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Mental Health

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 the Department of Human Services (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 Thursday, May 20, 2021. Thank you, and if you have questions, please contact RCPA Director of Children’s Division Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to share the 2020 Behavioral Health Telehealth Report, developed in collaboration with the OMHSAS Telehealth Steering Committee and Mercer Government Services Consulting. This report provides recommendations for the future of telehealth after the resolution of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The work of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders has been and will continue to be vital in ensuring that the behavioral health needs of Pennsylvanians continue to be met. The report is available on the OMHSAS website.

If you have questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp. If you have questions regarding this report, please email OMHSAS directly.

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.

The Morgan Stanley Foundation is providing $500,000 in seed-funding for game-changing mental health care solutions for children and young people through the inaugural Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards.

U.S.-based non-profits are invited to submit innovative project ideas to advance children’s mental health. Selected organizations should visit the Innovation Awards website, which has all the information on the program, including selection criteria, application information, project scope, and FAQ. For additional inquiries, please email the Morgan Stanley Foundation.

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.