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Mental Health

Transforming Suicide Prevention: A Data-Driven Framework
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 3:00pm EST / 2:00pm CST
Featuring: Qualifacts, CenterPointe & Zero Overdose

Register Here

Every life lost to suicide is one too many. Behavioral health organizations have the unique opportunity to transform suicide prevention from a reactive approach into a proactive, system-wide commitment. Achieving this level of transformation requires vision, leadership, and the ability to harness data to drive meaningful action. The Zero Suicide framework offers a revolutionary pathway to make this vision a reality.

Join Qualifacts for this webinar, “Transforming Suicide Prevention: A Data-Driven Framework,” on November 13 at 3:00 pm ET. You’ll hear from the leaders of the Zero Suicide initiative about the efficacy and evidence-based results of the framework and discover how organizations like CenterPointe are leveraging data-driven strategies and Business Intelligence (BI) tools to deliver measurable change and improve care quality.

Featured Speakers

  • Mary Givens
    Manager, Solutions Consulting & CCBHC Program, Qualifacts
    With 18 years at Qualifacts, Mary specializes in supporting behavioral health providers through CCBHC transformation and data-driven care delivery.
  • Ryan Carruthers, Ph.D., LMHP, LADC, CPSS
    Chief Clinical Officer, CenterPointe
    Carruthers leads CenterPointe’s clinical strategy and innovation efforts, driving outcomes through data-informed programming and suicide prevention initiatives.
  • Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-r, CCM, SAP
    Chief Operating Officer, Zero Overdose
    A national expert in suicide and overdose prevention, Dr. Little advances evidence-based frameworks like Zero Suicide and integrated behavioral health care models.

Register Here

A Request for Applications (RFA) regarding Fairweather Lodge Initiative Services (25-RFA-13798) has been issued and is available for review at PA-eMarketplace.

The Department’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is seeking a non-profit (501(c)(3)) registered Pennsylvania-based organization to manage and implement the Fairweather Lodge (FWL) model across the Commonwealth. The FWL model is a structured, community-based program that supports individuals with serious mental illness in their recovery while fostering independence. FWL will expand home- and community-based services by developing two to five new Lodges, which will create permanent housing opportunities for up to eighteen individuals.

If you are interested in this or other RFAs, please sign up for PA State Procurement eAlerts here.

Please submit your questions via email.

Information provided by The Arc Alliance: 

Due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP (food stamp) benefits will not be paid starting November 1, 2025.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

1) FEDERAL SHUTDOWN
SNAP benefits will be temporarily stopped beginning November 1, 2025. Payments will resume once the shutdown is over and funding is restored. Visit here to read more.

2) EBT CARDS
Starting November 1, EBT networks may be shut off at grocery stores and retailers. This means you may not be able to use any remaining balance on your EBT card after October 31.

3) FOOD RESOURCES
The Arc Alliance has created a Food Resource Page with local Food Banks and Food Pantries by county. These are separate from SNAP, but please note — they may become very busy as many Pennsylvanians seek help. Visit for the Food Resource Page.

4) LOCAL CHURCH PANTRIES
Church food pantries often have more flexibility than larger food banks because they don’t rely on government funds. We recommend contacting your local church or parish to ask about their food support options. (Some are listed on our Food Resource Page.)

5) QUESTIONS ABOUT SNAP BENEFITS
If you have questions about your benefits, contact your County Assistance Office (CAO) and speak with your caseworker. Find your CAO’s contact information here.

The Arc Alliance is here to support you and your family during this difficult time. Please share this information with others who may be affected.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced that the proposed Licensure of Crisis Intervention Services regulations will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on October 18, 2025. The package is also posted on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) website and can be found here. OMHSAS’ proposed regulation seeks to codify minimum standards for the issuance of licenses to provide emergency behavioral health crisis intervention services (crisis intervention services) in the Commonwealth in alignment with national best practices for crisis services.

Starting October 18, 2025, and closing November 17, 2025, the public may submit written comments regarding the proposed rulemaking to the Department via email. Please be aware that all public comments must be published verbatim on the IRRC website with the name of the commenter included. OMHSAS fully supports and encourages individuals with lived experience to submit comments on the regulation, but please be sure you are comfortable with the content of your comment being made public with your name.

Comments may also be submitted to the following address:

Department of Human Services
OMHSAS – Bureau of Policy, Planning, and Program Development, Attention: Tara Pride
Commonwealth Tower, 11th Floor
303 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105

RCPA will be convening a Crisis Intervention Regulatory Review Team to evaluate the proposed regulations and submit comments. If any member is interested in participating in the review group, please contact Emma Sharp.

Elevating Pennsylvania’s Providers: The Future of AI for Documentation & Compliance in BH and IDD
October 29, 2025
1:00 pm ET
Register Here

Pennsylvania’s behavioral health and IDD providers face increasing demands for accuracy, compliance, and efficiency — all while staff are overextended and burnout is rising. Traditional documentation tools are no longer enough.

This webinar, presented in partnership with RCPA, will showcase how Pennsylvania providers are embracing organizational AI to strengthen clinical documentation, improve compliance, and reduce administrative burden across every program and service line. Ross Young and Michelle Montowski of Clinically AI will showcase how their organization is supporting RCPA members through adoption cohorts, creating a statewide movement to elevate documentation quality, reduce risk exposure, and give staff back valuable time for care.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Implement real-time compliance auditing that ensures documentation meets state, federal, and payer requirements.
  • Use ChartAware AI to incorporate longitudinal client history into documentation, enhancing quality and continuity of care.
  • Support every discipline and setting — from therapists and psychiatrists to DSPs, case managers, nurses, and peer specialists.
  • Reduce audit risk by automatically flagging compliance gaps before submission.
  • Explore how Pennsylvania providers are working together to shape best practices and accelerate adoption.
  • See how AI can be deployed responsibly — with clinicians always in charge.

This webinar is primarily for:

  • CEOs, COOs, and CFOs of behavioral health and IDD organizations;
  • Compliance, Quality, and Clinical leaders; and
  • IT & Operations leaders.
Register Today