection to services and pathways to stable housing. The webinar will highlight the critical role of cross-sector partnerships (Continuum of Care (CoC), PATH, behavioral health, outreach teams, law enforcement, local government entities, advocates) and will explore targeted housing navigation strategies that support long-term stability beyond clearance efforts.

  • Trainers: Ashley Mann-McLellan (MPH) and Jordan Gulley (LICSW), Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
  • Open to: County and municipal leaders, including County Mental Health Administrators; County Human Services Directors; County Housing and Homelessness Service Administrators; Coordinated Entry Leads and Continuum of Care (CoC) leadership; PATH program staff; outreach providers and behavioral health directors; outreach supervisors; housing program managers; Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services-designated program leadership
  • To be announced: A statewide Community of Practice (CoP) will be scheduled following this training, focused on collaborative learning for county and municipal leaders implementing systemic responses to unsheltered homelessness for individuals with SMI. Dates will be announced soon.

Questions and Comments can be directed to the OMHSAS housing inbox.

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Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Medetomidine is a veterinary sedative, similar to xylazine, that was first found in Philadelphia’s drug supply in May 2024. Since then, it has spread across Pennsylvania. Medetomidine is 100-200 times more potent than xylazine and can cause longer-lasting sedation, low heart rates, and more severe withdrawal symptoms. It is not an opioid but is found in the illicit drug supply.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is seeking information about complications associated with medetomidine in the drug supply. DOH is particularly interested in SUD treatment providers’ responses to the following.

  • Are you seeing an influx in clients presenting with worsening withdrawal symptoms (e.g., racing heart, severe nausea, high blood pressure, tremors, confusion)?
  • Are you seeing an increase in clients leaving against medical advice?
  • Have you had to send clients to the hospital because their symptoms required a higher level of care?
  • Are there any other changes you are noticing in your community that you think DOH should know about?

You can email your responses to DOH Senior Harm Reduction Technical Advisor Roseanne Scotti or RCPA SUD Treatment Policy Director Jason Snyder.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is offering a new virtual format for the clinical supervision training.

This instructor-led virtual training builds on foundational coursework and gives participants the opportunity to practice clinical supervision skills, along with tools to support assessment and effective work with supervisees.

The next session will be held daily at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday, January 26, through Friday, January 30.

Log into DDAP’s Training Management System (TMS) to request a virtual seat and review registration and payment instructions for the $300 training. Payment must be submitted by check or money order, as detailed in TMS. Space is limited, and registrations are processed in the order received.

Completion of the Clinical Supervision Training Foundations course, available on demand through TMS, is required before enrolling.

Clinical supervisors and lead counselors with less than two years of supervisory experience are required to complete the core curriculum offering in TMS or a DDAP-approved core curriculum in clinical supervision.

Please send any questions electronically.

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