National Council Shares Ten Ways to Take Action This World Mental Health Day
RCPA Partner Eleos Health to Host Webinar on AI Security in Behavioral Health October 22
Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI
When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 2:00 pm ET
Register Here
In the behavioral health world, few things are more intimate and private than a provider’s conversation with a client.
Keeping those sessions secure — and complying with always-evolving government regulations and ethics concerns — is a top priority for behavioral health organizations looking to implement an AI tool.
Join Eleos Health for a 1-hour virtual discussion on “Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI.”
Facilitated by Eleos Health’s VP of Customer Success Nisheeta Setlur, attendees will hear from behavioral health AI experts Raz Karmi, CISO of Eleos, and Rony Gadiwalla CIO of GRAND Mental Health, as they break down:
- Which existing and emerging security regulations and best practices apply to behavioral health organizations — and their AI vendor partners.
- How to navigate key AI security, compliance, and ethical concerns in a behavioral health setting.
- What steps orgs must take to protect sensitive client information from AI-specific threats.
- How Eleos accounts for all of the above in their industry-leading AI platform.
Register here and secure your spot. If you can’t make it live, Eleos will send you a recording to watch at your leisure.
Stakeholder Input Sought for Statewide Crisis Intervention and Response Services Assessment
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is partnering with the Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG) to support a new statewide crisis intervention and response services assessment, gap analysis, and strategic planning initiative. This project will explore the intersections of the justice system and crisis response with a specific emphasis on crisis intervention team programs and their adherence to the Memphis Model, and is a component of PCCD’s federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Funding Plan.
Through this assessment, it is essential to hear from stakeholders at the local and state levels across the behavioral health and criminal justice systems, including community members and people with lived experience, to identify assets, gaps, and challenges within the current crisis landscape. To accomplish this, CSG will be hosting 13 listening sessions, each for specific stakeholders, starting on Oct. 21, 2024.
More information about the project, including a direct link and QR code for listening session registration, is available. If you have any questions, please email Michael Leister.
CMU Leadership Announcements
RCPA member CMU has announced the following staff updates:
Patrick Slattery has been named Chief Executive Officer of The CMU and joins the organization after more than 30 years in various direct care and leadership roles across multiple organizations including KidsPeace and Sheppard Pratt Health Systems. Patrick brings a servant leadership approach to the team and is especially excited to continue vital partnerships with Dauphin County and the many outstanding providers and stakeholders who impact the lives of the more than 5,000 people and their families served each year. Relationships are the key, and he is grateful for the positive collaborations with CMU Board President, Doug Hill and his board colleagues, outstanding Dauphin County Commissioners George P. Hartwick, III, Justin Douglas and Mike Pries and Dauphin County Human Services leaders, Director Randie Yeager, Administrator Andrea Kepler and Deputy Mental Health Administrator Rachael Clifton.
Dan Sausman has retired from The CMU effective 9/13/2024 after 42+ years of service. Dan is widely recognized as an expert in the field and among the finest people with whom I have worked. His impact on our organization, colleagues and community will endure for many years to come as we continue to provide our services at the highest levels. Dan lives and breathes the mission, vision and values of our organization leaving a legacy of service that we can all aspire to emulate.
William “Bill’ Price IV is promoted to the role of Director of Mental Health Services and leads all related services from Administrative/Intake to Blended Case Management (BCM) service delivery. Bill has an extensive background in forensic mental health and is a dynamic leader with more than 18 years of service to CMU and nearly 30 years in the field. Bill has a strong “can do” approach and is always quick with a smile and great attitude!
Amber Wolferd is promoted to the role of Director of Developmental Servies and leads all Intellectual Developmental Disability/Autism (IDD/A) services from Intake to Supports Coordination and Early Intervention/Service Coordination. Amber is succeeding long time Director Dan Sausman after his 42+ years of service. Amber brings a relentless enthusiasm for our mission along with technical skills aimed at continuous quality improvement to perfect the craft of Supports and Service Coordination.
