';
Mental Health

The Mental Health Planning Council, under the direction of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), has extended the survey on delivering Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) until September 22, 2023. Agencies may access the provider survey directly and view the flyer for more details. Feedback will be de-identified and compiled by the Family Satisfaction Team of Montgomery County to be shared with relevant stakeholders and survey participants.

RCPA, on behalf of our members and those they serve, continues our efforts advocating for children, families, and practitioners delivering IBHS services. We respectfully ask our members to share this survey with families they are currently serving. The information will be utilized to examine challenges and opportunities in creating more viable pathways to IBHS services. Feel free to also share this information with other providers in your network of stakeholders.

If you have questions, please contact Clare Higgins or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) aims to end overdose deaths globally, fostering stigma-free remembrance and recognizing the pain experienced by families and friends. This campaign raises awareness about the grave public health crisis posed by overdoses, igniting discussions and actions based on evidence-backed strategies for prevention.

Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones participated in a poignant memorial event at the state capitol this morning, Thursday, August 31. She highlighted the transformation of the Capitol steps into a temporary memorial, signifying the enduring memories of loved ones. Dr. Davis-Jones emphasized embracing emotions authentically on this day. Her call to action urges collective responsibility to honor lives lost, emphasizing overdose preventability and the hope of recovery from addiction. Additionally, she shared resources aligned with IOAD’s theme and addressed equity-related dimensions of the overdose crisis, including how racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected. Resources provided by DDAP include:

General Resources:

IOAD Resources:

Equity-Related Resources:

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in partnership with Temple University Harrisburg, is hosting the 2023 Behavioral Health Crisis Planning Symposium from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Thursday, September 14 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey. This event focuses on offering recovery-oriented support for individuals with behavioral health issues in community-based settings. The symposium aligns with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care and will showcase successful crisis approaches from other states, offering insights into SAMHSA’s vision for an accessible crisis care continuum. The symposium targets various stakeholders, including county leaders, service providers, advocates, law enforcement, and more. To register, visit this link.

At the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity, you’ll gain the opportunities for CEs and training while engaging directly with leaders in health and human services! Sessions will provide value to everyone, from nurses and DSPs to leadership and legal teams. View the full brochure here, and claim your early bird rate, your hotel room, and your discount today so you can earn CEs through workshops such as:

  • Walk the Talk: Working in the Behavioral Health Field When You, Yourself, Have a Mental Illness
    • Listen to Dr. Staley’s story of working within the behavioral health field when she herself was using evidence-based strategies to handle her own mental illness.
  • Disrupting the Great Resignation
    • Equip your leadership team with the necessary tools and skills for addressing barriers to employee engagement and retention.
  • Applied Tabletop Role-Playing Games – Change Through Play
    • Learn how you can use the power of role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, for capacity building, therapy, and educational goals.
  • Using System-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) to Reduce Acuity and Enhance Skill Acquisition in Individuals With Behavioral Health Challenges, IDD, and Autism
    • Reduce major risk events and workers’ compensation claims, and enhance functional levels and quality of life for youth and adults with behavioral challenges and ID/A through PBIS.
  • Applying Augmented Intelligence to Workforce Challenges and Care Delivery
    • Evaluate the types of augmented intelligence technologies available to clinicians in behavioral health and how they can improve care delivery.
  • Amplifying the Patient Voice: Using the Treatment Atlas Patient Experience Survey to Increase Engagement and Promote Quality Improvement at Your Facility
    • Discover strategies for completing the Patient Experience Survey (PES) to support your facility in better understanding patient populations, benchmark to state averages, and opportunities for quality improvement.
  • Termination Without Litigation
    • Learn how you can protect yourself and your agency through proper disciplinary practices and the importance of documentation.
Register today!

In addition to an impressive roster of speakers, our 2023 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have signed on thus far! **NOTE: EXHIBIT BOOTHS ARE SOLD OUT.** If you are interested in sponsoring, visit here for more details or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions you may have. Keep up-to-date and register today for #rcpaconf!

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is celebrating the start of Recovery Month at 12:00 pm on September 6 at Pennsylvania’s State Capitol Rotunda with the “Arts Heal” event. This year’s focus is on the transformative power of art in recovery, with art displays, live performances, demonstrations, recovery speakers, and appearances by special guests.

Recovery Month is a time dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of substance use disorders and recognizing the achievements of individuals in recovery. Observed annually in the United States, it aims to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible. This yearly observance celebrates the millions of people in recovery and reminds us that behavioral health is essential to an overall happy life. Recovery Month is an opportunity to tell the world that prevention works, that treatment is effective, and that people can, and do, recover.

Throughout September, the initiative aims to honor individuals in recovery, spread hope, and raise awareness about the importance of behavioral health. There are meaningful ways to participate in Recovery Month, including:

  • Save the date for the Sept. 6 kickoff event and spread awareness by sharing the flier;
  • Emphasize the possibility of recovery from addiction through proper treatment and support, pointing to available resources on DDAP’s website;
  • Show your support during “Purple Day” in September by wearing purple, sharing a photo on social media, and using hashtags like #RecoveryMonth and #Recovery; and
  • Share your story of recovery as these stories inspire hope and strength.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Prevention Point Pittsburgh, and the PA Harm Reduction Network will host a webinar from 10:00 am – 11:30 am tomorrow, Wednesday, August 30. The purpose is to introduce the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program (POPP), which aims to address the opioid overdose crisis by increasing access to naloxone as well as resources and tools for drug checking, helping individuals verify the composition of substances they intend to consume. To participate, register online.