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Substance Use Disorder

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Nearly $25M Available to Substance Use Prevention Coalitions in New Partnership Between ONDCP and CDC: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which begins this year’s process of awarding funds to community coalitions focused on preventing youth substance use. For FY 2020, this will allow 200 new communities to receive direct financial help totaling $25 million from the White House to prevent illicit drug use and save lives. Community coalitions interested in applying to the DFC Program can learn more here.

ARC Announces $3.3 Million to Continue Economic Growth in Region’s Coal-Impacted Communities: On February 12, ARC announced nearly $3.3 million in investments through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative focusing on strengthening responses to substance abuse, improving broadband infrastructure, and supporting Opportunity Zone investments.

March deadline:

  • DOJ-BJA Stop School Violence Grant Program. DOJ is seeking applications for funding under the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting and assisting county, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions in improving efforts to reduce violent crime in and around schools. Deadline: March 3, 2020. Review application guidelines here.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grants SAMHSA is accepting applications for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Expansion Grants (CCBHC Expansion Grants). The purpose of this program is to increase access to, and improve the quality of community mental and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services through the expansion of CCBHCs. SAMHSA expects that this program will provide comprehensive 24/7 access to community-based mental and SUD services; treatment of co-occurring disorders; and physical health care in one single location. Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Minority Fellowship Program SAMHSA is accepting applications for a Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) grant. The purpose of this program is to increase the knowledge of mental health professionals on issues related to prevention, treatment, and recovery support. The program aims to reach individuals who are from racial and ethnic minority populations and have a mental or co-occurring mental and substance use disorder, and to improve the quality of care provided to these individuals. Deadline: March 16, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers SAMHSA is accepting applications for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC) grants. The purpose of the program is the operation of comprehensive centers which provide a full spectrum of treatment and recovery support services to address the opioid epidemic. Deadline: March 17, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Grants to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention SAMHSA is accepting applications for Grants to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP). The purpose of this program is to support states and communities in advancing efforts to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among adults age 25 and older in order to reduce the overall suicide rate and number of suicides in the US nationally. Addressing suicide prevention among adults is imperative to decreasing the nation’s suicide rate. Deadline: March 23, 2020.
  • HHS-SAMHSA: Services Grant Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women. SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant program (PPW). The purpose of this program is to provide pregnant and postpartum women with treatment for substance use disorders through programs in which, during the course of receiving treatment, 1) the women reside in or receive outpatient treatment services from facilities provided by the programs; 2) the minor children of the women reside with the women in such facilities, if the women so request; and 3) the services are available to or on behalf of the women. Deadline: March 30, 2020.

April deadline:

  • DOJ-BJA Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program. The RSAT for State Prisoners Program assists states with developing and implementing residential substance abuse treatment programs within state correctional facilities, as well as within local correctional and detention facilities, in which inmates are incarcerated for a period of time sufficient to permit substance abuse treatment. The program encourages the establishment and maintenance of drug-free prisons and jails and developing and implementing specialized residential substance abuse treatment programs that identify and provide appropriate treatment to inmates with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders or challenges. Deadline: April 6, 2020.
  • HHS-HRSA: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation. The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high risk rural communities. This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under RCORP-Implementation. Deadline: April 24, 2020.

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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking information regarding the needs of diagnosed infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), and their families, after discharge from the hospital. For information about the incidence of NAS around the commonwealth, please see the attached report. Around the country, there are a few facilities referred to as Residential Pediatric Recovery Centers, that serve as a step-down for babies diagnosed with NAS from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or hospital prior to going home.

For information about some of these examples, please see:

For information about Residential Pediatric Recovery Centers generally, please see Section 1007 of the federal SUPPORT Act, accessible at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6/text. Please also see the CMS Informational Bulletin on the topic, accessible at: https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/Federal-Policy-Guidance/Downloads/cib072619-1007.pdf

While each model of residential pediatric recovery center is unique, they each provide 24/7 medical, nursing, and pharmacological services for infants diagnosed with NAS in a sub-acute setting. Most of these facilities allow mothers, and in some cases, fathers, to live in the same room as their baby. While there is only one facility that directly provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services for mothers, several of the RPRCs around the country connect mothers to treatment and arrange for their participation in outpatient programs provided by licensed drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Each RPRC provides case management that allows families to receive all necessary psychosocial supports to promote family unity. The purpose of this survey is to gather information on how to best meet the needs of babies and mothers as Pennsylvania looks to implement Section 1007 of the SUPPORT Act in the Commonwealth.

