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Mental Health

Thursday, October 20 — 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
REGISTER

Trauma comes in many forms. Research suggests that individuals with disabilities are two to ten times more likely to experience a traumatic event than the general population. The barriers individuals face related to trauma include increased risk of abuse and a lack of follow through when traumatic events are reports. This session will help to define trauma, inform providers on how to create a trauma-informed practice, and give an overview of empirically-supported trauma interventions from childhood through adulthood.

Presenter: Nicholas DeMarco, Ph.D. Director of ID Mental Health Supports, PMHCC, Inc.
Dr. DeMarco is an experienced behavioral health leader with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. His training was from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has the following grant opportunities that are currently available:

Pennsylvania Industry Partnership Program (IP) Grant:

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $4,000,000 in funding for the Pennsylvania Industry Partnership (IP) Program Grant awards. L&I will be supporting Industry Partnership Programming through the competitive award of grants of up to $250,000 to support Industry Partnerships across the commonwealth to improve economic growth, while preparing workers with training for their current positions and future advancement. Projects funded through Industry Partnership grants should identify workforce, education and training, and economic development gaps; coordinate regional needs to support industry needs; identify public and community resources to address industry-identified needs; and increase collaboration among businesses within a targeted industry sector. Eligible applicants include local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, educational and post-secondary educational organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities.

More information can be found here, including info on an upcoming bidder webinar on 10/6/22. The IP grants close on 10/28/22. If you have questions or concerns regarding this grant opportunity, please email L&I.

Schools-to-Work Program (STWP) Grant — Round 3:

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $2,500,000.00 of funding for the Schools-to-Work Program (STWP) Grant award(s). L&I will be establishing a STW Program through the competitive award of a grant(s) to a sponsor(s) in partnership with schools in the commonwealth to support the establishment or enhancement of a workforce development partnership between schools, employers, organizations, or associations to create pre-apprenticeship apprenticeship pathways. This NGA seeks applications to support this statewide initiative. Grant awards may not exceed $250,000.00.

L&I also has funding currently available for school-to-work program grants. The STWP grant closes on 10/12/22. If you have questions or concerns regarding this grant opportunity, please email L&I.

If you have further questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

Immediate Action Required for Regulatory Compliance – Please Read Carefully

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is providing a critical update to those providers who hold a license to operate a facility licensed by DHS. On August 18, 2022, DHS and RCPA released an alert regarding changes in how licensed agencies provide information related to civil rights compliance. Since that time, DHS has received several questions and is providing further clarification.

  1. When sending the CRC form or the CRC attestation form, please send it as a PDF. Please do NOT send as a secure file, secure email, or link to a secure portal to retrieve the document. We are unable to access those forms, and they will be returned. When emailing the forms for submission:
    1. Use the following naming convention in the subject line when submitting Renewal HS2125:
      • Attestation – Program Office – Name of Facility or Agency – License number or APP number if assigned
        • Examples:
          • Attestation – OCYF – Apple Agency Home – 123450
          • Attestation – ODP – Apple Agency – APP-00123456
    2. Use the following naming convention in the subject line when submitting a new application HS2126:
      • New – Program Office – Type of Service – Name of Facility or Agency
        • Examples:
          • New – BHSL  – PCH – Apple Personal Care Home
          • New – ODP – Life Sharing – Apple Agency – APP-00223456
  2. In the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), there are providers who have one license that cover multiple locations. In this case, you only need to submit one form (either the HS2125 or the HS2126) and list the addresses of each satellite site/location that falls under that license.
  3. If in the past, you completed the Civil Rights Compliance Questionnaire (CRCQ) annually, as part of the renewal license process, you will need to complete the Civil Rights Attestation (HS2125) when you receive your next notice to complete the renewal application process.
  4. If you have a current license, your CRC was approved. You will need to complete the Civil Rights Attestation (HS2125) when you receive your next notice to complete the renewal application process.
  5. For Assisted Living and Personal Care Home providers, when submitting the renewal application for a license, the renewal application, the renewal application fee, and the Attestation (HS2125) must be sent in hard copy in one envelope to Licensing Administration in Harrisburg, as noted on the cover letter of the renewal application packet.
  6. Please ensure that the “Non-Discrimination in Employment” policy statement and the “Non-Discrimination in Services” policy statement issued by your facility contain updated contact information (as indicated below). If this administrative update is the only change that has occurred since the facility’s last license was issued, it is not necessary to provide updated copies to the Department as part of Form HS 2125.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services
BEO/Office of Civil Rights Compliance
Room 225, Health & Welfare Building
P.O. Box 2675 Harrisburg, PA 17120
Inquiries: (717) 787-1127
Email

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centralized Case Management Operations 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F HHH Bldg
Washington, D.C. 20201
Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019 TDD: (800) 537-7697

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
801 Market Street, Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3126
Inquiries: (800) 669-4000
Complaint Process Overview

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
333 Market Street, 8th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Inquiries: (717) 787-4410

PFSA is continuing to offer virtual Mandated Reporter Training at no cost to mandated reporters in Pennsylvania.

This three-hour virtual training is approved by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and State and meets all requirements for training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (to include Act 126 for school employees). It is also approved for continuing education credits under Act 31 (Department of State for health-related licenses) and Act 48 (Department of Education for teachers) at no cost. PFSA will submit your training verification to the Department of State or Education as appropriate on your behalf (details provided during training).

Please register for your preferred training date and time by selecting the session time/date in the list below. Each person must log in through separate devices, using the unique access link emailed to them after registration to receive credit. For questions or to schedule a session specifically for your organization, please email PFSA.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 6 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 7 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 7 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 10 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 10 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 10 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 11 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 12 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 12 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 12 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 13 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 14 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 17 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 18 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 18 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 19 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 20 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 20 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 21 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Saturday, Oct. 22 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 24 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 24 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 25 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 25 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 26 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 27 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 27 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 28 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm