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Updated Invitation: Join Us at the Capitol on June 28 to Advocate for Preserving ID/A Services
The ID/A Associations are continuing our advocacy for increases to the IDD budget in PA. Join us at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Wednesday, June 28 to advocate for the preservation of desperately needed services for individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism. People with disabilities, families, and advocates will be going to legislative offices in Harrisburg, dropping off information, and asking legislators to increase funding for ID/A services.
We will begin by meeting at the East Wing entrance to the capitol at 11:00 am. From there, we will be distributing handouts for participants to deliver to various offices. Staff from all the associations will be on hand to provide guidance as needed. After visits and a break for lunch, we will gather at 1:00 pm in the rotunda for a press conference, hearing from families who are in need of supports and services for their family member(s).
This effort is imperative, as there is no longer a risk of the system collapsing. The intellectual disability system is collapsing. Thousands of people are losing services, and more will soon be added to that list due to a proposed budget reduction and a lack of investment into rates. Inaction by the legislature will only further exacerbate this crisis and leave thousands more individuals and families without services. If nothing is done to address the inadequate rates now, more families in Pennsylvania will suffer.
The budget negotiations are ongoing, and we need YOU and everyone you know to help our advocacy efforts. As the Governor and legislature continue to negotiate funding for the budget, they need to hear from constituents about the importance of the ID/A system and why investing into the rates is the only way to ensure that providers can pay their staff higher wages and attract new staff to serve more people.
If you would prefer to visit your local legislative offices, we can provide the handouts to you via email to distribute to your legislators.
Contact Carol Ferenz or Cathy Barrick to register or if you have any questions.
Mental Health Safety Net Services Funding: A FY 2023/24 Budget Imperative Letter
The sustained funding of community-based mental health services, such as community residential programs, family-based support, outpatient care, and crisis intervention, are critical to the wellbeing of our constituents and our communities. Funding levels for county mental health services have direct impacts on whether these important community and family supports will be available. Yet for too many years, state funding for mental health services has lagged far behind its needs. Counties find themselves advocating for the prevention of funds being cut instead of achieving the increases that are needed to catch up from years of underfunding.
This week’s letter, sent on behalf of the Coalition for the Mental Health Safety Net, stands as an open call to the PA General Assembly and stakeholders. For Pennsylvanians with a mental illness, the impact of the county funding shortfalls is already evident. The effects include: shortages of key mental health professionals; chronic underpayment of mental health providers; reductions/closures in mental health residential programs and supportive services, including employment and psychiatric rehabilitation services; uneven crisis response services; outpatient program closures; and the continuing criminalization of mental illness. Across the Commonwealth, there is no consistent level of mental health services available, and access to critical services largely depends on which county a patient lives in.
The Coalition is open to all new partners who wish to join our mission of advocacy for this 2023/24 initiative, as the time to act and engage with your representative is now. The Coalition will also be developing an advocacy toolkit for members to come together to sustain the safety net and serve those who need it most. The reality is that the demand for service far outweighs capacity and rate structures to serve this population.
If you have additional questions or would like to join the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Discover RCPA Membership Benefits on July 25
Join RCPA for a Membership Benefits webinar on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9:00 am to orient yourself with all that RCPA membership includes. This will certainly be important for new and potential members but will also be of value to current members, as there may be unrecognized benefits associated with our membership.
Register here to attend this webinar. Items we will review include the following and much more:
- Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
- Discuss the 2023 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
- Highlight RCPA division committee and subcommittee meetings as well as what they offer;
- View the RCPA member-only website;
- Review exclusive yearly education and networking events; and
- Understand other National Association memberships included with RCPA membership.
Visit the RCPA member benefits page or contact Tieanna Lloyd for more information.
We look forward to your participation in this webinar.
Senate Unanimously Confirms Governor Shapiro’s Nominee to Lead the Department of Corrections
Quarterly HCSIS/EIM Newsletter Now Available
The Quarterly Release of maintenance items for the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS)/Enterprise Incident Management (EIM) goes live on June 24, 2023. The Release Newsletter has been posted to the HCSIS Learning Management System (LMS). You can also view the newsletter here. Please log in to LMS and visit the “HCSIS Communique” link to review the newsletter and all communications.
Urgent Invitation: Join Us at the Capitol on June 28 to Advocate to Preserve ID/A Services
The ID/A Associations are continuing our advocacy for increases to the IDD budget in PA. Join us at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Wednesday, June 28 at 10:00 am to advocate for the preservation of desperately needed services for individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism. People with disabilities, families, and advocates will be going to legislative offices in Harrisburg, dropping off information, and asking legislators to increase funding for ID/A services.
There is no longer a risk of the system collapsing. The intellectual disability system is collapsing. Thousands of people are losing services, and more will soon be added to that list due to a proposed budget reduction and a lack of investment into rates. Inaction by the legislature will only further exacerbate this crisis and leave thousands more individuals and families without services. If nothing is done to address the inadequate rates now, more families in Pennsylvania will suffer.
By joining us at the Capitol, you will play a crucial role in amplifying voices and urging lawmakers to prioritize the preservation and strengthening of these essential services. Please consider making this trip and contact Carol Ferenz or Cathy Barrick to register for the event. We are tracking the attendance and will be sure that you receive further information regarding our efforts on this date. Additionally, please share this message with all of your contacts and ask them to take action!
The budget negotiations are ongoing, and we need YOU and everyone you know to help our advocacy efforts. As the Governor and legislature continue to negotiate funding for the budget, they need to hear from constituents about the importance of the ID/A system and why investing into the rates is the only way to ensure that providers can pay their staff higher wages and attract new staff to serve more people.
We are asking for you to call the Governor’s office at 717-787-2500 and say the following:
“Hello, my name is ________ . I am asking that Governor Shapiro support investing additional money into the Intellectual Disabilities and Autism rates. These funds must be invested into the rates so that Direct Support Professionals can receive a needed pay raise. People across the state continue to go without services, and without an increase to the rates, people will continue to wait for services, and even more will be at risk of losing their services. Thank you.”
Contact Carol Ferenz or Cathy Barrick to register or if you have any questions.
BI Provider Quarterly CHC-MCO Meeting Scheduled for July 13
Self-Determination Housing for PA Announces Inglis Home Modifications for Independence
Fostering Gender-Affirming Practices for Trans Youth Through Strengths-Based Approaches — Webinar on July 13
Thursday, July 13, 2023
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm EDT
REGISTER
This webinar is offered by The Center for Health Care Strategies.
Everyone deserves to receive the care they need, including trans youth. Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth face unique barriers to accessing health care, which are further compounded for trans youth of color, trans youth in rural communities, and trans youth on public insurance. Providers can better support trans youth by incorporating a youth-led, strengths-based approach in their care. By shifting practices and policies, health care teams can make their care settings more welcoming for trans youth and their families and work toward centering youth voices in discussions on health care access, social and community resources, and more.
This webinar will highlight promising strategies for creating welcoming health care settings for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth and their families. A nationally recognized pediatrician as well as a health center founder and nurse-practitioner will share their experiences creating practices that empower trans youth to lead their health care journey, access needed resources, and advocate for themselves and their communities. The webinar is a product of Accelerating Child Health Transformation (ACHT), a national initiative led by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that seeks to accelerate the adoption of key strategies necessary to advance anti-racist and family-centered pediatric practice.
Providers, patients, patient and family advocates, and other interested stakeholders are invited to join this 75-minute event. This webinar will not be recorded. By attending this event, you agree to not record the event.
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