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Substance Use Disorder

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Due to a widespread technical malfunction, this webinar was rescheduled from Monday, April 20, to Monday, April 27. If you wished to attend the webinar and were unable to make the April 20 date, you can now register for April 27 at 1:00 pm!

Monday, April 27, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CDT;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Register Here

Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care

Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.

Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager

Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.

Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.

Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:

  • Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
  • Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
  • Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
  • Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.

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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Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Governor Shapiro has made student mental health a priority, investing nearly $400 million in school-based mental health and school safety since January 2023. The proposed 2026/27 budget includes a continued investment of $111 million for school safety and mental health supports, with $100 million of these funds allocated through the Pennsylvania Commission of Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) as a non-competitive grant.

Student mental health continues to be the largest instructional challenge in schools, with more than 80% of school districts reporting that a shortage of qualified mental health care providers is the biggest challenge in connecting students to the care they need. Despite significant investments, why can students not access the mental health care they require to thrive?

The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition members urge the Pennsylvania General Assembly to consider these blueprint recommendations. Never before have we had the opportunity to fund and act so decisively.

The full letter can be read here.

The Mental Health Safety Net Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meetings that will be occurring throughout the budget season.

The next Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting is scheduled for Wednesday May 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm. Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions or if you would like to join the Coalition.

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The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Training Section is gathering input from professionals in the substance use disorder and problem gambling fields who serve in supervisory, management, and executive roles. Your feedback will help DDAP better understand workforce training needs, preferences, and barriers and inform future training opportunities.

If you previously completed this survey when it was shared last month, there is no need to complete it again.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, May 1.

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT 
Register Here

Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care

Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.

Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager

Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.

Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.

Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:

  • Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
  • Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
  • Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
  • Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.

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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The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has opened a new application period for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program. The program supports health care professionals, including those providing substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health (BH) services, who serve in underserved communities across Pennsylvania through loan repayment assistance to eligible providers in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an approved site. Its primary purpose is to increase access to care in underserved areas by supporting and retaining the workforce.

The program is open to a range of licensed providers, including:

  • Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners/physician assistants;
  • Licensed behavioral health professionals (LCSWs, LPCs, LMFTs, psychologists); and
  • Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives).

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania;
  • Work at an approved site serving at least 30 percent low-income patients or located in a Health Professional Shortage Area; and
  • Commit to two years of full-time or half-time service.

Eligible practice sites may include community-based settings such as community behavioral health clinics; outpatient SUD and BH treatment providers; and federally qualified health centers and similar settings. Benefits include:

  • Loan repayment assistance to reduce education-related debt;
  • An opportunity to provide care in high-need communities; and
  • Up to $80,000 (full-time) or $40,000 (half-time) for physicians, dentists, and psychologists, OR up to $48,000 (full-time) or $24,000 (half-time) for other eligible providers.

The application process closes Friday, May 4, and applications must be submitted online. More information is available online. Email DOH with questions.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).

Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.

  • Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
  • Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
  • Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.

The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:

  • Aging and Access
  • Behavioral Health
  • EMS and Transportation
  • Technology and Infrastructure
  • Maternal Health
  • Workforce

Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:

  • Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
  • Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
  • Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.

Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.

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Villanova, PA – April 8, 2026 – Devereux, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare, today announced that Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, has been selected for the newly created position of vice president of autism services, effective immediately.

As a member of Devereux’s executive leadership team, Gravel will oversee strategies, innovations and expansion efforts of the organization’s new national autism services division. Specifically, he will lead the development and execution of a national autism expansion strategy, assess existing service offerings, identify areas for strategic growth, and drive a growth-based business plan focused on service innovation. Gravel also will ensure alignment and consistency across all Devereux autism programs, while promoting evidence-based practices and high standards of compassionate care.

“Kyle is a strategic and visionary leader, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our team,” said Devereux Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D. “His expertise will be instrumental as we grow our national autism services division, expanding our reach and deepening our impact across the country. Kyle will be responsible for strengthening and elevating our services so we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals and families we are privileged to serve.”

About Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS
Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, holds more than 20 years of experience driving scalable performance, data integration and multidisciplinary collaboration across national healthcare and behavioral health organizations. Prior to joining Devereux, Gravel spent eight years at Cortica in San Diego, most recently serving as vice president/head of regional operations. His previous roles at Cortica included area director of operations; regional director of cognitive and behavior therapies; director of cognitive and behavior therapies; and associate director of cognitive and behavior therapies. Before this, Gravel spent 10 years at Behavioral Support Partnership in Garden Grove, California, most recently in the role of director of parent training services.

Gravel earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from California State University, Fullerton. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist; Board Certified Behavior Analyst; certified child and adolescent anxiety treatment professional; certified autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist; and is pivotal response treatment certified, level 2.

About Devereux
Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of more than 10,000 children, adults – and their families – every year. The organization’s unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement.

With nearly 6,500 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of our country’s populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. For more than a century, Devereux has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. Learn more: www.devereux.org.

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