Please consider taking a few moments to respond to this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DG3XW7J. Your response will help inform the Commonwealth’s approach to implementation of Section 1007 of the federal SUPPORT Act, which allows for Medicaid coverage of residential pediatric recovery center services.

Thank you for your participation. Please find the 2018 NAS Report here.

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The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Notification Protocol for Formal Licensing Actions and Incidents, is currently outlined in Bulletin #00-19-02 released in August 2019. On October 21, 2019, OCYF convened a meeting to bring together representatives from entities covered within the scope of OCYF Bulletin #00-19-02, to discuss the intent of the notification protocol, and to develop recommendations for improvements to the process.

From the meeting, the following improvements were agreed upon and will be released in new bulletins as described below.

  • A new bulletin will be issued promptly to remove the issuance of a notification regarding removal of staff under an approved plan of supervision. These notifications are no longer being sent. This bulletin will also remove any notifications listed that are duplicative of one another, specifically those that would equate to a citation and issuance of a licensing inspection summary (LIS), as those already trigger a notification.
  • Pending the implementation of CPSL amendments, another bulletin will be issued to include a quarterly report that will be provided to county agencies and dependency and delinquency judges, providing aggregate child abuse and substantiation data for child residential or day treatment facilities, approved foster or pre-adoptive homes, and youth development centers and youth forestry camps. If/when the CPSL is amended to permit the release of specific aggregate data, a new bulletin will be issued that will provide for county agencies and dependency and delinquency judges to receive substantiation information at the conclusion of an investigation, regardless of whether they are the placing county for the child or youth for these same placement settings.

RCPA was grateful to participate in this process and commends OCYF and the systems stakeholders for the collaborative partnership on this initiative The Department of Human Services (DHS) is moving forward with implementing these changes to ensure the safety and well-being of Pennsylvania’s children and youth. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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RCPA has been notified by the PA Department of Corrections (DOC) / Bureau of Community Corrections (BCC) of a new referral process for Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) or Mental Health (MH) services for reentrants. This initiative is part of a continued effort to reduce and maintain the Department budget, to streamline services, and to offer consistent and needed programming.

Effective immediately, any referrals made to the BCC for AOD or MH services should be made as a last resort. This includes any inpatient placements as well. It is the responsibility of the person making the referral to find placement through other community resources first, when possible. In many cases, reentrants either have or are eligible for medical assistance. Medical assistance will allow a range of services to be funded under their contracts.

If a reentrant is in need of services, reach out to the statewide single county authority (SCA) helpline first. The number to call is 800-662-HELP (4357). A more complete list of every SCA, every county MH office, and their contact person is being formulated and will be forthcoming in the near future. Until those lists are distributed, please use the SCA HELPLINE number that is provided. It can be a starting point for both AOD and MH services, and inpatient beds in the county.

The correspondence from the Department of Corrections / BCC can be found at this link.

For our RCPA members currently providing these services, please contact RCPA Criminal Justice Division Director Jim Sharp and/or RCPA Drug & Alcohol Division Director Kristen Houser to discuss the potential impact on your services.

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As we approach the conclusion of the Governor’s Council on Reform public comment period on December 16, 2019, RCPA would like to ensure that each member has the materials for providing their public comments, feedback, and support. RCPA will be submitting commentary within each policy director’s purview, and we strongly urge your agency to submit your thoughts to the Council, including areas and issues that may not be represented in the current recommendations.

If you would like to send your submissions to your respective policy director for inclusion in the RCPA public comment, please have them submitted by close of business on Wednesday December 11, 2019.

Below you will find the links to important documents relating to the Council on Reform, including the Public Comment Submission Form. If you have further questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.

  1. Governor’s Executive Order
  2. November 1 Press Release
  3. Recommendation Document
  4. Public Comment Form

Thank you for your efforts and partnership to bring these recommendations to the forefront of your work.

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Press Release from Governor Tom Wolf

Council on Reform Submits Recommendations for the Protection of Vulnerable Populations to Gov. Wolf
> Public Comment Period through December 16, 2019 <

November 1, 2019

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf’s Council on Reform, established through his Protection of Vulnerable Populations Executive Order 2019-05, submitted its recommendations for improving the state’s systems to protect its most vulnerable individuals and families.

In late July, Gov. Wolf charged this diverse group of community leaders, providers, stakeholders, and cabinet members with taking a comprehensive look at needs to best serve the state’s vulnerable populations with a mandate to report those recommendations back to him by Nov. 1.