Sarah Freeland is promoted to the role of Deputy Director of Developmental Services and leads the team of Supports Coordination Supervisors who help roughly 1,500 people via 28 Supports Coordinators. Sarah has served the mission of the organization in various roles over the past 7 years and shares Amber’s enthusiasm for creating the most impressive teams of Supports Coordinators to benefit those we serve across all of Dauphin County.
Sarah Mumper is promoted to the role of Director of Operations and leads all Human Resources efforts as well as Accounts Payables and building operations. Sarah must be cloned as she is a true force of nature on the team! With more than 7 years of service to CMU, she brings unparalleled dedication and commitment to our mission.
Randi Rosati is promoted to the role of Human Resources Specialist and leads the payroll function as well as associate onboarding and recruitment. Randi has served CMU for more than 15 years and forms the dynamic duo of Sarah and Randi as the organizational glue that keeps us all together.
Jeremy Shaffer is promoted to the role of Director of Information Technology and leads our Help Desk team as well as driving the network, billing, and electronic health record systems. Jeremy has served CMU for more than 20 years and applies his vast technical skills along with a deep empathy for the work that we do each day.
OMHSAS Monthly Stakeholder Call Registration
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) October 2024 Stakeholder Webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 17 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Use this link to register for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: 914-614-3221
Access Code: 854-614-804
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.
RCPA Supports CCHBC Program for PA ICWC Providers
RCPA submitted a letter of support to OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Jennifer Smith on October 1, to advocate for re-entry into the SAMHSA CCBHC Demonstration project, on behalf of all Integrated Care and Wellness Clinic (ICWC) providers in the commonwealth. We believe this action would further support the state’s vision of quality integrated whole-person care. Read the letter here.
DHS Issues Important Notice: Immediate Action Required for Regulatory Compliance
Providers who hold a license to operate a facility licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) are being notified of a change to the Civil Rights Compliance process. There is a new Civil Rights Compliance form when submitting a new licensing application as well as a new Civil Rights Compliance Renewal form when submitting a licensing renewal application.
Entities seeking a new license will utilize a Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form (HS2126). The prior Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form is now obsolete and will be returned back to providers. This form must be included in the packet submitted as part of any new license request. The new application, supporting documents, and CRC form must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart below.
Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit new applications must submit the form by email. The CRC forms are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN new application process. The updated CRC form for new applications can be found on the DHS website under the “Application for License” page.
For licensing renewals, a licensee will now submit a CRC Renewal form (HS 2125). The prior Attestation form is now obsolete and will be returned back to providers. The renewal form must be submitted as part of a renewal licensing application, and the renewal notice will still be sent out 130 days prior to expiration. The renewal application must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart below.
Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the renewal by email. The renewal is not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. The CRC form for can be found on the DHS website under the “Application for License” page.
Previously, the DHS Bureau of Equal Opportunity (BEO) would issue you a letter verifying that you are compliant with applicable civil rights laws. With the new process, a letter from BEO will no longer be sent out to licensed entities. Instead, the issuance of the new license or renewal license will indicate that your CRC form or renewal form submission was approved. If there are issues or questions on the submitted CRC or renewal form, a staff member from BEO or DHS will contact you.
| If your license is issued by… | Submit your application AND your CRC form (if new license) or CRC Renewal (if license renewal) to: |
| The Bureau of Human Services Licensing (Renewals) – PCH & ALR | [email protected] |
| For NEW applications for Personal Care Homes or Assisted Living Residences | Send the application, supporting documents, Civil Rights Compliance Form (HS2126) and the application fee, check or money order payable to DHS to:
Via USPS: Or via courier: DHS/BHSL DHS/BHSL Room 623 Health & Human Services Bldg. PO Box 2675 Rm 623 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675 625 Forster Street Harrisburg, PA 17120 |
| The Office of Children, Youth, and Families | [email protected] |
| The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services | [email protected] |
| The Office of Developmental Programs* | [email protected] |
| The Office of Child Development and Early Learning* | Child care providers should include their MPI number in the subject line and email the appropriate regional office:
Northeast Region: Central Region: Counties: Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, York, Adams, Lebanon and York Counties: Snyder, Perry, Juniata, Centre, Mifflin, Tioga, Lycoming, Northumberland, Union and Clinton South Region: |
| Western Region:
Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland Counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset |
*Licensees who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the renewal by email. The renewal is not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process.
