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The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
The Finance & Reimbursement Committee would like to remind members that recipients of Federal Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments must report on the use of those funds by March 31, 2023.
Per the HRSA website, PRF Phase 4 is under the following timeframes:
For further information, please visit the HRSA website.
The Board of Directors of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the hiring of a new President and Chief Executive Officer, Monique McIntosh. Monique becomes the eighth Goodwill SWPA Chief Executive since its founding in 1919.
Monique joins Goodwill SWPA from her most recent position as the Chief Program Officer of YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, where she has served in various leadership capacities, including Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. She currently manages organization programs and evaluation in her role as Chief Program Officer. Previous to her leadership of the YWCA, she served as Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s Vice President of Programs and Services. In each of these roles, she expanded the reach and effectiveness of the organization.
Monique is a member of The Forbes Fund Advisory Council and United Way of Southwestern PA Women’s Leadership Council Diversity Work Group. Monique serves on the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation Board, where she chairs the Development Committee and the Sixth Economic Empowerment Development Corporation Board. She also serves as an Advisory Committee member for the Homewood Community Development Collaborative and a Core Team member for the Homewood Comprehensive Community Plan, formally adopted into the city’s Comprehensive Plan. She is an Advisory Committee member for the University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Center. Monique received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Education from Penn West California.
Monique succeeds Michael Smith, who retired last fall after serving as Goodwill SWPA’s President/CEO for 20 years. She will officially begin in her new role on March 1, 2023. Monique represents a considerable step forward for Goodwill SWPA and its commitment to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into how they function, as the first woman and person of color to lead the organization.
Goodwill SWPA is a diversified nonprofit human service agency that serves southwestern Pennsylvania and north central West Virginia and manages several affiliate units and special-purpose entities, including Goodwill Commercial Services, Inc. and Mission Logistics, LLC. The agency operates 34 retail stores and several other businesses to help fund programs and to provide job training, education and related services to help people overcome employment barriers. The organization serves over 10,000 adults and youth annually while employing over 1,000 people with an annual budget of over $60 million.
Step By Step is delighted to announce Lynn Miller has become their Vice President of Business and Program Development.
Eric Lindey, President/CEO of Step By Step shared: “We are thrilled to have Lynn join the Step By Step team! Her work throughout Pennsylvania and the US is well documented and we look forward to developing new services and partnerships with other providers that will continue our mission under Lynn’s direction.”
Lynn most recently served as the national senior justice/WRAP associate and consultant at Advocates for Human Potential. Prior to joining Advocates for Human Potential, Lynn accepted the state’s first position as the Department of Correction’s Mental Health Advocate, where she was responsible for advising the Secretary of Corrections on improvements to the prison’s behavioral health care services, including services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and dually diagnosed individuals. Lynn also served as the Chief of Staff in the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).
Lynn has a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral science and earned her Master of Health Education degree from the Pennsylvania State University. She is also a member of the state’s trauma informed initiative, which is intended to guide the Commonwealth and service providers on what it means to be trauma-informed and healing-centered.
RCPA extends our sincere congratulations to Ms. Miller and we look forward to working with you!
RCPA’s Behavioral Health Division committees and work groups are the foundation of our legislative and advocacy efforts on behalf of members. Member involvement in these groups provides unique perspectives on operational and service-level experiences that shape our positions and strategies.
There are larger bi-monthly Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Adult and Children’s Mental Health Division meetings that include stakeholder updates and discussions. DDAP, OMHSAS, OCYF, and guest speakers from across the continuum of human services typically participate in these meetings. Additionally, we have several active specific work groups that include:
SUD Committees | Adult MH Committee |
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Opioid Treatment Programs | Adult Mental Health Steering Committee |
Centers of Excellence | 988/Crisis Services |
SUD Regulatory Reform | ACT Program |
SUD Legislative | Regulatory Reform |
Children’s MH Committees | Combined SUD/MH Committees |
Children’s Steering Committee | Telehealth |
IBHS Work Group | Criminal Justice |
Children’s Residential Services | Value-Based Purchasing |
School-Based Behavioral Health | ICWC/CCBHC |
Early Intervention | Workforce |
Family-Based Services Ad Hoc Group |
Several of the groups are open only to provider members, while others include any interested member. Participation in the groups is open to individuals that you feel best fit the needs of your organization. If you would like to participate in any of the committees or work groups, please contact your Behavioral Health Division Directors Jim Sharp or Jason Snyder. We look forward to collaborating with you in the future.