“I took action in July to address long-standing issues with the state’s systems designed to protect our most vulnerable,” Gov. Wolf said. “The first task for the newly formed Council on Reform was to buckle down and develop a comprehensive list of recommendations for how we can best protect vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

“My thanks to all of the council members who shared their expertise and considerable time, and to those who participated by meeting with council members or submitting information and recommendations. Your tireless commitment to this process demonstrates your passion for protecting all Pennsylvanians, especially our most vulnerable. I look forward to reading and analyzing these recommendations and to our next steps to make much-needed changes.”

The 25-member council held its first meeting immediately following the governor’s announcement. In determining its charter and scope, the council defined populations and subpopulations, established committees, and adopted values.

The council determined it would look at protecting vulnerable populations from three perspectives with a separate committee for each: prevention and diversion, protection and intervention, and justice and support.

Populations were broken out by age with subpopulations to ensure vulnerabilities unique to each were considered:

Ages 0-17
Subpopulations – African Americans, Asian American & Pacific Islanders, Latinos, LGBTQ+ children, young women, children experiencing mental illness, children with intellectual disabilities/autism, children with physical/sensory disabilities, delinquent children, and dependent children

Ages 18-59
Subpopulations – African Americans, Asian American & Pacific Islanders, Latinos, LGBTQ+ adults, veterans, women, adults experiencing mental illness, adults with intellectual disabilities/autism, adults with physical/sensory disabilities, adults with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, and domestic violence victims

Ages 60+
Subpopulations – African Americans, Asian American & Pacific Islanders, Latinos, LGBTQ+ seniors, women, veterans, seniors experiencing mental illness, seniors with intellectual disabilities/autism, seniors with physical/sensory disabilities, seniors with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, and domestic violence victims

The council recommended two overarching goals for Pennsylvania to better protect vulnerable populations:
• Empower and strengthen the workforce serving vulnerable populations by providing comprehensive training, livable salaries and benefits, and support for staff experiencing vicarious trauma.

  • Empower communities and vulnerable populations by ensuring access to services for all Pennsylvanians and conducting culturally appropriate and diverse outreach efforts.

The council adopted values they believe to be relevant to protecting and serving vulnerable populations – these values are reflected throughout the recommendations:

Cultural Competence – Recognizing and honoring diversity

Person-Centered Approach – Focusing on the individual’s best interest

Community Engagement – Hearing from vulnerable populations, families, experts, and stakeholders

Context & Awareness – Understanding current environment and avoiding past failings

Trauma-Informed – Utilizing trauma-informed approaches across all systems

Workforce Empowerment – Ensuring the workforce is equipped and supported

Members heard from a wide array of existing oversight and advisory bodies, stakeholders, legislators, and constituents. Information was provided through in-person meetings, letters, emails, and a webform that council members distributed to their networks. These contributors provide recommendations for the council to consider and essential insight and context to ensure the council was fully informed. Many council members also served on advisory bodies connected to this work.

The council compiled the recommendations submitted by others along with recommendations from existing reports and assigned them to the appropriate committee for review and consideration. Committee members reviewed all that was submitted, identified common trends, eliminated duplication, and developed new recommendations.

After committees finalized their lists of recommendations, themes were identified that spanned all populations and committees. The result is the comprehensive list of recommendations presented to Gov. Wolf today.

The council advised Gov. Wolf that it “fully recognizes the funding implications of the recommendations that have been developed and the substantial amount of time and work it takes to carry out these recommendations. It is our hope that Pennsylvania will rise to the occasion and put its best effort into driving this much needed change – our most vulnerable are counting on it.”

The council asked that the governor direct the appropriate agencies, organizations, branches of government, and advisory bodies to carry out the recommendations he would like to move forward.

As the council carried out its process, they believed more could be done to engage with constituents. To achieve this, the council added an online public comment form available today through Dec. 16.

View press release online

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Step By Step executive Jim Bobeck has recently announced his retirement. Bobeck served for 33 years as Step By Step’s President and CEO and oversaw an agency that began in the Wilkes-Barre area in the 1970s, which grew to include more than 1,300 employees serving over 2,000 individuals in 18 counties throughout Pennsylvania.

Bobeck has been an active leader for RCPA, as well as its predecessor organization, PARF.

Mr. George Rable, Chairperson of the Step By Step Board of Directors noted, “Under Jim’s leadership and dedication, the Agency has grown tenfold serving a diverse population. He will certainly be missed.”

Bobeck remarked, “I’ve been privileged to be surrounded by the best human service professionals anywhere. Together we developed a community system of care for people with disabilities that ranks as one of the best in the country. Thank you to my lifetime friends made here, and thank you to our consumers who gave me a life filled with purpose.”

Step By Step’s Board of Directors has formed an executive search committee and plans to announce the hiring of a new CEO in the near future.

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