The new process is effective on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Existing licensees and applicants must begin following the new process on or before that date.
If you have any questions about the new process, please contact the applicable DHS office, DHS Human Services Licensing Office at 717-705-0383, or, if your facility is a childcare facility, please reach the Office of Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) at Western Region 1-800-222-2149, Central Region (Harrisburg) at 1-800-222-2117, Northeast Region (Scranton) at 1-800-222-2108, or Southeast Region (North & South) at 1-800-346-2929.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the completion of your civil rights compliance application, please contact Bureau of Equal Opportunity Licensing office at 717-787-1579 or electronically.
Thank you for your commitment to protecting the rights of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens. If you have any additional questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.
IRRC Fails to Reopen IBHS Regulations: OMHSAS to Reopen IBHS as Part of Regulatory Reform Efforts
The Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has completed their review of existing Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) regulations codified at 55PA. Code chapters 1155 and 5240, as requested by the RCPA IBHS Steering Committee.
The RCPA IBHS Regulatory Reform Recommendations, submitted on November 29, 2022, requested the commission to review the IBHS regulations under section 8.1 of the Regulatory Review Act, which provides that the commission may review any existing regulation which has been an effect for at least three years.
The commission has noted the burden placed on providers by the Department of Human Services regulation, but while they appreciated our concerns, the commission’s role is to determine whether existing regulations, as a whole, remain in the public interest. In the commission review letter, they determined that further action by the commission is not warranted in this matter.
We have been in contact with OMHSAS throughout this two-year period, and the commission provided the department with guidance as part of the review process. Despite the ruling from the IRRC, OMHSAS has agreed that they will reopen the IBHS for review as announced by OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Jennifer Smith at the RCPA Conference last week. RCPA will be reviewing the recommendations to calibrate those areas that continue to create barriers to access that have arisen since the recommendations created in the Fall of 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Wireless Calls to 988 Get a More Localized Response With Geo-routing
The process to route cell phone calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline based on the caller’s approximate location, versus by area code, has started; FCC to vote next month on a final rule that would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement geo-routing with specific timelines
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline announced that the process to start routing cellular phone calls to 988 contact centers based on the caller’s approximate location, versus by area code — known as “geo-routing” — began last week with two major U.S. wireless carriers that combined make up about half of all wireless calls to 988. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the 988 Network Administrator, Vibrant Emotional Health, have been working with all of the major U.S. cell phone carriers for more than a year to improve call routing to 988 so that callers on a cell phone can be connected more locally to centers that are better equipped to provide nearby resources and services.
These new rules, if adopted by a vote from the full commission next month, would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement geo-routing. In addition, the rules will also establish an implementation timeline for geo-routing calls to the 988 Lifeline of 30 days following the effective date of the rule for nationwide wireless providers and 24 months after the effective date of the rule for smaller, non-nationwide providers.
More than 200 contact centers across the country provide support through the 988 Lifeline network. Geo-routing connects cell phone callers to the closest 988 contact center to the caller’s physical location. Geo-routing differs from geolocation in that it does not provide a precise location of the caller, allowing callers to maintain their location privacy. Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most callers feel more hopeful and less depressed, suicidal, and overwhelmed.
If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.
Understanding Trauma: Expressive Therapies — Positive Approaches Journal Volume 13, Issue 2, Now Available
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce that the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!
Understanding Trauma: Expressive Therapies
In this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, we see that there have been important strides in identifying the prevalence of trauma and the complex consequences of trauma from multiple sources, including social adversity, abuse, and neglect. The focus is on the importance of taking this into consideration on every level, from systems collaboration, to how we assess, diagnose, treat, and offer restorative environmental supports to individuals with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A).
This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP. 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.
The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP Training’s inbox.
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