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Policy Areas

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is excited to engage with stakeholders in developing a statewide child, youth, and young adult (CYYA) behavioral health emergency (crisis) community. As a first step, they have developed a brief survey to gauge interest in a symposium on this topic. They also have plans for ongoing opportunities for discussing CYYA behavioral health crisis response, identifying and highlighting promising practices within the Commonwealth and nationally, sharing training opportunities, and gathering feedback on interests and needs.

If you are interested in this topic or otherwise have feedback on Pennsylvania’s crisis continuum for CYYA and their families, please complete this short survey. The survey is available now and will be accessible through June 7, 2024, at 5:00 pm EST.

Thank you in advance for your time and dedication to Pennsylvania’s children, youth, young adults, and families. Any questions can be sent via email, or you can contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Full Diagnosis: Impact of Trauma, Physical Health, and Metabolic Health
May 22 and 23, 2024

The full conference schedule for the 2024 Pennsylvania Dual Diagnosis Conference is now available! To view the conference schedule, view the flyer or visit the Dual Diagnosis Conference website.

About the Event
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services invite you to participate in the statewide Dual Diagnosis Conference being held virtually next week on May 22–23, 2024. Nationally recognized speakers will provide a variety of perspectives on the impact of trauma, physical health, and metabolic health.

Registration
There is no fee to attend the virtual conference, but advance registration is required. Closed captioning and ASL will be provided during the livestreaming of the conference. Register here today!

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This is an announcement that the 988/Crisis Work Group meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, has been cancelled. RCPA will reschedule the meeting in the coming months. Currently, there is no movement or update in the OMHSAS Crisis Regulations release for public comment. Additionally, at this time, OMHSAS is making structural changes in their Policy and Crisis divisions. There are legislatively very few federal or state bills suggesting substantive changes in the development of the 988 system.

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

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Wednesday, June 12, 2024 
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and their families to join in a virtual conversation with ODP’s policy team. The conversation will cover basics about the services ODP offers, and it is an opportunity for individuals and families to ask questions. These meetings are informal, meaning the conversation will not be recorded, and rules will be set before the meeting starts to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe to provide questions and comments. The meeting will be held through Microsoft Teams.

REGISTER

What Will Be Covered?

This next meeting will consist of policy members from ODP providing an overview of two topics: the philosophy and framework used by ODP, which is called Everyday Lives, as well as what a Supports Coordinator is and what their role is.

Please Note:

This webinar/conversation is not for professionals; it is specifically for individuals, caregivers, and families and/or legal guardians. This webinar/conversation is geared towards individuals and families who are just beginning to learn about ODP or for those who want a basic understanding of the topic being discussed.

*ODP is asking and encouraging Supports Coordinators, Administrative Entities, Individual and Family Organizations, etc. to share this invitation with any individual and family they support.

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Checklist concept - checklist, paper and pen

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the following reminders from ODP’s ICF unit:

ICF Contact Sheet

ODP maintains a Contact Sheet for each ICF in an excel workbook. The worksheet has blocks for providers to indicate who is the primary contact for each of these functions within your organization:

  • Administrator
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Contact Person for Waiver Requests (waiver of the standard interim per diem rate)
  • Contact Person for Program Issues
  • Contact Person for Budgets
  • Contact Person for Cost Reports
  • Contact Person for Act 69 Assessment Information
  • Contact Person for Health Services

Also on that form are instructions to ODP regarding who should receive copies of Rate Setting Correspondence and members of ODP’s ICF Taskforce Listserv (this mailing list).

NOTE: IT IS THE PROVIDER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THIS FORM UPDATED. It is important that ODP has current information so that communications are properly directed. Please contact a member of the ICF unit or our Resource Account email at any time to provide updates or to obtain a copy of the contact sheet we currently have on file for your facility. Thank you.

4th Quarter Assessment Payment Reminder

This is a reminder that your Act 69 Assessment payment for the fourth quarter is due by May 25. For this quarter, you may either pay the full amount by May 25 or pay monthly (May 25, June 25, and July 25), as was shown on the invoice emailed to you on 9/28/23. Either way, accrue the full annual amount into this fiscal year for bookkeeping and cost reporting.

Procedure Change Reminder: When your ACH Transaction is scheduled, please send an email to the following individuals to inform them of the amount and the date of your transfer:

Please remember to include your invoice number and ‘DHS-ODP-ICF Assessment’ in the Addenda field of your ACH transaction.

Should you have any questions, please contact Steve Evitts.

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Harrisburg, PA — Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh recently published two opinion pieces highlighting the historic investments for intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) services and the ID/A workforce in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024/25 proposed budget. At events across the Commonwealth, Secretary Arkoosh has met with advocates, families, caregivers, and direct support professionals to talk about what these investments would mean to them and why they are vital to Pennsylvanians with ID/A so they can live with the dignity and independence they deserve.

The Governor’s proposed $483 million in federal and state funding would provide more resources for home and community-based service providers, so they in turn can pay competitive rates to attract and retain the staff who provide these essential services. The proposal includes a $78 million investment of federal and state funds to serve an additional 1,500 Pennsylvanians with ID/A currently on the waitlist in the next fiscal year.

Governor Shapiro and Secretary Arkoosh recently met with Pennsylvanians with ID/A, caregivers, and advocates to hear how the proposed investments in his 2024/25 budget would address the needs of Pennsylvanians with ID/A by expanding access to support home and community-based services and addressing the shortage of direct support professionals.

Watch Secretary Arkoosh’s visit to Vision for Equality in Philadelphia. 

Watch Secretary Arkoosh’s visit to Penn-Mar Human Services in York County. 

Read additional materials below:

Read what Pennsylvanians are saying: 

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