Child Guidance Resource Centers (CGRC), a leading nonprofit provider of behavioral and mental health services for children and families across the Greater Philadelphia region, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Roberts Cadorette as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 7, 2025 [read full release].
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms Bulletin, OMHSAS-25-02, effective May 27, 2025, with updated forms for counties to use. For some time, counties have used different customized versions of the MH 783 statewide form. This has resulted in provider confusion, especially when an individual who is the subject of a 302 warrant is transported to a provider across county lines. OMHSAS is updating the MH 783 form and requiring counties to use this form without modifications. OMHSAS is also updating accompanying forms MH 781, MH 783A, MH 783B, MH 785, and MH 788 for use by County Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) administrators or their delegates for initiating the involuntary commitment of individuals at risk of harming themselves or others due to behaviors associated with acute mental illness. This bulletin announces that OMHSAS has revised forms for voluntary and involuntary commitment evaluations. Each of the revised forms has updated language, including changes accounting for Act 65 of 2020, references from “DPW” to “DHS,” and general clarification and modernization of the language within the forms.
The non-English versions are still in process, and another announcement will be posted when the links to those versions are available.
MH-783 Bulletin can be found DHS’s Bulletin web page. Additional forms can be found here.
Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.
Monday, June 23, 2025
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MDT; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
Register Here
Presenter Bios:
Katherine Bentley, MD
Dr. Bentley is a pediatric physiatrist at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She is the Section Chief of Physiatry, past President of the Medical Staff, Director of the Chronic Pain Program, Director of the Continuing Medical Education Department, and Assistant Director of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship.
Dr. Bentley is an associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Bentley graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1998 and Middlebury College in 2003. In college, she became an adaptive skiing instructor, which sparked her interest in rehabilitation medicine. Dr. Bentley graduated from New Jersey Medical School in 2007, completed an internship at Morristown Medical Center, and completed both a residency in rehabilitation medicine and fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She is also a member of the Women’s Leadership Alliance at RWJBarnabas Health.
Kate Vieni, PT, DPT
Kate Vieni is a pediatric physical therapist at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She works as the supervisor of the inpatient physical therapy department and is the program lead for physical therapy within the chronic pain management program. Kate graduated from Ithaca College with her doctorate in physical therapy in 2006. She received her therapeutic pain specialist certification in 2022 and her fellowship of pain sciences in 2024 through Evidence of Motion.
Kate Hottinger, PhD
Kate Hottinger is a licensed pediatric psychologist and works as the inpatient therapy supervisor for the psychology department at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. She obtained her graduate training from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She completed fellowship training in Pediatric Pain Medicine and internship training in Child Clinical Psychology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:
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.
Thriving Together: The Role of Curated Communities in Transforming Workforce Culture
Free Webinar for RCPA members
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here
Creating spaces where professionals feel seen, valued, and supported is critical to fostering thriving workplaces. This session highlights the transformative power of curated communities like the Black Residency Collective and B.W.E.L., which provide unique opportunities for connection, innovation, and growth. These spaces not only nurture a sense of belonging but also serve as vital tools for addressing retention challenges and inspiring organizational change. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how intentional spaces can catalyze resilience and drive collective success in the workforce.
Presenter: Sierra McNeil, MSW
Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections, NASW-PA President, Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow
Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:
Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.
Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!
RCPA invites members to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.
The Coalition is open to all stakeholder groups, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system. This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and our Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. If you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 245 992 905 070 9
Passcode: 4eF9M8Sp
Dial in by phone
+1 689-206-0441,,595808722# United States, Orlando
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 595 808 722#
PennCares Support Services is offering the upcoming training opportunities:
Hearing Voices Simulation, May 21, 9:00 am – 11:30 am. Training to be held at the Legend at Silver Creek.
Participants will get to experience what life is like with auditory hallucinations and a serious mental health diagnosis, such as schizophrenia; increase your empathy, compassion, and understanding towards people living with serious mental illnesses; develop your communication skills to better address the emotional and behavior needs of individuals with mental health diagnoses; and learn practical strategies to support these individuals. Training is geared towards nurses, social workers, mental health professionals, first responders, and curious community members.
Register Here
Dementia Live, June 4, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm, 30-minute time slots. Training to be held at Silver Spring Personal Care Home.
This training is another simulation where participants get to experience what life is like with dementia in order to improve care practices and gain a greater awareness and understanding of the constant struggles affecting persons with dementia as they go about their daily lives.
Register Here
Message from Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN):
Last night, the House Budget Committee advanced its Budget Reconciliation bill that would terminate healthcare for over half a million Pennsylvanians who get their health coverage through Medicaid and the marketplace and double health insurance premiums for many more.
Next, the bill is scheduled for a vote in the Rules Committee on Wednesday night and a possible floor vote on Thursday.
Now is the time to take action. Please contact members of the House of Representatives this week and let them know that your organization opposes the bill. It is particularly important to contact Representatives Fitzpatrick, Bresnahan, and Mackenzie. Let us know how your conversation went by emailing Bill England.
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to announce the OMHSAS Bulletin Series Update, OMHSAS-25-01, effective May 14, 2025. Obsoleted bulletin lists are updated every few years. This listing identifies bulletins that are no longer in effect. Providers should no longer be referring to them for guidance.
Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.
Prev