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Mental Health

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Understanding Trauma: From Theory to Practice

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal addresses the approach to trauma and its role in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental illness from a variety of perspectives. Just as trauma arises from a variety of sources and experiences, addressing it in a meaningful, accessible way requires that each voice is heard, valued, and respected.

There are foundational principles that are vital in determining the best path forward in a trauma-informed manner, and we can and should learn from and leverage these principles and best practices. The goal of this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal is to present diverse, expert voices in understanding trauma from theory to practice.

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP’s website.

To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP electronically.

The next Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Stakeholder Webinar is scheduled on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. To participate, please register for the webinar using the provided registration link. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent to you with details on how to join the webinar.

If you have any other questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), will host a webinar titled “CCBHC’s Synergies With Crisis Systems” on Friday, July 12, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm ET. This event, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), marks the final session in a four-part Crisis Stabilization Learning Series. The webinar will feature discussions on how Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) can effectively respond to and manage crisis situations, leveraging their capabilities within community crisis systems. It will also cover the role of peer support and the expansion of crisis services through the CCBHC model. Key speakers include Joe Parks, MD, from the National Council, Carrie Slatton-Hodges from NASMHPD, and C.J. Davis, CEO of Brightli Inc. An upcoming publication from the National Council’s Medical Director Institute will be highlighted in the discussion as well.

To participate in the upcoming webinar, register here.

If you have any other questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Pennsylvania has launched a new website for the Enterprise Licensing System (ELS) project, designed to streamline and modernize the licensing, permitting, registration, certification, and incident management systems across four state agencies: the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Aging, and the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs. The ELS will be implemented in stages over the next two years, with the aim of improving interagency collaboration and operational efficiency.

For more information and to stay updated on the ELS project, subscribe to the ELS ListServ. If you need additional information or have questions, you can reach out to OCYF through the Contact Us form.

If you have any other questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CDT;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Register Here

Jennifer Bernstein, PT, DPT

Speaker Bio:

Jennifer Bernstein, PT, DPT, is a Board-Certified Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy. Dr. Bernstein has been a practicing physical therapist for over 10 years, all of which have been spent at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her areas of specialty practice within physical therapy include Oncology, Hematology, and Bone Marrow Transplant for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients. Jennifer received her Board Certification in Oncology in 2020 and has been involved in extensive program development and leadership roles representing the hospital’s occupational and physical therapists. She serves as the Specialization Chair for the Oncology section of the APTA, which allows her to actively engage with other passionate members of the organization. She serves as a mentor in the APTA Oncology Mentorship Program and has greatly enjoyed sharing her knowledge about the world of oncology physical therapy. Most recently, Whole-Body Vibration in Oncology Rehabilitation: Perceived Benefits, Barriers and Clinical Willingness was published in the Rehabilitation Oncology Journal, serving as Jen’s second publication. She has enjoyed being featured on “The OncoPT Podcast” and serving as a guest contributor for a Medbridge Course About Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the evidence on exercise and patients with cancer;
  • Identify precautions, indications, and contraindications to be considered when working with individuals under treatment for cancer​;
  • Acknowledge the diversity, complexity, and variability involved in a cancer diagnosis at various life stages; and
  • Establish an understanding of the role of rehab professionals throughout the continuum of care for patients undergoing treatment for cancer in various practice settings​.

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.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that payments under the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program for the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) will end on July 12, 2024.

CMS has reported that CHOPD accelerated payments totaling more than $2.55 billion have been issued to over 4,200 Medicare Part A providers, and another 4,722 CHOPD advance payments, totaling more than $717.18 million, have been issued to Part B suppliers. CMS also states that providers of services and suppliers are now successfully billing Medicare, and to date, CMS has already recovered over 96% of the CHOPD payments. After July 12, providers that are having difficulty with billing or receiving payments should contact Change Healthcare and/or their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) directly.

Additional information can be found on the Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Performance Goals web page.